Cancer and Your Pet Just say the word cancer and any of a host of undesirable thoughts will pop in your mind- and with good reason. Cancer is one of the most common of diseases among pets and increases as the pet ages. In dogs, the frequency of getting cancer is equivalent to that of a human being getting cancer. Additionally, it accounts for close to half the deaths of pets over the age of 10.

Just what is cancer and what causes it? Basically, cancer occurs when cell growth rates go out of control on, or inside, the body. What causes this chaos inside the system of the cell is still unknown-but the results have been well documented and the reputation is well known.

Some cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer or testicular cancer can be largely prevented by spaying or neutering your pet while it is still very young (6-12 months or so). Other types, however, are not as easy to detect, causing difficult preventive methods.

Following are many common types of cancers seen in pets. Skin tumors in dogs should always be checked by a vet. Breast cancers have a high rate of malignancy in dogs- often 50%. Lymphoma is common and is characterized by an enlargement of the lymph nodes. Testicular tumors are common in dogs - especially those having retained testes. Cancers occurring in the head and/or neck are common in dogs and often malignant. Aggressive and quick therapy is required. Abdominal tumors are harder to detect and very common. Watch for weight loss or abdominal enlargement.

Testing for cancer can be done in a variety of methods - from x-rays or blood tests to actual biopsy samples(tissue samples). Most often, biopsies are required to diagnose cancer.

Treatments run the gamut in cancer therapy. Since each cancer may be of a different type from animal to animal, and each animals system may react differently to the same drug, the care is highly individualized. Your veterinarian may choose from such options as chemotherapy, radiation, hyperthermia, surgery, immuno-therapy, or cryosurgery(freezing) to treat your pet, although combinations of the above methods are quite common.

Now for the big question. Just what are the success rates of these methods in treating my pet for cancer? Just as in humans, the success rate depends on a number of variables- what type of cancer your pet has, how early you detect the cancer,how you treat the cancer and how strong your pet is - just to name a few.

Sometimes the cancer can be cured if response is quick and the treatment aggressive but all pets may receive a better quality of life from therapy received. The best therapy seems, however, to be early detection through regular vet visits and keen knowledge of your pets overall rate of health at all times. Watch for changes and be aware should any unusual symptoms pop up.

COMMON SIGNS OF CANCER SEEN IN SMALLER ANIMALS

Loss of appetite
Sudden weight loss
Slow,or non-healing sores
Offensive odor
Abnormal growths or swellings
Loss of stamina
Hesitation in exercising
Persistent lameness or stiffness
Difficulty in eating or swallowing
Difficulty in breathing, defecating or urinating

Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/
Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"

Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.

Debbie Ray, owner of http://www.pedigreedpups.com and http://www.total-german-shepherd.com, is a lifelong animal lover and dog enthusiast. Interested in more dog information? Training and health tips? Thinking about getting a purebred dog? Interested in the German Shepherd Dog in particular? Need to promote your dog related website and get additional in bound links? Check out pedigreedpups.com , total-german-shepherd.com or http://www.pedigreeddogs.com (purebred dog breed directory) for more information.

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  Dog Kennels - What to Look For We all hate to leave our pets behind if we go on vacation or have to leave home for a few days. However, we can't always take them with us so if you don't have family or friends that are able to take care of them you most likely need a dog kennel.

To find a good kennel ask for recommendations from friends, family, your veterinarian or grooming shops.

You should then visit the kennel and look for these things.

License

Staff - are they friendly, knowledgeable, seem to care about the dogs there?

Sanitation - Are the runs clean? Do they look like they have an effective system? Do they have barriers high enough to prevent male dogs from urinating into adjacent runs?

Facility - Is it in good repair, neat, clean, smell clean and clear of debris?

Exercise area - Do dogs have freedom of movement? It the floor concrete so it can be easily disinfected? How much time do they get outdoors?

Climate - Is there proper temperature control and is ventilation good with no draughts?

Sleeping area - Is there clean, dry and large enough for a dog to stand, stretch out or turn around? Do they have solid dividers between kennels? Is the bedding clean?

Cages and gates - Are they secure and in good repair?

How many dogs in facility - Are there to many?

Food - You may want to bring food that your dog is already eating if they don't have it. You don't want him to get sick from a change in diet.

Water - Is it available at all times, does the water look clean in the bowls and are the bowls clean?

Veterinarian - Do they have a vet on call? Will they contact your vet if needed?

Find out the cost, drop off time and pick up. How far in advance should you book?

When you do take your dog for his stay take along:

Vaccinations records

Emergency contacts - veterinarian and your numbers.

Pet schedule - also pet medications with instructions.

Take something from home like a blanket or toy.

Food if needed

Usually if a dog is introduced early in life to kennels be doesn't have a problem. Of course all dogs are different and it's hard to predict how they will react. You should start with a weekend to see how he does. Ask the staff how his behavior and appetite were so you can judge how it went. Of course check his general condition and grooming to see how well he was taken care of.

If they do have trouble maybe next time you should look into a bonded pet-sitting service. Maybe you know someone who does pet sitting in your home. Check out your options.

Lastly, ask your veterinarian if your dog needs kennel cough intra-nasal vaccination.

Sandy Oberreuter has a web site on small dog breeds with articles on popular small dogs, dogs good with children and seniors, breeders, dog diseases, dog day care, hypoallergenic dogs and more.

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  Dog Training Collar Basics Dog training collars can be really helpful for many dog owners. There are various different styles to choose from and they are all there to help you to control your dog.

The Main Features of a Dog Training Collar

As mentioned, each different dog-training collar is different from the next. There are some that are designed to fit around the dogs noses, which control the direction of the dog. They are generally attached to the lead and every time the dog is pulling or you need to reprimand the dog for something, a quick, sharp yet gentle tug on the lead will turn your dogs head towards you, shocking them into doing what you want them to do. An example of this includes:

The Canny Collar A really good collar that has a pressure and release system. It comes in seven different sizes so it will fit all breeds of dog snugly.

Others are less humane and a lot of critics say they are cruel. These include electric shock collars. Electric shock collars do exactly as they are called - they give the dog an electric shock whenever they do something wrong. Obviously this is really cruel and as safe as most companies say they are, they should never be used over other types of dog training collars. Unfortunately, there are a lot of collars like these on the market including:

Petsafe Yard and Park Trainer The collar comes with a handheld device for the owner. When your dog is wearing the collar, all you have to do is push the button on the handheld device and it will send a shock to your dog up to 400 yards away.

Again, electronic collars really should not be used at all and they can be extremely cruel!

There are also collars that are fitted with devices that aim to stop them barking. These include the:

Static anti-bark collar This collar has a built in on/off system that you can control. It also has a built in system which detects the vibrations within the dogs bark and it can determine whether the dog is barking or whether it has suffered a knock or a scratch.

The Cost and the Techniques Involved

If you choose a collar that is similar to the Canny Collar, you can expect to pay up to $30. However, for the electronic collars you can end up paying around $280! It all depends upon the size of your dog, what you want the collar for and how far you want the device to be able to reach.

The best way to use a collar is only when the dog is doing something you do not want them to do. They shouldnt be used too frequently, as, although the shock may be unpleasant for them, they tend to get used to it and so will ignore what you want them to do. Also, always be quick to reward the dog when they have done something correctly. As long as you are gentle yet firm, the dog should learn quite quickly what is expected of them.

There are some books out there that can help you find the right techniques to help you use the dog training collars more effectively. So it is worth checking out your local library or even picking one up online.

Overall, dog-training collars can be really effective if used properly. You just have to do your research first!

Simon Oldmann is an avid dog lover, now living in the countryside he setup a dog kennel for his dogs, Simon currently writes tips and advice about dog training at http://dogtraining.zupatips.com

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