Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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What is with so many Dogs getting cancer? I just can't believe how many there are. Why didn't I know about how common it seems to be until my Dog got cancer? And it's Dogs of all ages too. Growing up I just don't remember hearing of so many Dogs getting cancer. Was I just not paying attention or something? I am just overwhelmed by it. Day after day to see new members make their way to this site in hopes of answers makes me so so sad. I am soooo glad that there is a site like Tripawds to support all of these devastated people but it seems like it just shouldn't be like this. It makes me so angry too. My Aunt swears that there is something in the Dogfood causing all of these problems. I think this may be true. Her Boxer had to be put to sleep only 2 days after Valentina because he had a very large brain tumor that was causing him to have seizure after seizure. He was 10 years old. I was feeding Valentina what I thought to be a very high quality food her whole life. I knew that Great Danes didn't have a long life span so I thought it was worth it to try and extend her life by feeding her a high quality food. Her food was $65 a bag!! But my Dog still got cancer!!! I have heard that in other countries Dogs have a much longer lifespan. Do you think this is true? I haven't investigated that but I would love to know. I did do some research on Dogfood though and what I found was appalling!! So many of the well known Dogfoods are just pure crap. And I don't think that alot of people know that. And if you want to feed them a higher quality food it is soooo expensive. Of course for me it was super expensive because I had an extra large Dog and the 35lb bag only lasted Valentina about 3 1/2 weeks. Anyone else think that it is just crazy that so many Dogs get cancer? Why can't Dogs live longer? They are such wonderful creatures and we need them so much. We get a Dog that we adore and they are so perfect and then we have to lose them and start all over again. This just isn't fair!! Sorry about the ranting. I am just missing Valentina a whole lot today. She was the one thing I could always count on when I was having a bad day to help me feel better and now she is gone. I know that the fostering I am going to do will help but I still am finding it very disturbing that so many of us have to lose our Dogs to cancer. There must be something we can do. 
Valentina Angel Dane diagnosed with Osteosarcoma in front left leg May 21st 2011. Amputation July 5th 2011.
DOB:11/3/03 DOD:2/3/12 . Valentina was the Love of my Life!!! There is nothing like a Dane!!!
Also for some reason I am skeptical about the flea, tick and heartworm meds that we give them maybe causing cancer.
I know that we must use these things to prevent those parasites but do they do any harm to our Dogs? Just pondering.
I think there are a lot of reasons why dogs are getting cancer more. It's maybe not any one thing that causes it, but maybe a combo of all of them. Food is one problem. Like you said, the grocery store/most well-known brands are full of crap (I was very grossed out when I researched that years ago). Chemicals are another big problem - whether from lawn/garden or the chemicals it carpeting (dogs noses are much closer to all that!) or in the flea/tick medications. (I admit I do still use the flea/tick meds - because fleas are very bad here in S.D. It never gets cold enough in the winter to kill them off, and I'm very allergic so can't stand the thought of a flea infestation. But I only use them every other month or every third month and I've not had a problem with fleas doing it that way.) I think even the water supply is a problem. My friend's dad died of cancer and one of the things the oncologist told her was to get the best water filtration system she could afford.
Vaccines are another worry for me. I know our society tends to push over-vaccinating, and I think this contributes to the cancer problem. Spaying/neutering too young is supposed to be another factor, but there's not much you can do about that if you rescue a dog from a shelter.
Of course, I know of people who do everything possible in terms of trying keep their dogs chemical free, but the dog can still sometimes end up with cancer. It's crazy and a crap shoot. With Abby, because she was so young, the oncologist said it was nothing we did or didn't do. It was just a mutated gene. Not much you can do about that.
But, yes, I think you are right. The incidences of cancer are way higher now than before. Or maybe we are just improving the testing for dogs and finding more instances?? What I really wonder is why Goldens have such a massively higher rate of cancer than other dogs. If ever there was a breed that didn't deserve it, it's sweetie pie Goldens!
Hopefully someday there will be some answers to this stuff and we'll be able to help our dogs live the long lives they were meant to live. I read that small to med size dogs should live to be 18 to 20, but most never get anywhere close because of all the diseases. I've only ever heard of one 20 year old dog!
Anyway - you're welcome to rant here anytime, although I don't think that sounded like a rant. Those are legit questions! Esp'y when we are missing our angel pups so much!
Abby: Aug 1, 2009 – Jan 10, 2012. Our beautiful rescue pup lived LARGE with osteosarcoma for 15 months – half her way-too-short life. I think our "halflistic" approach (mixing traditional meds + supplements) helped her thrive. (PM me for details. I'm happy to help.) She had lung mets for over a year. They took her from us in the end, but they cannot take her spirit! She will live forever in our hearts. She loved the beach and giving kisses and going to In-N-Out for a Flying Dutchman. Tripawds blog, and a more detailed blog here. Please also check out my novel, What the Dog Ate. Now also in paperback! Purchase it at Amazon via Tripawds and help support Tripawds!
I actually have a different take on why there seems to be more canine cancer.....I think it's because vet medicine has progressed and therefore it's diagnosed. Statistically 50% of dogs develop cancer in age 10 or more. But 50% of people in old age develop cancer too. I don't personally think it's more prevalent now, I think it's diagnosed now because one for thing, dogs live longer (just like people do now). Plus, keep in mind dogs died from so many other things before they got old to ever see an age related cancer. (like getting run over, accidents, infections and canine related illnesses) Vets were trained mostly for livestock and large animals - after all that was money that fed your family! Small animals were secondary in vet care.
I remember as a kid growing up, your dog died of "old age" if it lived a long time. That was the official definition! I even remember people saying their dog died of a heat stroke during the summer months (because dogs were outside typically) and they would find them dead - it must have been heat related! Growing up in the country, most people didn't take their dog to the vet unless it was an emergency or they were dying. So we didn't ever really know how they died. Also growing up, we fed our dog crappy dog food - well, because that's all there was and no one knew better. But I will say that I never remember giving vaccines to our dogs after they were a puppy. But then again, I remember dogs dying of canine related illnesses because of the lack of vaccines given.
Plus, times are different - people have different relationships with their pets now. So, we as a society want them to live longer and are willing to will spend money - unlike decades past. As with almost anything, if there is money to be made, there are advances.
My husband told me that his aunt in the 1950's had an incredible bond with her dog and her dog got cancer and she was really considered kooky because she took it to a city to have it treated....in the 50's it was considered NUTS! Nuts to spend money just have it diagnosed but to treat it was really weird!
I know people now that feed their dogs the cheapest dog food and never go to the vet and their dogs are alive and have lived their lifespan. Their quality of life sucks in my opinion but they have lived a long time.
Okay, those are my thoughts. Feel free to take it with a grain of salt because.......again, my medical degree came from Google University!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
I agree! Just like we're noticing more cancer in people. We live longer than we used to - thanks to medical advances - we are diagnosed with more diseases - thanks to medical advances and it all seems a bit overwhelming.
Water, air quality, med treatments, genetic changes,.... so many things can influence the rise of cancers in all species.
There's a fine line between be educated and paranoid. It's a line I continue to struggle with. Bottom line - love those furbabies and go with your heart.
Hugs and Slobbers
Judy and Baby
There are so many risk factors that it is hard to say what exactly causes cancer. I have seen people who go the holistic route (feed raw, minimal vaccines, etc) come in with young dogs with cancer and I have seen people who feed Old Roy food and take only basic care of their animals that have dogs living 16 years. It doesn't seem fair! A good portion of cancer is genetic and it would be nice if we could identify the gene and target breeding programs to someday eliminate cancers like OSA. Our environment has also become more polluted and cancers like lymphosarcoma seem to have a more external component so I still avoid chemicals as much as possible.
Pam
We often wondered this question when we first became aware of canine cancer. I think Ge'Lena and Dr. Pam said it best though: it's a combination of things, and we are so much more aware of canine cancer now because veterinary medicine and our relationship and bonds with our dogs have come so far even just during the last 10 years.
Our Tripawds amputation survey had a fair share of respondents say they were feeding their dogs premium foods, or entirely home cooked and RAW, and those dogs still got cancer. And like Dr. Pam said, some people who feed their dog's low quality food get to watch them grow gracefully into old age.
My own theory is that too many irresponsible breeders are playing a huge role in this too, by knowingly breeding genetically defective dogs. But that's another topic.
I say, the more we can support reputable organizations like Morris Animal Foundation, who are making great strides in finding the causes and cures of canine cancer, the better! (hint, hint, the Team Tripawds walk for Morris is coming up in a few weeks and Team Tripawds could sure use the support!). I truly believe we will get there, it's only a matter of time before cancer is eradicated for dogs and humans.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
cometdog said
My husband told me that his aunt in the 1950's had an incredible bond with her dog and her dog got cancer and she was really considered kooky because she took it to a city to have it treated....in the 50's it was considered NUTS! Nuts to spend money just have it diagnosed but to treat it was really weird!
Bravo to her! If it wasn't for folks like her who were brave enough to do things like this back then, veterinary medicine wouldn't have come nearly as far as it has.
Three paws up for the kooky aunts out there!
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Thanks for your responses. I know that there is no one answer and it is a combination of many things. I just wish I knew more about some things like the flea and tick meds and stuff like that so I could be more informed for my Dog Emalee and my future pets. But what other choice is there? We can't have the fleas and ticks either, they cause a whole host of their own problems. This is really frustrating. And equally for people. A few months ago my neighbor was diagnosed with cancer of the tongue and he is only 37 years old. He never drank, smoked or used chewing tobacco. He is currently undergoing chemo and radiation. I feel awful for him. He has 2 little girls and he is a very nice man. I really hope he can beat it.
I'm so sorry about your neighbor. I hope he beats it too.
As for fleas and such, my own personal philosophy is, the less chemicals the better. You aren't as helpless as you think.
A little Off Topic, but here I go....
Just as it is with people, cancer risks are mitigated through a good diet and for dogs, proactive flea management using natural solutions like cedar oil, diatomaceous earth, etc. We've never used flea meds on Wyatt and we've been deep in the heart of flea and tick country in places like TX, CA and the Northwest, and not once has he had a problem. I wouldn't have believed that a dog could go without, but when we brought him into our lives I swore off the toxic stuff unless he showed signs of an infestation. It's been three years, and so far it's working. All dogs are different as are their risk factors, but I believe Wyatt is flea-free because of his diet.
Here are some discussions about fleas and such:
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
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