During the month of May, Pet Notify recognizes Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Cancer is one of the leading disease-related causes of death for domestic dogs and cats in the United States, so educating pet owners about it can help protect their furry friends. Millions of pets are diagnosed with a variety of different cancers such as skin, bone, and lymphoma, so knowing the warning signs is crucial.
Cancer Warning Signs in Pets
In order to keep our pets safe, we need to know the warning signs. Here are some warning signs to look out for:
- Swollen lymph nodes or changing lumps
- Chronic weight loss
- Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
- Unexplained bleeding
- Bad breath
- Loss of appetite
- Difficulty eating, swallowing, or breathing
These are just warning signs and may not be cancer. However, if you’re concerned about the health of your furry friend, always consult your vet. Other ways you can help keep your companion animal safe are to keep toxic substances such as cleaning and lawn chemicals out of reach of your pets, and do not smoke around your pets as second-hand smoke is the leading cause of feline lymphoma, the most common cancer in cats. Use Pet Notify’s Pet Vault to take notes prior to your veterinarian appointment or upload documents afterward for safekeeping and for future reference. Doing so can help aid your vet in diagnosing a problem or can show your trusted pet-care providers like sitters or dog walkers what type of behaviors to watch out for and report back to you.
Aaron Fong
