Dog Cancer Symptoms

Dog cancer symptoms will help you to recognize when there may be a problem.

Cancer chances increase with a dog's age. Years ago a pet with this disease was euthanized because there was no cure. However, now, if caught early enough, the disease can be treated.



Many older dogs develop lumps and bumps on their body. If you notice anything out of the ordinary, take him to the vet and have a complete exam. This may include a biopsy of the tumor or lump and an x-ray.

Most of the time these lumps and bumps are not cancerous. But it is always a good idea to have them checked.

Keep an eye on the growth. If it starts to enlarge and/or changes color and feel, then the possibility of it being cancer is greater.

There are some cancers that cannot be seen. An example is our golden retriever, Beau, who one day started having nosebleeds. On a routine exam, nothing was showing to cause the bleeding.

My husband and I came home from work one day and the house was a blood bath. We immediately raced Beau to the vet and an x-ray was done. The poor dog had a massive tumor in his sinus cavity.

No way to operate, no biopsy. Yes, you know the rest of the story.

So keep watch of any changes in your senior dog. Aging debilitates the immune system and makes your pet more disease prone.

The treatment for most cancers is identical to human treatment for the disease. Radiation therapy, pills, chemo, etc.

There are some natural remedies on the market that promote new cell growth for cancer patients whether canine or human.

Research these carefully and talk to your vet before administering any holistic or homeopathic medicines.