If you are a dog owner, the only thing you want is that your pooch stays healthy. And that is why you are happy to hear the news from your dog’s vet after each checkup that he or she is healthy. However, if your dog was given the clean bill of health six months ago, but he or she is showing signs of being unhealthy – don’t wait to get Fido checked out.
In fact, your dog could have cancer if he or she is displaying any of the following 12 warning signs listed below.
Your Dog Has A Lump
If your dog has a lump or a mass, particularly on the legs or the paw pads, then that can be a warning sign of cancer. Especially if the lump is growing. You need to take your dog to the vet and have the lump biopsied to determine whether it is cancer or benign growth. If it is benign, it can be removed and no other signs would be present as well.
Foul Odors
Dogs have halitosis as it is, however, if there is a very foul smell around your dog’s mouth, then it can be a sign of oral cancer. And this is especially true if the smell is present after a tooth scaling and grooming.
There Is Discharge That Is Not Normal
If your dog is spitting up blood or puss, or it is present in the stool, then that can be a sign of cancer of the GI tract. You need to make a vet appointment right away so your dog is examined immediately.
Bloating
Is your dog’s stomach bloated? Then that can be a sign of a build-up of fluid which can be a sign of a tumor in the GI tract. You need to make an appointment with the vet if that is the case right away.
Unexplained Weight Loss
The biggest worry about pets is obesity as it is an epidemic not just among humans but among pets too. Fido’s owners are feeling bad for working for long hours and leaving their beloved dog alone for a long time. Therefore, they overfeed them treats to overcompensate. That is the common cause of obesity. However, if your pet is losing weight rapidly, that can be a sign of lymphosarcoma or lymphoma. Rapid weight loss in your pet means it is time to take them to the vet.
Your Dog Is Lethargic
Is your dog that once loved walks and playing in the park to chase around a stick become lethargic practically overnight? Your dog no longer looks forward to those walks that he or she used to love? Lethargy can be a sign of many illnesses including cancer as well. You cannot ignore it when your once active dog no longer has the energy to do the activities he or she used to love.
Trouble Chewing Food
If your dog is struggling to chew his or her food, then that can be a sign of oral cancer. Even if your dog can chew the food, swallowing it can be a big problem for that reason.
No Appetite
Was your dog once a good eater and now turns his or her nose up at their bowl filled with kibble? And if your dog does eat a little but vomits right after, that can be a sign of cancer. One of the most serious signs that your dog’s health is in danger is when he or she stops eating.
Struggling With Urination
If your dog is struggling to urinate, then that can be indicative of cancer in the kidneys or bladder. It can also be a sign of stones, especially if there is blood in the urine. If your dog has gone all day without urinating then that is not normal. Prolonged constipation is also a sign that there could be cancer.
Growths That Don’t Heal
If there are erosions or bumps in the skin that don’t go away, then you need to have that checked by your dog’s vet. That can definitely be a sign of cancer.
Labored Breathing
If your dog is struggling to breathe or has an irregular way of breathing, then that can be a sign of tumors in the lung or the heart. If your pooch cannot catch a breath, then that means it is time to take him or her to the vet.
Increased Thirst And Urination
The first thing that you would think of when your dog is drinking too much and is having bouts of frequent urination is that diabetes can be the culprit. But if your dog’s blood sugar is normal, then it can also be a sign of a tumor that is growing on the adrenal gland or base of the brain.
Fido won’t necessarily have too many of these symptoms if there is cancer present, especially since cancer expresses itself differently depending on where it is. But if there are just a couple of symptoms that your dog has, then you need to take a trip to the vet.
