Prevention is always a better option, no matter what the problem. It's usually easier, less expensive and certainly less painful. That's never been more true than when it comes to cancer.
While cancer is more treatable than ever before, veterinarians also now know more about what steps can be taken to help prevent the dreaded disease.
To reduce the risk of cancer in your pet:
-- Make sure your dog has good nutrition, weight-management and plenty of exercise. Help your dog to maintain a fit body for life. A fit dog will have a wasplike waist and a tucked-in abdomen.
-- Feed your dog a high-quality diet made by a reputable company or a home-prepared diet prepared with the help of your veterinarian. Start with the amount of food recommended for your dog and adjust accordingly with how your pet's body responds. Cut down on extra calories by substituting baby carrots as treats or by adding volume to meals with green beans.
-- Consider adding omega-3 fatty acids (also known as n-3, found in fish oils and other sources) to potentially reduce the risk of developing cancer. Get regular exercise, and you and your dog will benefit with greater health and a closer, more vibrant relationship.
-- Spay or neuter your dog. Spaying and neutering have been shown to be an effective method of preventing cancer. Spaying has a significant impact on preventing breast cancer if it is done before a dog goes into her first heat cycle. Discuss the timing and the options with your veterinarian, though: Waiting to alter until later, especially in breeds prone to bone cancer, is worth considering for some male dogs -- although the majority of pets are better off neutered.
-- Choose clean living for your dog. Eliminate exposure to environmental carcinogens such as pesticides, coal or kerosene heaters, herbicides, passive tobacco smoke, asbestos, radiation and strong electromagnetic fields. Each one of these factors has been suggested to increase the risk of cancer in your dog (and in you).
You may do everything you can and still end up with a cancer diagnosis for your pet. Don't despair. Cure rates and an improved quality of life are increasing because families are working with veterinarians to identify the disease in its initial stages and to employ new technologies that are highly effective in the early stages of cancer care.
Even for those dogs who cannot be cured, most who are treated are still able to enjoy an improved, robust life. In most situations, animals undergoing cancer treatment experience limited to no decrease in their quality of life.
Almost all dogs with cancer can be helped, and you can defeat the darkness of cancer with knowledge. Work with your veterinary team to learn as much about the disease and its treatment as possible. Be proactive. Ask questions and obtain resources to tear away the many misconceptions about cancer and cancer therapies. Tackling the emotional aspects of cancer can enhance your ability to think clearly, make decisions, and begin to find the hope and opportunities that lie before you as you deal with your dog's cancer.
Understand there are no wrong decisions -- only decisions that are right for you. Do not worry what other people will think about your choices. You know your dog better than anyone else in the world knows him. Once you are empowered with the information you need, listen to your heart and you will make the right decisions.
Q&A
Kitties get zits
just as people do
Q: I've noticed my cat gets bumps on his chin. They look like pimples. Is this something I should be worried about? And if so, what should I do about them? -- G.T., via e-mail
A: If you're grooming your cat on a regular schedule, you'll find you're more observant of changes in his body, such as the subtle weight loss that can be a sign of illness. One thing you don't need to be very observant to notice, however, is feline acne, which is just what it sounds like: pimples or blackheads on the chin of your cat.
Most classic acne cases occur in cats who are simply not good chin groomers. But be aware that there are many things that can contribute to the development and severity of feline acne, as well as other conditions that mimic it.
The root of the problem can be as difficult to pin down as it is to treat. A few possibilities include the following:
-- Tiny parasites called demodex mites that live in the hair follicles. (These are rare in cats, however.)
-- Ringworm, which is not a worm but a fungus (and one that you can catch, too!).
-- Contact dermatitis (a skin allergy), perhaps caused by a plastic food dish.
-- An abscess.
-- A food allergy.
-- An inhalant allergy -- something your cat's breathing in that he's allergic to.
You need to take your cat to your veterinarian to work out the exact problem and cure. The area needs to be kept washed, at the very least -- but don't squeeze the blemishes! You may additionally get prescribed creams, wipes or medications.
If you're following your veterinarian's directions and the problem shows no sign of improvement within a couple of weeks, discuss a referral to a dermatology specialist.
The good news is that feline acne is more of an aesthetic dilemma than a serious health concern. As long as the area doesn't become infected, your cat won't be bothered by the blemishes. -- Dr. Marty Becker
Do you have a pet question? Send it to petconnection@gmail.com.
THE BUZZ
Finding a vet on the road
has never been this easy
-- With people taking their pets -- mostly dogs -- with them on vacation, it's no surprise that the hospitality industry has opened its doors to pets. Everything from high-end luxury hotels to modest highway-exit motels now welcome dogs and their owners, with amenities from special potty spots to room service. The American Animal Hospital Association has noticed all those roaming rovers, too. The AAHA has launched a trip-planner, which pinpoints veterinary clinics and hospitals along the way that meet the organization's standards for care. Plug in where you're starting from and where you're heading to, and you'll get not only driving directions for your trip, but the name, location and contact information for pet help along the way. The free service is at www.healthypet.com/RelocationAndTravel/TripPlanner.aspx.
-- African honeybees kill more people on the African plain than do lions, leopards or cheetahs. They form swarms of up to 30,000 bees and will pursue victims for up to a mile, repeatedly stinging them. More bee trivia: The queen bee was called the king bee until the late 1660s, when a Dutch scientist took the time to dissect one.
-- Catnip produces bouts of ecstasy for those cats who like the stuff -- about half of all cats. A substance called nepetalactone present in the leaves and stems causes the behavior, which lasts for just a few minutes and can include rolling, rubbing, leaping, purring and general uninhibited happiness. Kittens under the age of 3 months do not react to catnip, and even in those cats who truly adore the "high," the plant is nonaddictive and harmless. -- Dr. Marty Becker and Mikkel Becker Shannon.
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet-care experts headed by "Good Morning America" and "The Dr. Oz Show" veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker and award-winning journalist Gina Spadafori. The two are also the authors of many best-selling pet-care books. Dr. Becker can also be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker.