Cancer Common in Pets

Pet owners urged to take out Insurance on their pets. The North American Precis Syndicate (NAPS) is reporting that taking out Pet Insurance is an important step to take, with pets just as likely to develop cancers as humans.

Although the article applies to pet owners in America, it is obvious that British cat and dog owners should also take notice. Dogs, it is reported, are highly more likely to get skin cancer than humans, four times more likely to get breast cancer whilst they are eight times more likely to develop bone cancer and twice as likely to get leukaemia.

The most common pet cancers can by lymphosarcoma and skin cancer. Dr Carol McConnell speaks on behalf of Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), saying that ‘clinical signs of cancer can present themselves in dogs and cats at a very rapid rate’.

Pet Insurance is important so that owners can afford treatment if symptoms of cancer appear. NAPS gives some signs to watch out for in your pets:

• Lumps or soars that do not heal
• Discharge or bleeding 
• Rapid weight loss 
• Lack of appetite in the pet
• Pain or difficulty for the pet to chew or swallow 
• Bad smell
• Constantly tired with little effort given to exercise.

Early detection of cancer can be met with successful treatment in the modern day. Pets can undergo treatments much like humans do, with chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy and surgical procedures.

The high costs of some of these treatments can be made easier by taking out Pet Insurance. Cancer is a common form of illness for pets under 10 years old.