Common age relate ailments in dogs and cats

by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs

Arthritis in dogs and cats

Arthritis is one of the most common ailments seen in middle-aged and senior cats and dogs, but it can often affect younger animals too. It can be painful and debilitating and if left untreated it can significantly affect your pet’s quality of life.

Spotting the signs of arthritis in your pet can often be challenging. As a pet owner you will often be best placed to notice subtle changes in your pet, here are 7 of the most common signs to look out for.

Difficulty getting up

You may find that your senior pet seems stiffer when getting up after being recumbent and that any difficulty when moving around seems to ease once they have warmed up.

Limping or lameness

Your pet might develop a limp or start favouring one leg over the other.

Muscle atrophy

Pets suffering with arthritis may also develop muscle atrophy due to lower levels of activity and decreased muscle use. Look out for thinner muscles and signs of weight loss.

Fatigue

Your usually active cat or dog might seem to be more tired, preferring to rest or taking shorter walks than usual.

Licking or chewing of joints

You may notice your pet licking the affected joints to try and relieve the pain. Sometimes this can result in inflamed skin, hair loss and in severe cases open wounds in those areas.

Reluctance to move

Perhaps your dog isn’t so keen on jumping into the car anymore, or your cat no longer jumps up onto high surfaces or starts having accidents in the house because they can no longer jump out of the window. These changes in behaviour could be a sign of pain and discomfort due to arthritis.

Irritability

A cat or dog with arthritis may become “snappier” when handled, particularly if it affects the affected areas.

Arthritis tends to affect older cats and dogs but it can also develop from an early age. It can be caused by a number of factors, including trauma, poor nutrition, age, obesity, diabetes, Cushing’s disease, infection in the joint or congenital joint disorders like elbow or hip dysplasia.

If you suspect arthritis, you should always consult your vet who will carry out a physical examination of your pet and will look for the following symptoms:

• “Grinding” or “creaking” in the joints
• Pain or swelling around the joint
• Muscle wastage
• Limited movement
• Malformation of the bones

Unfortunately arthritis is rarely completely cured. It can be managed medically, nutritionally and even surgically, in severe cases, to help make your animal pain free and comfortable.

Physiotherapy, hydrotherapy or massage therapy may be advised to work on scar tissue and improve your pet’s mobility.

Your vet will also be looking for any underlying conditions that may have caused the arthritis as part of the overall treatment plan.

Whilst arthritis is a painful condition, the right care can help to make life more comfortable for your pet. This may involve some lifestyle changes to minimise any ongoing stress to the joints and to keep your senior pet’s muscles strong and healthy. In this area, diet and exercise is very important.

Keeping your pet at a healthy weight is essential, as any excess weight will put extra strain on the joints.

Fat also secretes hormones that increase inflammation!

Moderate exercise will help to strengthen the muscles around the joints so they give better support. Swimming is a great non-weight bearing exercise for dogs as it uses the whole body! Make sure your pet is getting enough rest too. Make sure they have a warm soft bed that is easy to climb into, and consider using a ramp to get your dog in and out of the car if they are too heavy to lift.

Your vet may advise appointments every six months or so to make sure that any medication is treating the arthritis effectively and monitor progress.

If you suspect your pet has arthritis or you are worried that your pet is in any pain or discomfort, it is always recommended that you make an appointment with your vet for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Hip and Elbow Dysplasia

These two words terrify large and giant breed dog owners, but the truth is this can happen to any size dog. This condition can drastically reduce a dog’s quality of life. The good news is that embracing the responsibilities of being a pet owner and educating yourself about potential health conditions, such as hip dysplasia, can go a long way toward keeping your dog comfortable.

The hip joint functions as a ball and socket. In dogs with hip dysplasia, the ball and socket do not fit or develop properly, rubbing and grinding instead of sliding smoothly. This results in deterioration over time and an eventual loss of function of the joint itself and much the same goes for the elbow.

Several factors lead to the development of hip dysplasia in dogs, beginning with genetics. Hip dysplasia is hereditary and is especially common in large and giant breed dogs, like the Great Danes, Saint Bernards, Labrador Retrievers, Boerboels and German Shepherd Dogs. Factors such as excessive growth rate, types of exercise and improper weight and nutrition can magnify this genetic predisposition.

Large and giant breed puppies have special nutrition requirements and need food specially formulated them.

These foods help prevent excessive growth, which can lead to skeletal disorders such as hip dysplasia, along with elbow dysplasia and other joint conditions. Slowing down these breeds’ growth allows their joints to develop without putting too much strain on them, helping to prevent problems down the line.

Improper nutrition can also influence a dog’s likelihood of developing hip dysplasia, as can too much exercise – or too little. Obesity puts a lot of stress on your dog’s joints, which can exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as hip dysplasia or even cause hip dysplasia.

Owners of small dogs are not off the hook either. Small and medium breed dogs can also develop hip and elbow dysplasia, although it is less common.

Some dogs begin to show signs of dysplasia when they are as young as four months of age, while other dogs develop it in conjunction with osteoarthritis as they age. In both cases, there are quite a few symptoms associated with hip and elbow dysplasia that larger breed dog owners should be familiar with. These symptoms may vary depending on the severity of the disease, the level of inflammation, the degree of looseness in the joint, and how long the dog has suffered from dysplasia.

Decreased activity, decreased range of motion, difficulty or reluctance rising, jumping, running, or climbing stairs, lameness in the hind end, looseness in the joint, narrow stance, swaying, “bunny hopping” gait, “grating” in the joint during movement, loss of muscle mass/atrophy, pain and general stiffness of affected joints are all common signs to look out for.

At your dog’s regular check-up, your veterinarian will perform a physical exam. Sometimes this exam is enough for your veterinarian to suspect dysplasia. In other cases, it is up to you, as the owner, to let your veterinarian know that your dog is experiencing discomfort.

The definitive diagnosis usually comes with a radiograph (x-ray). Your veterinarian will take radiographs of your dog’s hips and elbows to determine the degree and severity of the hip/elbow dysplasia, which will help determine the best course of treatment for your dog.

There are quite a few treatment options for dogs, ranging from lifestyle modifications to surgery.

Depending on your dog’s case, the vet may suggest certain changes to be made, such as, weight reduction and diet changes to take stress off the hips, exercise restriction, especially on hard surfaces, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications or joint supplements and, in severe cases, surgery.

Not all cases of dysplasia can be prevented, but there are some steps you can take to reduce your dog’s risk of developing this disease.

Keeping your dog’s skeletal system healthy should start when your dog is young, feeding your puppy an appropriate diet, especially if you have a large breed puppy, will give them a head start on healthy bone and joint development and help prevent the excessive growth that leads to the disease.

As your dog grows, providing appropriate levels of exercise and a healthy diet will prevent obesity, which is a major contributing factor to hip dysplasia. Obesity also causes many other health problems in dogs, so hold off on the table scraps and other fatty foods!

As a prospective purchaser of a new dog, do your research on the breed of your choice so that you are prepared for breed-specific difficulties that may arise in the future.

Kidney Disease in Pets

The body has two kidneys, a left and a right one that are positioned near the back just above the pelvis. The kidneys are connected to a large blood supply, and these organs are vital to the health of the remainder of the body; humans and animals need at least one functional kidney in order to survive.
When the kidneys are not functioning normally, there is some degree of renal insufficiency. Multiple factors may cause damage or injury to the kidneys, resulting in various degrees of renal insufficiency. If the problem arises within hours to days, this is termed acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI may result from many different reasons: infection, toxins, poor blood perfusion to the kidneys due to a drastic and sudden dip in blood pressure, blood loss due to trauma or certain anaesthetic events.

AKI is typically characterized by a reduction in urination, or not urinating at all, high potassium levels in the blood and enlarged and painful kidneys.

Certain causes of acute kidney injury can be treated, resulting in a complete cure. Others result in such severe and sudden renal damage that death from acute renal failure may occur. Some of these cases go on to progress to chronic kidney disease (CKD). Both kidneys are typically affected. Such disorders include congenital anomalies (i.e. those present since birth), hereditary renal problems, chronic infection or inflammation, prolonged exposure to certain chemicals toxic to the kidneys and cancer.
CKD may arise from a variety of different causes, ranging from incurable acute kidney disease/injury (AKD), to complications due to infection and inflammation, to genetic disorders. Both dogs and cats may be affected, of any breed and age. The majority of CKD cases occur in older pets and age is certainly a contributing risk factor of CKD development. Geriatric felines are especially notorious for developing kidney disease, with a large proportion being affected to various degrees with advancing years.

At the very earliest start of kidney disease, clinical signs may not have develop yet, so there may be no outward indication that your pet has an emerging kidney problem. However, once the number of damaged nephrons increases, the following clinical signs will appear. Signs may also have an insidious onset, meaning they first occur subtly and gradually. At first, only a few signs may occur, but as the kidney disease progresses, subsequent signs will develop over time. These clinical signs of CKD include, excessive urination and increased water consumption, decreased energy (lethargy, depression), weight loss, poor appetite (inappetance, anorexia), vomiting and nausea, diarrhoea or constipation, oral ulcerations, uremic odour, weakness and pale gums, fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and limbs, Blood clots, multi-organ injury, seizures.

Unfortunately, CKD is non-curative and will continue to progress and worsen over time until the kidneys ultimately fail completely.

This end stage occurs due to irreversible scarring (or fibrosis) of the kidneys, in which chronic injury has eventually caused the functional aspects of the kidneys to be replaced with non-functional scar tissue.
Keep in mind, if CKD is diagnosed at an early enough stage, certain measures, sometimes as simple as a diet change, can be taken to ensure that your pet can have a chance at a longer life. In certain, more advanced cases, symptoms can be treated by medication to keep your pet as comfortable as possible.

Liver Disease

The liver is the second largest organ in a dog’s body (after the skin) and is the workhorse of their body. It’s a specialized manufacturing and pollution control centre and is what makes the body function properly. The liver processes food eaten, manufactures the necessary building blocks, detoxifies and recycles the blood, and gets rid of the waste created. Since the liver is connected so intricately to the biochemistry of an organism, it can make diagnosing canine liver disease difficult. Liver disease can affect many body functions and in turn the liver can be affected by many other organs and systems of the body.

If not too far advanced, the symptoms and disease may sometimes be reversed due to the liver’s ability to completely regenerate. However, the disease must be managed properly to allow this to happen. A dog’s liver can be damaged up to 80% and still function normally due to its reserve capacity; because of this capability, the disease may be too far advanced and untreatable by the time it’s diagnosed.

The largest challenge facing veterinarians diagnosing canine liver disease is that the symptoms are not predictable and may not be specific.

Any number of traumas to a dog may result in liver disease: a hernia to the diaphragm, being hit by a car, a bruise or heatstroke. A diet that’s too high in fats can affect the liver; females are more prone to this than males. A dog with chronic infections (i.e. tooth problems) can contract liver disease. Fungal and bacterial infections can cause liver disease, as can parasites like heartworms and roundworms.

Contact with toxins from pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, bleach, household cleaners and paint chips that may contain lead can all cause liver disease. Your dog could contract hepatitis, which is an inflammation of the liver.

Cancer can overwhelm a dog’s system or metastasize directly to the liver itself.

There are numerous symptoms for canine liver disease. Jaundice is the most recognizable; a tint from yellow to orange will appear. It is most easily seen in the sclera (white) of the eye, but is also visible in the gums and skin of an affected dog. You may see more frequent urination which may also be tinged between lemon yellow and bright orange. Your dog may be thirstier than usual or have an unquenchable thirst. Their abdomen may look distended and be uncomfortable to the touch. They may have a lack of appetite, chronic weight loss, recurring gastrointestinal issues or bloody vomiting. The faeces may be yellow or orange, a paler colour than normal, or they may have bloody diarrhoea with the above characteristics. You may observe strange behaviour, circling, lethargy, no interest in playing or walks, or accelerating depression.

If your dog is diagnosed with canine liver disease, your vet will put your dog on a special diet or prescribe a diuretic to control water retention. Your vet may suggest rest and confinement, which will allow the body to focus needed resources on the healing process. If caught early and the liver isn’t too compromised the condition is reversible. Being alert to symptoms of canine liver disease, a responsible pet owner can save their dog’s life.

Treatment of any hepatic disease is aimed at resting the liver and minimizing those functions that have to do with metabolism of fats, proteins, carbohydrates and drugs. When your pet has liver disease, it’s even more important to feed the right food. Feed your pet easily digested carbohydrates, high-quality fats and limited amounts of sodium to control on-going liver damage and improve liver function.

IMPORTANT:

The signs of liver disease are not very specific, making it difficult to recognize. If obese cats stop eating, there could be fatal complications. Cats that lose their appetite for two to three days may experience Feline Hepatic Lipidosis, a condition associated with a dangerous build-up of fat in the liver that impairs proper function. If your cat is not eating, consult your veterinarian immediately.

Dental Disease

Did you know that dental care can extend your pet’s life?  Caring for our pet’s teeth should be a no-brainer. After all, we brush and floss our own teeth on a regular basis, visit a dentist whenever possible and spend considerable amounts when something goes wrong – so why aren’t we as diligent with our pets?

In fact, dental disease can potentially impact your pet’s major organs – heart, kidney, liver, lungs and even bladder. One of the biggest problems associated with poor dental health is infection. Plaque is soft and mostly bacteria, it forms just under the gum line (sub-gingival). It calcifies to form tartar and initially the body reacts to this as inflamed gums, but the supportive bone under the gums starts to resorb, loss of bone leads to gum recession, this is periodontal disease.

The reason this infection creates such health risks is that being at the gum line means that it can very easily enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body causing problems.

While dental disease can even start in their youth, dental problems most often come to the forefront when our pets reach their senior pet years. This is partly due to years of build up, but it is also because older animals have diminished immune systems and may be less capable of fighting off the effects of bacteria.

Common signs to look out for include:

Bad Breath

The most obvious sign that your pet’s teeth need attention is odour. It is often an indication that bacteria is accumulating in the mouth.

Tartar

When plaque hardens it becomes tartar. While plaque can be brushed away, tartar cannot and may require dental cleaning to remove. Red gum lines or discolouration of the teeth can also indicate problems.

Behavioural changes

Additional signs that dental disease may be present can be seen in changes in the way your pet eats; do they favour one side, are they actually chewing or just gulping down their food? Are they drooling or dropping food? Or are they showing a lessened appetite? All could be signs of a painful mouth. Another sign that dental care may be required is a reduced amount of energy. Most times owners assume that since their pet is older, there is a natural slow down. Many times this lack of energy is caused by dental disease and the flow of bacteria throughout the body wearing them down.

One only has to think of how we feel when our teeth are affected to understand what our pets must be going through. The difference is, our pets are much better at hiding it. As the dental problems slowly worsen, they manage to cope with the increasing pain and go on. Most times, we won’t even know there is a problem until it becomes severe.

While regular brushing and other at-home care is recommended to help reduce the risk of dental disease, once present, the primary treatment method is dental surgery. When a pet is older, the challenge of treating dental disease escalates and many fear the risks associated with anaesthesia. We have to remember that the bacteria and infection in the bone is doing more damage to the organs than anaesthesia would do to your pet.

Basic at-home dental management:

Brushing Teeth

The value of brushing your pet’s teeth cannot be underestimated, just committing to brushing 1-2 minutes once a week may dramatically help decrease the amount of plaque and tartar from building up. While finger brushes can be purchased from most pet stores, a gauze swab wrapped around your finger to gently scrub all the vertical surfaces of your dog’s teeth would do just fine.

Dental Chews

Some off-the-shelf dental chews, oral gels and in-water additives have proven to be effective at reducing plaque and tartar build-up.

It is still recommended to take your dog to your vet for a complete physical and lab work on a regular basis.

Heart disease

Heart disease is commonly diagnosed in both dogs and cats. The diagnosis can be disturbing and confusing for pet owners. The differences between heart disease and heart failure are important to recognize.

Heart failure, also often referred to as congestive heart failure or CHF, is the end result of any type of heart disease. Dogs and cats that suffer from heart disease may eventually suffer from congestive heart failure if the disease within the heart results in an inability of the heart to function normally. When the heart is unable to pump blood effectively to other areas of the body, congestive heart failure results.
Dogs and cats can have heart disease without experiencing heart failure. However, when heart failure occurs, heart disease is present in one form or another.

Heart disease in dogs and cats can take many different forms.

It can originate in the muscle of the heart. Heart disease can be the result of ageing changes within the heart which cause the structures of the heart (such as the heart valves) to become malformed. It can be the result of a developmental abnormality which causes the structure of the heart or blood vessels to be abnormal at birth and remain abnormal.

Heart disease, depending on the type and the severity of the disease, may be asymptomatic, with the pet showing no symptoms of disease at all. However, it can also cause severe symptoms, which may be fatal for your pet. Symptoms of heart disease can also fall in the middle range, where the dog or cat has symptoms of heart disease but is able to live with the symptoms.

Symptoms of congestive heart failure in dogs and cats vary depending on whether left and/or right-sided heart failure is present. The most common clinical signs are decreased endurance and exercise intolerance, lethargy, coughing and difficulty breathing. In severe cases and/or those with right-sided heart failure, symptoms may include abdominal pressure with fluid accumulation (known as ascites), jugular vein distension and/or pulsation of the vessels of the neck and the gums. The lips and tongue may turn from a normal pink colour to a pale or bluish colour.

Your pet’s treatment will depend on what specific heart problem they have and what may be causing it.

Your vet may recommend medications to help the heart work and correct irregular heartbeats, medications to slow fluid build-up in the lungs. Surgery can be performed to correct a torn valve or to insert a pacemaker to correct the heartbeat. A commercial or prescription low-salt diet to help decrease fluid build-up in the body. Limiting activity and exercise while effectively managing weight without putting too much strain on your pet’s heart.

For more information on your senior pet and the ageing process, check out our blog – https://kimvet.co.za/pets-and-ageing/

• https://www.petmd.comhttps://wagwalking.com
• https://www.gwfnutrition.com/single-post/Arthritis-in-dogs-and-cats
• https://valevets.com/heart-disease/
• https://dogquality.com/blogs/senior-dog-blog/13922195-dental-health-in-older-dogs
• https://www.canidae.com/blog/2010/09/canine-liver-disease-causes-and-symptoms/https://www.hillspet.co.za/cat-care/healthcare/cat-liver-disease
• http://themeowingvet.com/2018/07/16/getting-real-about-renal-failure-chronic-kidney-disease-ckd-in-cats-dogs/
• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/hip-dysplasia-in-dogs/

Nutrition For Your Senior Pet

by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs

Nutrition for your senior pet is something that should not be overlooked. The right diet plays an extremely important role when addressing some of the problems related to ageing.

A wide variety of illnesses related to old age can be addressed and significantly improved simply by adding the right nutrition to the mix. Yes, medicine is great, but to a great extent, a more holistic approach can be of greater benefit, combining both medicine and diet.

We offer a wide range of products that could be beneficial to the ageing process that will help manage certain signs of ageing and slow it down to a certain extent.

Weight control is of utmost importance. An overweight pet of ANY age is unacceptable. Obese pets age faster and a lot less gracefully. These animals are the first to suffer from joint ailments and organ problems.

Joint care is crucial for those pets suffering from any arthritic changes in the joint. In actual fact, most dogs in general will benefit from a little joint support, especially large breeds, whether joint supplements or nutrition.

Kidney specific diets are also great for senior dogs and cats. These critters will follow the natural path of degeneration that comes with old age, which most certainly includes internal organs.

Some great foods that will be of great benefit include:

Dogs:

• Ultra Dog – Joint Health
• Ultra Dog – Weight Control
• Eukanuba – 7+ Years Senior
• Eukanuba – Weight Control
• Eukanuba – Sensitive Joints
• Hill’s – Youthful Vitality
• Hill’s – Metabolic
• Hill’s – Metabolic + Mobility
• Hill’s – j/d
• Hill’s – k/d + Mobility
• Hills – Perfect Weight

Cats:

• Royal Canin – Senior Ageing
• Royal Canin – Light Weight
• Iams – Healthy Senior
• Hill’s – Youthful Vitality
• Hill’s – Mature Adult
• Hill’s – k/d
• Hill’s – k/d + Mobility
• Hill’s – Metabolic

Our staff is extremely clued up when it comes to the perfect nutrition for your pet. We will walk with you every step of the way.

An alternative to these premium diets, if they prove to be too expensive, a balanced senior diet accompanied by a joint supplement.

Some good supplements include:

• GCS Joint Care
• Mobi-Flex
• Nutradyl

Of course, keep in mind that a premium balanced diet is still the best option for your senior pet!

For more information on the ageing process of pets, check out out blog – https://kimvet.co.za/pets-and-ageing/
For more information in pet nutrition, please see the Hill’s Pet Nutrition website – https://www.hillspet.co.za/

Pets and Ageing

by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs

Pets and ageing. A sensitive topic for most of us. We as pet owners like to think that our pets will live forever.

The thing is, just like humans, age is the one thing that we simply cannot prevent. It creeps up on you, your pets even more so.

Pets age at an exceptionally quicker pace than we do, breed and weight playing a pretty big role as well. At some point you’ll start to notice the small behavioural changes that might have gone unnoticed a year or two ago. It’s at this point we start to panic.

Taking your pet for a yearly health check is a no-brainer, but as your pet grows older, it’s advised to go for health checks more often so that early signs of ageing can be isolated and treated accordingly, making the process of growing old more comfortable for your pet and A LOT less scary for you as an owner.

In the photo accompanying this post, is a short version of, what Hill’s Pet Nutrition refers to as, the Tell TAIL Signs of ageing. Apart from the clever wordplay, this is actually some pretty relevant information to help in identifying those very behavioural changes even the most conscientious pet parent may have missed. This most definitely applies to both dogs and cats.

The Tell Tail Signs are as follows:

T:

Teeth and Thinking

As your pet gets older, just like humans, they tend to start forgetting simple things, like where their bed is, or where the door is when they need to go outside.

There is a very good chance that they also may need a dental. Some of the clues include bad breath and brown/yellow tartar build-up on their teeth with red, inflamed gums.

It is important to address this as soon as possible, because leaving their teeth in that state could seriously affect your furry friend’s health, for example, bacteria from the mouth could localise in the heart valves and cause endocarditis.

Check in with your nearest vet so that they can assist you with these issues and better the quality of life of your senior pet.

A:

Activity and Arthritis

You may notice that your pet doesn’t chase the ball as vigorously anymore, is slower to get up, or isn’t as eager to get to his/her food bowl for supper. This decrease in day to day activity could be an indication that your pet suffers from arthritis.

This is a painful part of getting old and both geriatric cats and dogs suffer mostly in silence.

As with humans, this is a fairly normal occurrence and can be managed with the correct diet, a joint supplement and a visit to the vet to ensure that it is safe to start your pet on a pain management protocol for those really painful days.

I:

Interaction and Interest

It may seem like your pet isn’t interested in spending time with you anymore, but in reality, this behaviour change could play a big part in ageing. Think of your pet as a grumpy old man or a grumpy old lady, they too like some peace and quiet, and that’s perfectly natural.

Yes, they don’t want to play with the kids as much, or don’t like all the attention and fuss, it’s just because they’re getting old. Keep in mind, this should not be confused with inactivity due to pain from other age related ailments like arthritis.

Be attentive to the needs of your geriatric pet to avoid any mishaps.

Take them to the vet to discuss all possible outcomes of ageing and every possible way to be there for your pet through this scary phase, like they have been there for you.

L:

Loss of control

Just like us, getting old means losing control over some of the most basic things that used to come naturally to your pet. Accidents in the house happen more regularly, and that’s okay. It may be inconvenient to have to clean up after them, but the best way to handle this situation is to go in for a health check. Discuss any changes in behaviour and the disruption of a daily routine to help your doctor understand what exactly is happening.

Medication can possibly be prescribed for incontinence and even Alzheimer’s in certain cases.

S:

Sleep-Wake Cycle

You may have noticed that your pet’s sleeping habits have changed. Now, they may be awake more often at night and take naps more often during the day.
This is a natural part of getting old, but could be indicative of certain health issues that may accompany the ageing process.

Unfortunately, there is rarely a quick fix to getting old. The best course of action is to visit your nearest veterinarian for a check-up and to discuss certain issues pertaining to your individual pet.

(PRNewsfoto/Hill’s Pet Nutrition)

Cancers Associated With Old Age In Pets

by Rina Van Eeden | May 15, 2020 | Cats, Dogs

Unfortunately, a common consequence of our pets becoming older is the occurrence of various cancers.

One of the most common cancers seen in primarily old dogs and rarely in cats, is mammary cancer.

Surgical removal is recommended for most mammary tumours.

The prognosis is good following surgical resection for MOST mammary tumours in female dogs, but the prognosis is worse for certain types of tumours in dogs and ALL mammary tumours in cats.

Mammary tumours are more common in female dogs that are either not spayed or were spayed after 2 years of age.
The risk of a dog developing a mammary tumour is about 0.5% if spayed before their first heat (approximately 6 months of age), about 8% after their first heat and about 26% after their second heat.
Cats spayed before 6 months of age have a 7-times reduced risk of developing mammary cancer and spaying at any age reduces the risk of mammary tumours by 40% to 60% in cats.

More than a quarter of un-spayed female dogs will develop a mammary tumour during their lifetime.

A second cancer to mention is lymphoma.

Lymphoma is common in both geriatric dogs and geriatric cats.

Lymphoma is a common neoplasm affecting both dogs and cats and results from the malignant transformation of lymphocytes. It often arises from primary and secondary lymphoid tissues, including the thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and gut-associated lymphoid tissues. However, because lymphocytes are capable of trafficking throughout the body, the development of lymphoma is not anatomically restricted. Common site for the spread of lymphoma include the skin, eye, central nervous system, testis and bone marrow.

Although lymphoma is considered a common neoplasm, a definitive cause for its development in dogs remains to be determined.

In cats, feline leukemia virus (FeLV) has been identified as a biologic carcinogen resulting in malignant lymphocyte transformation.
Often, lymphoma can affect the intestinal wall of your cat, causing symptoms of vomiting, diarrhoea and weight loss.

The oral cavity is a common site for neoplasia in cats, accounting for about 10% of all feline tumours.

The most common malignant oral tumour in cats is squamous cell carcinoma. The prognosis for this fast-growing, invasive tumour is grave once advanced, so it is vital to identify and treat it early.

Osteosarcoma accounts for only approximately 5% of all canine tumours, but is by far the most common bone tumour of the dog.  It is a malignant tumour of the bone and can develop in any bone, but most often occurs in bones bordering the shoulder, wrist and knee.

This cancer develops deep within the bone and becomes progressively more painful as it grows outward and the bone is destroyed from the inside out. Lameness may occur suddenly or start intermittently and progress over several weeks. Obvious swelling becomes evident as the tumour grows and normal bone is replaced by tumorous bone.

Osteosarcoma usually occurs in middle aged or elderly large and giant breed dogs but can occur in a dog of any age with larger breeds tending to develop tumours at younger ages.

Highly aggressive and metastatic in nature, over 90% of all clinically significant osteosarcomas have already metastasized by the time of diagnosis.  Most metastasis occurs in the lungs and other bones, but lymph node metastasis has been reported.

Canine haemangiosarcoma is also known as malignant haemangioendothelioma or angiosarcoma.

There are three types of haemangiosarcoma. Dermal when found on the skin, sub-cutaneous when found under the skin and visceral, when found in the organs like the spleen or heart. The spleen is where haemangiosarcoma is most commonly diagnosed and the prognosis in this area without treatment is poor.

These tumours are mostly found in middle aged to older dogs.

Dermal haemangiosarcoma appears as a red or black growth on hairless portions of your dog’s coat. Dogs like Dalmatons and bull terriers are at higher risk of the disease. Subcutaneous and visceral tumours appear on internal organs and there is often very little warning before they cause severe clinical signs. The average time for survival once a visceral tumour has been discovered is six to eight weeks.
Symptoms of haemangiosarcoma can depend on the location of the tumour. Your dog may show signs including lethargy, weakness, lack of appetite, coughing, weight loss and swelling of the abdomen.

In cats, the spleen and liver are the most common places for a hemangiosarcoma tumour to develop and grow.

Many times, cats with visceral hemangiosarcoma look and act normal and then suffer an episode of collapse or sudden death. That’s because the tumour, which affects blood vessels, has ruptured and the animal is bleeding internally. If the problem is diagnosed quickly enough, emergency surgery usually needs to be performed to remove the tumour.

Most of the time, cancerous cells have spread throughout the body through the circulatory system by the time the condition is diagnosed, even if surgery is done to remove the primary, actively bleeding tumour, pets usually become sick from the development of tumours in other areas, like the heart and lungs, shortly after initial diagnosis.

Symptoms to look out for include:

• Weight loss
• Enlarged abdomen
• Coughing
• Lethargy
• Decreased appetite
• Panting
• Pale gums
• Weakness

This condition is far more common in dogs than cats.

For more information on these, and other, common cancers found in pets, please visit these websites –

https://www.caninecancer.com/osteosarcoma/
http://www.caninecancer.org.au/haemangiosarcoma.html
https://www.cathealth.com/cat-health/cancer/2513-hemangiosarcoma-in-cats

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