Q: A friend’s dog recently died of cancer. We want to do everything we can to protect our dogs from cancer. What kind of advice can you offer?
A: Cancer is all too common in dogs, especially large purebred dogs. You can’t change your dog’s genes, but there are things you can do to minimize your cancer risk.
Overweight dogs develop cancer more often than lean dogs. Keep your dog at a healthy weight because a slim dog will outlive an overweight dog by two years.
Environmental toxins can cause cancer in dogs. If you do smoke, do so outdoors, away from your dog, or quit smoking if possible. Dogs with long muzzles are particularly susceptible to nose cancer from passive smoking.
Some lawn chemicals increase the risk of cancer, so don’t use them or remove your dog from the lawn until the spray has dried or penetrated the soil. Paints, solvents, and asbestos can also cause cancer, so keep your dog away.
No studies have shown that any particular diet prevents cancer, but there is some evidence that omega-3 fatty acids may help reduce risk.
Scottish Terriers develop transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary tract more frequently than other breeds. However, some studies suggest that giving cruciferous vegetables may reduce the risk.
If your dog has a fair face or short hair, wearing pet sunscreen and UV-blocking clothing can help prevent skin cancer.
Male dogs with undescended testicles are much more likely to develop cancer than testicles that are normally descended into the scrotum and should be removed. They have a higher risk of developing breast cancer than women who are spayed.
Large dogs that are spayed before maturity are at increased risk of some cancers. So if you have a large dog, talk to your veterinarian about when to spay/neuter.
Check your dog’s entire body, including his mouth, regularly for lumps or wounds that are not healing. Note loss of energy or appetite, unintended weight loss, increased drinking or urination, persistent vomiting or coughing, difficulty breathing, discharge or foul odors. If any abnormalities are found, have them checked by a veterinarian immediately.
Q: Moxie, our healthy indoor 4 year old house cat, passed away suddenly. He had never been sick for a single day in his life, including his last day. His appetite and energy were good. It’s not possible he ingested anything toxic. why did he die?
A: Sorry. It’s especially hard when you don’t have the chance to prepare for your pet’s death or say goodbye.
Of course, we don’t know the cause of Moxie’s death, but we may speculate that he died of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart (“cardio-”) muscle (“-myo-”). (“-passy”). Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the most common heart disease in cats, is characterized by thickening of the heart’s muscle wall.
Cats with HCM rarely develop heart murmurs or arrhythmias and are clinically diagnosed until catastrophic events occur, such as sudden death, acute heart failure, or the onset of sudden pain and paralysis in the hind limbs due to blood clots blocking blood flow to the legs. It rarely shows symptoms. HCM is diagnosed by an ultrasound of the heart called an echocardiogram.
Studies show that 15-34% of apparently healthy cats have HCM. Young to middle-aged cats are most often affected. More than 75% are males, and males develop a more severe disease at a younger age than females.
The cause of HCM is unknown, but genetic mutations have been identified in Maine Coon, Ragdoll, and Sphynx breeds. HCM is thought to be inherited by Persians and Rexes, so it can be passed on to domestic cats.
Lee Pickett (VMD) practices companion animal medicine in North Carolina. Please contact her at https://askthevet.pet.