posted by Tess on Jan 14
The location of oral and pharyngeal cancer presents an immediate danger to the life of the dog. The growth causes an obstruction in the oral passage that is difficult to operate and excise.
Benign oral cancer in dogs presents a good prognosis as it does not spread and invade the bones or other tissues like malignant tumors. Benign tumors are well defined and limited to an area while malignant tumors metastasize to nearby as well as distant organs of the body. Treating malignant oral cancers often poses a challenge to surgeons as they are difficult to access. There is aslo an accompanied risk of disfiguration as well.
Early detection is elemental to the success of treatment. Symptoms of oral cancer normally appear in the mouth as:
* Abnormal lumps.
* Overgrowth of gums.
* Bleeding.
* Lesions and sores.
* Difficulty in chewing and swallowing.
But these symptoms do not surface in early stages like the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and show after it is already too late.
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posted by Tess on Jan 13
Intestinal cancer throws up symptoms that are similar to symptoms caused by an inflammation or obstruction in the intestinal passage. This makes early detection a difficult task. Although they form a small percentage of all feline cancers and cancers in dogs, prognosis ranges from poor to bad depending upon the location of the tumor.
The common types of cancers that can develop in a cat’s intestines include:
* Lymphoma - A neoplasm of lymph tissue that is most predominant in cats.
* Mast Cell Neoplasia – A cancer that causes single or multiple lesions in the small intestines.
* Adenocarcinoma – A malignant tumor that originates from the glandular epithelium.
* Other Intestinal Neoplasms such as rectal and colon tumors.
Lymphoma is the most common form of intestinal tumors in cats followed by carcinomas and mast cell tumors. Like the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs, intestinal tumors in cats also remain concealed due to the general nature of symptoms. Tumors located in different areas of the intestine have different manifestations.
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posted by Tess on Jan 12
Lung cancer in cats may either be primary or secondary. Primary lung cancer originates in the lung tissue while secondary lung cancer is caused by metastasis from other cancerous sites. Like other cancers, the early signs of lung cancer are not easily detectible and its prevalence is evident only after a chest X-Ray has been done. As the cancer develops some of the clinical signs that emerge are phlegm or blood on coughing, weight loss and anorexia.
A typical primary lung cancer is a single mass but can appear as multiple tumors in its advanced stages. A secondary lung cancer that has spread from another part of the body would almost always appear as multiple masses in different lung lobes.
A confirmed diagnosis is of utmost necessity because some types of fungal infections can also appear as masses in the lungs. If fungal infection is suspected, it can be confirmed by the use of fungal titers or a microscopic analysis of samples taken from the site of the infection. Confirmation of lung cancer is possible only after microscopic examination of a sample obtained through biopsy.
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posted by Tess on Jan 11
Body tissue is created by a continuous process of division and multiplication of cells. This process helps in the necessary growth and during the self-healing and maintenance of healthy cells. The cell division process changes over time and there comes a stage when it is restricted to the replacement of dead cells. This natural process tends to go awry due to certain factors that disturb the ability of cells to duplicate in a regulated manner. Rapid and unorganized growth of cells leads to formation of benign or malignant tumors.
Benign tumors are lumps of harmless growth that can be conveniently removed by surgery without risk of recurrence. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are signs of cancer in dogs, which can spread to neighboring as well as distant organs and also threaten life.
Skin cancer, along with cancer of the mammary glands accounts for the majority of cancers in dogs. Ultraviolet rays play a significant role in causing skin cancer in humans as well as pets. Feline cancer is common in outdoor cats and excessive exposure to the sun can harm white or light colored skin more than dark skin.
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posted by Tess on Jan 10
With the amount of funds, time and effort that has gone into cancer research, one would think that it is high time that there was a permanent cure or vaccine to prevent the disease. Despite the enormous progress that has been made in this field, science is still far from a permanent solution for human as well as canine cancer.
Every now and then we keep on hearing about vaccines for different types of cancers. For example a study revealed that the human papilloma virus was significantly effective in preventing vulval and vaginal cancer lesions in women. Another significant development reported in recent times is that of a conditional approval of a vaccine for canine melanoma.
It is difficult to treat advanced melanoma regardless of whether it occurs in humans or dogs or as a form of feline cancer . In later stages the melanoma is extremely resistant to chemotherapeutic drugs and radiation. This resistance led to a need to look for new modes of treating the deadly cancer. The emphasis was on developing a vaccine that would rein in the immune system.
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posted by Tess on Jan 9
The liver is a multifunctional organ in the body. It is involved in practically all the biochemical processes that go on in a healthy body. It transfers food into energy, detoxifies waste materials, synthesizes proteins and also serves as a blood reservoir. It is natural for any disorder in such a versatile organ to affect other parts of the body. Moreover its capacity to act as a life preserver is so enormous that it can function efficiently even when nearly 70 to 80% of its mass is affected by any disease, even if it is liver cancer in dogs.
The natural corollary of the liver’s multifunctional role and its reserve capacity is that the liver can keep your dog alive despite a major infection or a huge tumor. The fact that the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs tend to be non specific or mimic symptoms of other disorders adds to the problem. More often than not the symptoms can remain hidden till the disorder has advanced to an untreatable stage.
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posted by Tess on Jan 2
1/2 ounce base oil (hazelnut or sweet almond)
4 drops Ravensara
2 drops Labdanum
1 drop Helichrysum
3 drops Lavender
Combine all ingredients, shake and store in a dark glass bottle. Apply a small amount directly to minor cuts, wounds, scrapes, irritations, insect bites, burns, bruises and post-operative incisions.
From Holistic Aromatherapy for Animals by Kristen Leigh Bell
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