Cancer is one of the most feared conditions in dogs and cats. While we’ve made many great strides in treating cancer over the last decades, preventing (or at least reducing) cancer in pets should be every owner’s goal. Here are five simple things you can do to greatly reduce your pet’s chance of developing this dreaded and often fatal condition.

1. Reduce unnecessary vaccinations

Missy was an eight-year-old Persian cat who received vaccinations every year of her short life. One month following her recent (and unnecessary) vaccinations, she developed a lump at the site of one of her shots. A biopsy showed this lump was an aggressive cancer called a vaccine-associated sarcoma (VAS.) Despite her owner’s best efforts, Missy died less than a year following this diagnosis. Missy’s death was both unnecessary and avoidable. The current recommendation is that pets should receive vaccinations no more than every three years or even less than that based upon blood antibody titer testing. Vaccine-associated sarcomas can be greatly reduced in pets by simply not having your dog or cat immunized every year.

2. Feed your pet a healthy diet

Many well-known brands of pet foods contain animal and plant byproducts and chemical preservatives and additives. These ingredients are unnecessary and may prove harmful to pets by increasing inflammation and oxidation in the body, the two leading causes of cancers in most pets. By feeding your pet a natural food devoid of these potentially harmful ingredients, you can greatly reduce your pet’s risk of cancer.

3. Give your pet nutritional supplements

Many nutritional supplements such as fish oil, antioxidants, quercetin, curcumin, and probiotics can boost your pet’s immune system and minimize many diseases including cancer. Supplements made specifically for pets are usually available in palatable forms, making it easy to administer these life-saving products to your dog or cat.

4. Schedule regular checkups for your pet

Pets under 5 years of age should be examined at least once per year by your veterinarian, and pets 5 years of age and older should be examined at least twice yearly. These visits should include a full physical examination, as well as laboratory testing (blood testing, urine testing, and a microscopic fecal analysis.) Early diagnosis is your pet’s best chance for surviving cancer. Many cancers that are diagnosed before they become clinically apparent can actually be cured with proper therapy.

5. Don’t ignore lumps and bumps

All lumps and bumps should be checked by your veterinarian when they first appear. The good news is that most lumps and bumps are not cancerous tumors. The bad news is that cancerous tumors look just like these benign lumps and bumps. No one can tell if a lump or bump is cancerous without some sort of testing. Most skin masses can be easily diagnosed in the doctor’s office with a simple and inexpensive procedure called an aspiration biopsy. Other masses might require surgical removal for a full biopsy. Regardless, don’t wait and watch cancer grow. All lumps are considered cancerous until proven otherwise, and simply having the doctor look and feel your pet’s lump is not adequate.

By following these simple 5 tips, you can do a lot to help prevent cancer in your pet and give your pet the best chance for cure if and when cancer is diagnosed.

Dr. Shawn Messonnier, DVM the host of the weekly award-winning radio show, “Dr. Shawn-The Natural Vet” on Martha Stewart Radio (Sirius 112 Tues 8-10 PM EST and Sat 9-11AM EST) sits on the advisory board of the Journal Veterinary Forum, and is a holistic pet columnist for Animal Wellness, Body + Soul, and Veterinary Forum. In addition to serving clients in his Paws & Claws Animal Hospital, he has written several books on the natural care of pets, including The Natural Health Bible for Dogs & Cats, The Allergy Solution for Dogs, 8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, Preventing and Treating Cancer In Dogs and most recently Unexpected Miracles (Forge Books/ Aug 2009). He is also the creator of a new line of organic pet products, Dr. Shawn’s Pet Organics (www.Dr.Shawnspetorganics.com) You’ll find him online at www.petcarenaturally.com

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