My cat Fiona was diagnosed in October 2007 with mammary cancer and passed away October 2008. Mammary cancer is the third most common and the fastest moving cancer in cats if it is an anaplastic carcinoma.
Today for humans there are more diseases than ever and even more drugs and treatments with which to treat and cure them. Something has changed.
Our environment, our food, our water, the way we live – stress; it’s all changed. Our thoughts, our actions, positive or negative, influence everything around us, including our pets. They feel the stress also.
Everything matters. It always has; now more than ever. The time for change is here. And whether you believe it now or in the future – you DO get to change the world we live in. Do it for your animals, your loved ones, even if you are not doing it for yourself yet. Let the animals guide us towards better health and a better world. Listen to them. They know the way.
Knowing What to Look For
Knowing the common signs that can indicate cancer helps in early detection. The American Veterinary Medical Association and the Veterinary Cancer Society say these clinical signs may indicate cancer or another serious condition that needs veterinary attention.
Here are some clinical signs of canine cancer:
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight Loss
- Loss of Appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive Odor
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitance to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
Here are some warnings signs of feline cancer:
- Swollen lymph nodes
- An enlarging or changing lump
- Abdominal distension
- Chronic weight loss
- Chronic vomiting or diarrhea
- Unexplained bleeding
- Cough
- Lameness
- Straining to urinate
- Oral odor
Detecting any of these signs and acting quickly is the first weapon for fighting cancer (or any other serious illnesses in our cats for that matter). It is always better to be safe than to be sorry later. Some cancer is so aggressive that it might be too late when you finally take your cat to the veterinarian. When in doubt, act immediately. Take your cat to the vet!
If your cat is getting older, it is a good idea to routinely examine the body by stroking and petting and going over the entire body. Such regular grooming sessions will serve two purposes: Detecting "anything out of ordinary" as well as deepening the bond between you and your cat. Annual or biannual geriatric complete physical examination is also very useful in catching geriatric illnesses early such as hyperthyroidism and chronic renal failure as well as cancer.
Mammary Cancer in Cats:
Read this link for further information:
http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&A=2445&S=2
Visit http://www.acvimfoundation.org. Pioneering Today’s Care and Tomorrow’s Cure.
Don’t wait! Do a mammary exam on your cat today!
Micro-Chipping:
Chips fail 30% of the time. There are five different manufacturers of these microchips and they are not universally scanned by the same device. If your pet ends up at a location where they do not have the matching scanner for the chip in your pet, it will come up negative.
- 22 calls made to “pet recovery lines” 15 made you leave a message (APA 2003) American Pet Association
- Less than 1% of veterinarians scan every new client’s pet to see if they are chipped (APA 2003) American Pet Association
- APA states: A recent poll showed that of 82 humane shelters contacted randomly, 61 did not have scanners (to read microchips). 8 had scanners but didn’t use them and only 3 scanned microchips
- NONE contacted had more than one microchip scanner
- There is a risk of migration infection at the sit of the microchip
Don’t panic and have your chip removed. This would be very difficult to do, because of how small these chips are and the fact that they migrate. We recommend you palpate the area from around the neck and shoulders down to the forearms weekly. If you find a swelling in these areas, go to your veterinarian and have your animal checked out. If they find the chip is in the swelling area, they recommend immediate removal and biopsy.
Microchip-Induced Tumors in Laboratory Rodents and Dogs: A Review of the Literature 1990–2006" by Katherine Albrecht, Ed.D http://www.antichips.com/cancer
Dental Cleaning:
Yes, they need it but research the different types of ways it can be done. I go to a lady that does both my cats and dogs without anesthesia. She is very gentle and their teeth are perfectly clean afterwards but I have also had my older cat done under anesthesia as she is fourteen and had never had her teeth cleaned and the vet wanted to be sure if she needed extractions they could be done right away!
Gentle Dental for Pets – San Diego Link
Energy/Vibration:
I cover this a lot as I need to hear it also. If you are having a bad day, go pet/play your animals. If you are having a good day, go pet/play with your animals. As they walk by, go pet/play with your animals. Five minutes here and there make a huge difference. Listen to their bark and their meow. Listen to the different variations. They are saying something. They are talking. It’s not that complicated. It is rarely anything more or less than the following:
“Hello, Feed Me, Play with Me, Let’s go Potty, Let’s go for a walk, I love you!”
And if somebody else in the home/workplace is not cooperating, talk to them, try to help them understand what an impact their smile or their frown has on the animal. Take the time now! The animals know what we are saying. They hear us. They hear better than we do! Be careful what you say and the tone that you use. Be gentle and kind even when they are being difficult. At times like this it matters most.
FOCUS ON:
- FOOD
- VACCINATIONS
- PESTICIDES
- WATER
- ENERGY
- TIME
- &LOVE!
And of course spay and neuter your pets. Better yet, have a licensed veterinarian do it!
Never wear anything that panics the cat.
~ P.J. O'Rourke
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