Animal Planet : How to Prevent Cancer in Dogs

If a female dog is spayed before her first heat cycle the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer is eliminated, as the ovaries and uterus are removed. The risk of her developing mammary cancer is greatly reduced. Every heat cycle a dog experiences increases her chances of developing one of these types of cancer. In fact, after a female dog has had many heat cycles, the chances that she will develop tumors in her mammary glands are as high as 1 in 4.

Neutering Male Dogs

The removal of a dogs testicles means the dog will not get testicular cancer.

Not Spaying or Neutering Too Early

Some evidence has shown that neutering before a male dog is 6 months of age can increase the risks of some cancers developing later in life. Many people suggest that large breed male dogs should not be neutered before they are 1 year of age. Some people suggest that spaying a female before she is 4 months of age may contribute to cancers in her urinary system.

Diet

There are many ingredients in dog food that have been linked to causing cancer in dogs. The most concerning ingredients are the cheap preservatives, BHT, and BHA. These have been linked to causing cancers in pets as well as other health problems. Dog owners are advised to avoid buying dog foods that use these preservative, which would be mentioned on the ingredients list.

Ethoxyquin is also a noted problem causing ingredient, but may not be on the ingredients list even when a food contains it. By-products (which can be beaks, feet, cancerous tumors) are preserved with ethoxyquin. As it is considered part of the by-product it is not necessarily listed on the ingredients list. Ethoxyquin is a chemical pesticide banned from use in humans, highly regulated in livestock feed, and banned in some countries. A wise owner would avoid all dog goods that contain by-products.

Many lower priced, lower quality, dog foods use cheap filler, ingredients that do not contain a lot of nutrition, and are hard to digest. These ingredients, due to the strain they put on the dog’s digestive system, have been suspected of contributing to cancers. Such ingredients include corn gluten meal, and brewers rice. Corn in general is not easy for a dog to digest and should not be in the first three ingredient positions in a dog’s food.

Obesity in dogs also contributes to cancers, as such the dog should be on a proper diet, exercised well, and not allowed to get fat from over feeding.

Overuse of Chemicals

The chemicals we use in our homes, on our lawns, and on our dog, could predispose it to some cancers. We need to remember that the dog is in contact with more surfaces (floor, sofa, lawn) and will lick their paws and ingest the chemicals we use on those surfaces. While a chemical might be safe to breathe; the dog will be ingesting particles of it regularly.

Many of the products that are used to control fleas can contribute to cancer, especially flea collars, sprays, and most flea shampoos. Dogs should not be treated unless fleas are present, and then a natural flea control should be used, flea comb, or Pyrethrins. Diatomaceous earth can be used in the home to control fleas.

Vaccinations should not be given at the same site.  Some people suggest that dogs who are mostly indoors are only vaccinated every 2 years, alternating the sides of their body where shots are given.

Reducing Stress

Just as in humans, stress can contribute to cancer in pets. Making sure your dog gets its mental needs met, and enough exercise, are two ways to reduce stress. If your lifestyle is causing anxiety in your dog you need to find a way to reduce this.

Cancer is a leading killer of dogs. In many areas it is second only to accidents. Many cancers are preventable with care and a proper diet. Note that some breeds of dog are more at risk of getting cancer than others, and that mixed breed dogs, when well cared for and on a good diet, have a slightly reduced rate of cancer.

Spaying Female Dogs

If a female dog is spayed before her first heat cycle the risk of ovarian or uterine cancer is eliminated, as the ovaries and uterus are removed. The risk of her developing mammary cancer is greatly reduced. Every heat cycle a dog experiences increases her chances of developing one of these types of cancer. In fact, after a female dog has had many heat cycles, the chances that she will develop tumors in her mammary glands are as high as 1 in 4.

Neutering Male Dogs

The removal of a dogs testicles means the dog will not get testicular cancer.

Not Spaying or Neutering Too Early

Some evidence has shown that neutering before a male dog is 6 months of age can increase the risks of some cancers developing later in life. Many people suggest that large breed male dogs should not be neutered before they are 1 year of age. Some people suggest that spaying a female before she is 4 months of age may contribute to cancers in her urinary system.

Diet

There are many ingredients in dog food that have been linked to causing cancer in dogs. The most concerning ingredients are the cheap preservatives, BHT, and BHA. These have been linked to causing cancers in pets as well as other health problems. Dog owners are advised to avoid buying dog foods that use these preservative, which would be mentioned on the ingredients list.

Ethoxyquin is also a noted problem causing ingredient, but may not be on the ingredients list even when a food contains it. By-products (which can be beaks, feet, cancerous tumors) are preserved with ethoxyquin. As it is considered part of the by-product it is not necessarily listed on the ingredients list. Ethoxyquin is a chemical pesticide banned from use in humans, highly regulated in livestock feed, and banned in some countries. A wise owner would avoid all dog goods that contain by-products.

Many lower priced, lower quality, dog foods use cheap filler, ingredients that do not contain a lot of nutrition, and are hard to digest. These ingredients, due to the strain they put on the dog’s digestive system, have been suspected of contributing to cancers. Such ingredients include corn gluten meal, and brewers rice. Corn in general is not easy for a dog to digest and should not be in the first three ingredient positions in a dog’s food.

Obesity in dogs also contributes to cancers, as such the dog should be on a proper diet, exercised well, and not allowed to get fat from over feeding.

Overuse of Chemicals

The chemicals we use in our homes, on our lawns, and on our dog, could predispose it to some cancers. We need to remember that the dog is in contact with more surfaces (floor, sofa, lawn) and will lick their paws and ingest the chemicals we use on those surfaces. While a chemical might be safe to breathe; the dog will be ingesting particles of it regularly.

Many of the products that are used to control fleas can contribute to cancer, especially flea collars, sprays, and most flea shampoos. Dogs should not be treated unless fleas are present, and then a natural flea control should be used, flea comb, or Pyrethrins. Diatomaceous earth can be used in the home to control fleas.

Vaccinations should not be given at the same site.  Some people suggest that dogs who are mostly indoors are only vaccinated every 2 years, alternating the sides of their body where shots are given.

Reducing Stress

Just as in humans, stress can contribute to cancer in pets. Making sure your dog gets its mental needs met, and enough exercise, are two ways to reduce stress. If your lifestyle is causing anxiety in your dog you need to find a way to reduce this.