Some facts about cancer in pets (and people):
1 in 3 dogs will get cancer. 50% of dogs over age 10 will get cancer. 40% of people will get cancer (this is similar to dogs!) 1 in 5 cats will get cancer.
We get asked all the time about why someone's dog or cat got cancer. While certainly there are environmental factors, the overwhelming reason is genetics.
Especially purebred dogs have a predisposed genetic link to cancer. Humans also can have a genetic link (like with certain breast cancers). Intact female animals (and some males) over the age of 7 are at increased risk for reproductive cancers. Older humans are also at increased risk of reproductive cancers (prostate, breast, ovarian).
Some cancers are caused by viruses. Humans can get cancer from a virus (HPV, Hepatitis, and more). Cats can get cancer from the feline leukemia virus.
Lung cancer in cats is linked to owners that smoke (cats lick the smoke off their fur).
Many cats we've seen with oral or lung cancer has an owner that smokes.
White animals are more predisposed to skin cancers due to ultraviolet light (just like people with paler skin are more predisposed to skin cancers by 20 times more than dark skinned people).
Obese animals have a higher rate of cancer than fit pets (mammary and bladder cancer). This is also true in people. Obesity is a chronic state of inflammation that triggers cancer.
While some people want to blame food or vaccines or routine medications for their pets cancers these are rarely the cause for your pet to get cancer. The best things to do to help your pet in the fight against cancer is keep them fit and active and at an ideal body weight, keep them on a healthy diet (no Old Roy), know your breed's predisposition to developing cancer, get an exam and checkup every 6 months and especially check out all lumps and bumps. Get routine labwork annually and especially at over age 7. Don't smoke. Limit lounging in the sun especially lighter colored pets. Spay and neuter (at the age your vet recommends) as this decreases or eliminates reproductive cancers.
While we can't always prevent cancers in our pets, we can do our due diligence in helping make sure we aren't adding to the risk factors! And we can hopefully catch them sooner so we can help in getting a cure!
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