Natural Pet Health

Cancer is a disease that we all associate with loss and that carries with it very serious omens. The ‘big C’ however does not just affect humans and can also affect animals, including cats. Cat cancer, or feline cancer, is sadly just as serious as the human equivalent but needn’t necessarily spell the end if you can spot the symptoms early enough and get your pet the appropriate treatment.

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in any organism’s body. Essentially wear and tear will break down the cell wall (often via the bombardment of free radicals). This will then result in a ‘mutation’ where the DNA of the cell is changed. As this cell reproduces however that imperfection will spread and replace healthy cells with damaged ones.

For cat owners, there’s nothing more terrifying and distressing than to find out that your beloved feline companion has developed a malignant tumor or tumors. In order to give your cat the best chance to survive a case of feline cancer, it’s important to seek treatment as soon as possible. Also, having a basic understanding of cat cancer and the steps involved in fighting the disease can help make the process of diagnosis and treatment less confusing and overwhelming.

What is Cancer?

While pursuing longevity for domestic pets, the medial fraternity did not probably bargain for the accompanying risks of cancer, which is mostly seen in older pets. Moreover, as long as we feed an unnatural diet to our pets and abuse the environment, pet owners are likely to continue facing problems with cancer in their pets. Seeing pets die slowly killer diseases like dog liver cancer and lymphoma in cats is indeed not something that any pet lover would want.

Many of us do not realize that it is natural for animals to resort to ‘self treatment’ in the wild. Most of them nibble at things that are actually not their natural diet. It has been seen that this happens only when the animal is not completely healthy and therefore is actually a means of herbal self medication. This forms the basis on which herbal and natural medicine for pets is based.

Symptoms and signs of cancer in pets and humans depend largely upon the organ or the tissue that has developed cancer cells. For example, the symptoms of liver cancer in dogs and cats are far removed from the symptoms of oral cancer. Cats with cancer of the digestive system will show signs of vomiting, diarrhea and anorexia while a lump in the peripheral skin indicates lymph cancer.

Some cancers are highly progressive and spread very fast. The first tool in your hands is to educate yourself and be aware of all the symptoms properly. Timely approach to treatment is the only way to prolong and make life comfortable for your cat.

It is too much to expect that veterinary science would know much about cat cancer and dog cancer especially when despite extensive research very little is known about even human cancer. Till date no one knows exactly what causes cancer and how it can be prevented.

Feline cancer, like human cancer is not easy to detect in its early stages and once the disease has advanced, cat owners are left with no option but to watch helplessly. The most that can be done is to delay the ultimate and provide home care irrespective of whether the treatment option has been exercised or not.

Cancer is a malignant, cellular growth (tumor). Benign tumors are harmless and only an abnormal increase in size of a specific tissue. Cancer can affect any organ in a cat’s body but cancer of the lymphatic tissue, skin and mammary glands are the three most common types of neoplasia (the pathological process that results in formation and growth of tumors) in cats.

Extensive research in human cancer diagnosis and treatment has changed the entire scene of cancer management. The good part is that the same protocols reflect in treating feline cancer and cancer in dogs and other pets. There has also been a concomitant awareness of the role played by nutrition and alternative therapies in developing resistance to cancer and recovery.