Breast cancer prevention - in pets

Photo by Clay Messer. These dogs support the ACS.

In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, let’s take a look at mammary cancer prevention in pets.

Please spay your pets:
Spaying your dog or cat prior to her first heat greatly decreases her risk of developing breast cancer later in life. And here’s the really good news, cancer prevention is only one of the many health benefits of spaying prior to sexual maturity. Quicker recovery time and fewer risks associated with anesthesia and tissue-handling are just two. Of course, there are behavior benefits as well – less roaming, for instance. If that wasn’t enough, this act by responsible pet owners also helps reduce pet overpopulation and by doing so reduces the number of animals euthanized in shelters and helps to decrease the strains on other animal rescue organizations.

Support the immune system:
Whether it is influenza, cancer, asthma or any other ailment, disease prevention starts with health maintenance. Taking an integrative approach to wellness means looking at stress reduction, water purity, exposure to harmful chemicals and toxins (on your lawn, in your home or on your pet) and appropriate use (not overuse) of vaccines. What about vitamins and supplements?  Discuss immune support from nutritional supplements with your veterinarian.  You can work together to maximize the health benefits to your pet with an individualized approach to supplementation.

Provide the best nutrition you can:
No discussion of immune support or cancer prevention would be complete without a good look at nutrition. Do you feed raw? Home cook? Splurge on a high quality commercial diet? Maybe you have been able to use a combination of all these feeding methods. If so, it is probably because you know that excessive processing, poor quality ingredients and fillers, chemical preservatives and artificial colors do nothing to help your pet ward off disease. Good nutrition is an investment in good health.

Notify your vet of any new lumps or bumps:
Regular check ups with your veterinarian are essential for early detection. Many practices have switched to twice yearly exams, especially for older pets. Be sure to mention any new lumps or bumps you have noticed on your pet. Prior to your appointment, note if there has been any change in size, shape, color or consistency of the lump since the time it was first noticed. Noting if the area of concern is causing your pet any discomfort and whether he or she has a history of cancer is also important.

Smith Ridge Veterinary Center in South Salem, NY offers a wide variety of conventional and holistic pet care options. Their website has great information on cancer prevention through a focus on wellness in addition to integrative approaches to cancer treatment.