Uncategorized

Skin Cancer in Dogs – More Common Than You May Believe

Skin Cancer in Dogs – More Common Than You May Believe

Skin cancer should be a concern for not only humans, but animals as well. With all of the different sun blocks at higher SPF levels than ever, it’s not new to hear that UV radiation is extremely dangerous and could be the cause for skin cancer in dogs and cats.

There is not one pet owner who wishes to see their friend go through the pain of skin cancer, so to help avoid this situation you simply have to take steps to prevent it. This is actually quite common in dogs and cats, where the same for humans is warned against: UV radiation. Just because they have fur does not mean they cannot suffer from too much sun as well. There are a few fun things you can do to help protect your dog or cat.

An assistant professor and oncology researcher at Kansas State’s College of Veterinary Medicine named Dr. Ruthanne Chun says that skin cancer is the second most common in cats, and skin cancer in dogs is the first most common cancer. Every 450 out of one hundred thousand dogs are diagnosed with skin cancer, where 120 cats of every hundred thousand are diagnosed.

Many owners think that the animal’s coat protects them from the chances of skin cancer, but depending on the breed this is incorrect. Many breeds have thin or short coats and light skin upon ears and bellies. These areas are prone to the development of skin cancer. Therefore, skin cancer in dogs is not that unusual.

Skin Cancer in Dogs – More Common Than You May Believe

Other than overexposure to the sun, there are other causes of skin cancer in dogs such as viruses and hormones, burns and genetics as well as vaccines in cats. If an owner were to become educated about the causes, the chances of your dog or cat being affected decrease.

According to Dr. Mary Bagladi-Swanson who is an assistant professor at Kansas State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine, an SPF 30 sun block can be used on exposed skin on cats and dogs. You should always put lotion on the bare areas or barely covered skin including the ears and belly. And most of all try to keep your pet out of the sun between 10 in the morning and 4 in the afternoon when the rays are the strongest.

Pet clothing is a great idea for protecting the skin of your animal as well. The same thing works for humans: if the skin is covered, it is protected. If you decide to spend time outside at the park, you should consider dog clothing such as a shirt or hat if he or she will wear them. Your cat may be finicky, but try to get some type of protective clothing onto the body to help outdoors as well. Not only will your furry friend be adorable, but protected from the harsh rays of the sun.

Janet Markowitz has been a German Shepherd Breeder for over 20 years. She has always been interested in using natural and holistic remedies for her Shepherds whenever possible. She has found that by using natural Remedies in conjunction with conventional medicine, she has achieved great success in the health and longevity in her dogs.

Skin Cancer in Dogs – More Common Than You May Believe

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *