Most cancer in dogs and cats are similar to cancers in people. They are the result of the unrestrained growth of cells that destroy normal tissues and body parts despite the body’s anticancer defense mechanisms. The cancer begins with a single cell that fails to respond to orderly, normal growth. Like humans, a deregulated cancer cell can grow undetected for months or even years, and it can spread to other organs and grow quickly or slowly. Research into the cause of cancer in animals shows it is a result of similar genes that cause the cell to become malignant or cancerous. This “share problem” has helped veterinary oncologists develop more effective ways to treat the cancer pets, as knowledge on how to defeat the cancer is shared from humans to pets.
The difference between veterinary and human oncology lies in the philosophy of treatment. Most veterinarians place the emphasis on quality of like with a very strong secondary emphasis on trying to “cure” the pet. This difference in approach reduces the high level of toxic side effects from the cancer therapy. It also recognizes that pets have a much more compressed lifespan than humans. With a much shorter lifespan, the compassionate approach is to extend your pet’s life for the longest possible time with the least pain and side effects. Yes, the cancer can some times be cured, but most often it is brought under control to ensure a long and happy life.
The latest oncology advances in animal health are leading edge, similar to human medicine. Human cancer studies are often team up with veterinary cancer studies, such as cancer vaccine research. Both pets and people benefit.
Let your pet owner friends know about Pet4Pets™.
