How to Tell If a Dog Has Tumors, Cysts or Cancer

Tumors and cancer are some of the most serious and frightening conditions your pet can suffer from. Many forms of cancer move quickly in dogs, so early detection is essential to giving your dog the best odds of survival.

Instructions

How to Tell If a Dog Has Tumors, Cysts or Cancer

1. Become familiar with your dog's normal habits. Keep an eye on how much he eats and drinks every day so you know if he starts to eat or drink more or less. Watch to see if your dog stops playing with his favorite toys or starts to exercise less. Laziness and lethargy are often signs of illness.

2. Look over your dog often for any changes in his body or skin. Many small lumps are often benign, and other types of cancer you cannot see or feel. Knowing what is normal for your dog's body is important, and any abnormalities should be checked by your vet as soon as they are noticed.

3. Check your dog's urine and stool for any changes. Any mucus or blood in the stool or any strong odors in the urine can indicate that your dog is ill. Your vet may want samples of your dog's excretions, so be sure to make note of these changes to discuss with your vet.

4. Schedule your dog for a preliminary exam with your veterinarian. Your vet will do a thorough physical, checking your dog's vital signs to get a base line by which to measure changes in your dog. She will also take blood samples to check for any abnormalities that cannot be seen.

5. Discuss your own documentation of your dog's habits with your vet. Ask the vet to examine any unusual lumps and tell her if you've noticed any changes in your dog's normal routine that might indicate an illness. Your attention to detail will help your vet focus more specifically when searching for possible cancer or tumors.

6. Request an X-ray to check your dog's internal organs for any abnormalities. An X-ray will show potential tumors in your dog's body that may be making him ill. A CT scan or MRI is much more detailed and will give your vet a much more accurate view of any potential tumors.

7. Talk to your vet about doing biopsies or cytology on any abnormal growths revealed by an X-ray, CT scan or MRI. Cytology siphons liquid and cells from the tumor, and they are analyzed for malignancy, while a biopsy often includes removal of part or all of the tumor for analysis. Your vet will determine which course of action is best for your dog's illness.

8. Keep your dog calm and quiet during recovery from his procedures. He will most likely be subdued and sore from the surgery, so pamper him and allow him all the rest he needs to recover before allowing him to play too hard or resume other strenuous activities. Your vet will contact you once your dog's results come in, and you can discuss your dog's health and prognosis once you have a definitive answer about his tumors.

Tips & Warnings

• Be thorough when checking your dog. The more familiar you are with his body, the easier it will be to point out any abnormalities to your vet.

• Never put off a vet visit if you suspect something is wrong. Many forms of cancer strike quickly, so the sooner your dog is examined, the better his prognosis.