November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month

Cancer cases are on the rise across the country; and not just in humans but in pets as well. In fact, cancer is the leading cause of death amongst cats and dogs, claiming millions of pet lives every year.

During November, various companies, organizations, veterinary offices and pets and their owners alike will be observing National Pet Cancer Awareness Month.


The Fifth Annual National Pet Cancer Awareness Month

This is the fifth year that Veterinary Pet Insurance Company (VPI) will be hosting the nation's Pet Cancer Awareness Month and will be joining forces with the Animal Cancer Foundation.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month was started by VPI in 2005 after the company realized that most pet owners did not even know that their pets could get cancer, leaving them without the necessary funds or education to help them care for their pet once a diagnosis was given. Most of these pet owners underestimated the costs involved to treat their pet's cancer.

Cancer has since become one of the most commonly diagnosed ailments in pets across the USA. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive condition to treat.

Types of Pet Cancers

During 2008, just over 30,000 claims were received by VPI for pet cancer. Almost a fifth of all of those insurance claims were as a result of lymphosarcoma, which is the most frequently occurring cancer in pets.

However, there were other types of cancer claims that were received by VPI, namely fibrosarcomas (which stem from connective tissues), mast cell tumors, and hemangiopericytomas (a tumor generally located on a limb). Growths or tumors, referred to as neoplasias, were also frequently found on a pet's eyelid, liver or spleen.

On the whole, pet insurance claims involving some type of cancer were the sixth most common type of medical insurance claims that were sent in to VPI in 2008. In fact, according to VPI's pet insurance claims data, which factors in the overall claims of more than 474,000 insured pets, the 10 most common types of cancer often diagnosed in cats and dogs in 2008 were:

1. Lymphosarcoma
2. Mast Cell Tumor
3. Neoplasia - Spleen
4. Neoplasia - Eyelid
5. Osteogenic Sarcoma
6. Neoplasia - Liver
7. Neoplasia - Thorax
8. Neoplasia - Brain or Spinal Cord
9. Fibrosarcoma
10. Hemangiopericytoma

Treating Cancer in Pets

There are many costs involved in treating cancer in pets. However the total amount greatly depends on what type of cancer the pet has and how detailed and long the therapy will be. Some unlucky pets will have to have radiation treatment or chemotherapy which could cost more than $10,000 over several different sessions.

In an effort to help policyholders who have their pets insured via VPI, there is an optional cancer-specific rider that pet owners can purchase from VPI to include with their pets basic medical insurance plan.

Other treatment alternatives include using a herbal supplement called ES Clear. Comprised of a variety of herbs, vitamins and minerals, ES Clear is a natural cancer treatment that was developed by a naturopathic veterinarian to prevent and treat cancer in dogs and cats with ingredients that have been proven to reduce tumors, slow or stop the cancer from spreading throughout the pet.

ES Clear will help strengthen a pet's immune system and reducing any pain or discomfort felt by the pet. It is helps the healing process by restoring the pets energy levels.

Detecting Cancer in Pets

Pet owners should look out for any lumps or sores on their pets body that either do not go away on their own or continue to grow as they may be cancerous. Other signs to watch for are a change in the pet's weight or appetite, difficulty chewing or swallowing, a change in their personality, unusually strong odors coming from a pet, or any bleeding or discharge coming from any of the pet's body openings.

Photo Credit: Tony the Misfit