5 Subtle canine cancer symptoms worth a trip to the vet
The following canine cancer symptoms may not always be sure-fire signs of the disease, but you may want to have a veterinarian examine your pet just to be sure.
Bumps and Lumps
Most cysts are harmless fluid-filled sacs, but others can be cancerous. If your dog spends a lot of time outdoors in the sun and is a light-colored breed, he is at a higher risk for canine skin cancer.
When a lump, bump, mass or cyst is worth a trip to the vet:
- Lumps in the mouth area
- A cyst with an irregular shape or jagged edges
- Bumps or lumps that grow fast and bleed
- Masses not confined to one spot
Video: Cat facial twitches / seizure
Testicle Enlargement can be a sign of testicular cancer. Blood in the urine, a soft or hard lump in the testicle, squatting to urinate like a female dog, and enlarged breasts are also indications of testicular cancer.
Difficulty with Bodily Functions and Activities: There are times when canine cancer symptoms can show up subtly in your dog`s normal behavior.
For example, when a dog has difficulty:
- Eating or swallowing
- Healing body sores
- Walking or exercising
- Urinating or defecating
Loss of Appetite/Weight
This could be a sign of orophayngeal cancer. With this condition, dogs can also develop mouth sores.
Swelling in Areas of Your Dog`s Body: This may be lymphoma, which is a fast-spreading form of cancer that affects the lymph nodes, spleen and other organs in dogs.