What Are the Odds of My Pet Getting Cancer?
We are all worried about cancer. If it seems like pet cancer is becoming more prevalent, consider how far we have come with preventing and treating everything else. We take such good care of our pets, so they live longer, and yes, sometimes, they do get cancer. The best thing we can do is take preventative measures, and be vigilant about monitoring our pets’ health. Cancer is common in dogs, especially in older dogs. Fifty percent of dogs over the age of 10 do develop cancer at some point. Some breeds are more prone than others, e.g. Golden Retrievers, Boxers, and Bernese Mountain Dogs. (Ask your breeder if cancer runs in the genes. Knowledge is a good defense in itself!) However, a diagnosis of cancer is not a death sentence for your dog. The majority of dog cancers can be dealt with surgically. Cancer is only half as common in cats as it is in dogs, but it does happen. In fact, no pet is really safe from cancer. Ferrets are unusually prone to it: 50-70% of ferrets over the age of 3 w
