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CANCER – How You Can Help |
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Almost nothing is being
done to stop the causes of cancer in dogs but there are things that you CAN
do to lower the risks. Dr. Larry
Glickman, veterinarian and epidemiologist at Purdue University has no doubt
that at least some of the cancer in our canine companions is a result of the
pesticides and insecticides used in agriculture, household cleaners, paints,
toys made of synthetic materials and additives in the food we feed them. We know that many of these agents do cause
cancer in people so it is only logical the same applies to our pets. While the major studies are
done for people a few studies have been done with animals. In 1983 Glickman and his colleagues
discovered that dogs exposed to asbestos were at risk of getting a rare form
of cancer, mesothelioma. It has also been clearly indicated that
dogs whose owners smoke are at increased risk of nasal cancer. He says that long nosed dogs are two times
more likely to develop nasal cancer and the incidence of nasal cancer
increases with the number of packs of cigarettes the household members smoke
each day! Short nosed dogs are more
likely to develop lung cancer. Dr. Glickman’s own
research, as reported in 1989 in the Journal of the American Veterinary
Medical Association, indicates female canines exposed to the pesticides in
flea sprays and dips are at higher risk of developing bladder cancer than
those not similarly exposed. A study
done in 2004 that focused on spot-on products such as FRONTLINE and ADVANTAGE*
are not similarly affected. These
products, while most definitely pesticides, are “minimally” absorbed into the
bloodstream and therefore are not excreted via the bladder or possibly
excreted in quite minimal quantities. Research
has linked 2-4-D with cancer. This is
marketed under names such as Ded-Weed, Lawn-Keep, Plantgard, and others.
The Chemical Industry Task Force found no such results in their
studies (Imagine that!) but a 1994 study presented in the scientific journal Cancer,
Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention, showed that dogs exposed to lawns treated
with 2-4-D within seven days of
application were 50 times more likely to have high levels of the herbicide in
their systems than dogs exposed after 7 days.
The highest levels were in dogs that walked on the lawns within two
days of application! In addition to the overall
risk to our canines there are, sad to say, some breeds of dogs with
incredibly high risks of getting cancer.
Scottish Terriers are at 18 times the risk of getting bladder cancer when
exposed to lawns sprayed with herbicides when compared to mixed breeds. And the lovely Golden Retriever breed, (not
alone in this category!) is 60% more likely to die of cancer than the overall
average of 20 to 30 % , says Glickman. Diet also plays a huge part
in cancer in canines. It is commonly
accepted that a female spayed at an early age is at a much lower risk of
mammary cancer than an intact female but there is another factor at work
here. Diet! One study indicated that dogs overweight at
one year of age were 3 times as likely to develop mammary cancer – THREE
TIMES! Another study indicated that
those females operated on for mammary cancer
and fed a diet with “protein greater than 27 percent on a dry matter
basis” were likely to live three years
following the surgery while females fed a low fat diet and less than 23
percent protein survived less than 6 months.
Clearly the quality of the food we feed our dogs gains importance by
the day. The cheaper the food the more
likely the ingredients have not been carefully screened and will have larger
amounts of pesticides, often include chemical “flavoring”, colorings and
other additives, and poor quality protein, to say the very least. The “cheap” foods may not
be so cheap after all if we compare the cost to the lives of our dogs. While we cannot change the
world we can avoid subjecting our dogs to pesticides and herbicides that WE
opt to spray in our gardens and on our lawns.
We can avoid harmful pesticides that are used to bathe our dogs and
are sprayed on them. We can stop using
harmful products to wash the floors in the house and to clean any surface the
pets may come in contact with their feet or have to smell. We can stop smoking or at the very least
not smoke in the house where they spend so much time. We can use organic products to a much
greater extent than we do. And,
finally, we can feed them so much better than we do. *Use caution with ANY such
elements introduced into your dog’s life.
Always seek less invasive ways to solve problems. H |