Different types of cancer are unfortunately very popular with all types of breeds and sizes of dogs. One should be very aware of your dogs health and should be able to recognise any form of cancer appearing as soon as possible. The sooner the cancer is found the better chance of treating and minimising the dreadful effects of this disease.

Cancer symptoms to watch out for on your dog

• Unusual lumps or swellings that appear all of a sudden, a biopsy is required to confirm if it is cancerous.
• Open wound and skin related problems that don’t go away, skin cancer form because of reaction to allergies, exposure to certain chemicals and UV rays from the sun from being exposed in the sun for too long periods.
• Prostrate cancer can also be found with older dogs, common symptoms are hard to see but dogs tend to have problems urinating and defecating. Often bloody urine and stools can be seen. Stomach, liver and kidney cancer are more popular with dogs. They tend to stop eating and drink a lot of water all of a sudden. Occasionally they will start eating grass and certain plants. Rapid weight loss is very common, along with chronic diarrhea.
• Bone cancer known as osteosarcoma which is a common long bone tumour, is often diagnosed with symptoms like arthritis and muscle pains. When you dog starts behaving out of the ordinarily, take note and investigate what the problem might be.

So what is the most common cause for all these cancer diseases?

If you look all the ingredients on a cigarette pack, it’s no wonder why smokers suffer from lung cancer and other deadly associated diseases.

Same applies here, if you look at the ingredients in commercial dog food products, it is unbelievable what passes for nutrition for dogs. The cheaper the food, the worse the ingredients get. Most commercial food is loaded with all sorts of toxic chemicals and preservatives.

There are traces of Sodium Pentobarbital found in some commercial food. This is the same chemical used to euthanize animals. It is present because the meat in the food they use is processed meat which is made from dead animals or euthanized animals.

Dog food manufactures also use the chemical ethoxyguin (EQ) to preserve the dog food and give it a longer shelf life. This chemical is not allowed in human food, care to guess why? The chemicals and preservatives in commercial dog food is not fit for consumption.

If you think about all the common illnesses and problems dogs have, you realize that they are common symptoms that humans have when we are poisoned by chemicals.

Some illnesses like Kidney cancer, bladder cancer, stomach cancer, hair loss, chronic diarrhea and other major organ failure is directly related to these chemicals and ingredients used. Dog food is simply not regulated.

The only true way to prevent your dog from getting ill or getting cancer in the long term from harmful dog foods, is to make the dog food your self. Your dog could live nearly twice as long if you do this. They are easy simple methods of making home made dog food. The best way is to make dog food in bulk and to freeze it for later use in the week. If you follow the recommended recipes your dog will get al the protein, vitamins and minerals without much effort.

If you want to learn more preventing cancer and common dog illnesses, go visit http://www.dog-food-conspiracy-secrets.com You will get a step by step health plan, real easy recipes and all the secrets to better living conditions for your dog.

This article was written by Kiera Grey

Dog Health Secrets

What are the medical advantages of spaying? The medical advantages of neutering? How about the disadvantages?

Photo: sierraanimalhospital.com

Medical Advantages

Your bitch is no longer subject to reproductive cancers, such as mammary cancer (the most common tumor of the sexually intact bitch).

Bitches spayed prior to their first estrus have about 0.5 percent risk of developing mammary cancer. If spaying is delayed after the second heat period, the chance of developing a tumor jumps 8-26 percent.

Bitches spayed later than this remain at the same level of risk, 8-26 percent.

The incidence of pyometra is eliminated in spayed bitches.

Pyometra is a common disease of intact bitches, particularly in bitches over 6 years of age, although it can occur at any age.

It is a potentially fatal disease.

Your dog is less at risk from prostate disease and testicular cancer, both of which can be life threatening. Even non-malignant growths are a threat because the growth can cause infection that can eventually kill your dog.

Medical Disadvantages

General anesthesia is a risk to any dog. A small percentage of spayed bitches may develop estrogen imbalances in later life that causes incontinence (or rather, "leaking"), which is easily controlled with dosages of estrogen. There are no medical disadvantages (other than anesthetic risk) to male dogs.

What are the psychological effects on your dog?

There is wide disagreement over this, but there are various relevant facts to note.

First, neutered dogs are no longer concerned with reproduction.

This is a psychological effect, but the extent of it is confined to its behaviour with respect to heat.

The argument is often over whether or not neutered dogs remain "aggressive". In particular, guard dogs and working dogs are often thought to lose something by neutering.

This is accountable with specific examples.

E.g. Seeing Eye dogs are always neutered and they are fine, working dogs.

There are many neutered animals that are dominant over intact animals.

For each claim made about the effect of neutering an animal, a counter-example can be cited. This means that the effect of neutering is largely dependent on the individual dog. And, most likely, because dogs are so attuned to their owners, dependent on the owner.

Dogs are very good at picking up expectations: if you expect your dog to mellow after neutering, it probably will, whether or not the neutering was actually responsible for it.

The question also arises over whether dogs "miss" sex or not.

Neutered animals never display interest in sex afterwards; the argument is fairly strong that dogs do NOT miss their sexual capability.

"Mounting" or "humping" is a dominance related behaviour that any alpha dog, of either sex, intact or neutered, will engage in.

On a more serious note, there could come a time when you have to make the gut wrenching decision to put your dog down.

For a detailed procedure of dog euthanasia and to help prepare you for the day, there is a tutorial at http://here-is-your.info/dog-training/when-to-put-a-dog-down.php