Pet Cancer Is Very Real And Very Frightening In Utah

November is finally here and though many Utahns might already be thinking of Thanksgiving, there is another important remembrance; pet cancer.  

The month of November is also National Pet Cancer Awareness Month which brings attention to the beloved furry family members in our Utah homes. When thinking of cancer, most think of humans only but dogs and cats get the disease too.  

Fetch A Cure said that roughly 6 million dogs and 6 million cats get cancer each year.  

Roughly 47% of dog deaths are caused by cancer in dogs over the age of 10 (in human years) and 32% of cats, Fetch A Cure said. Though there are strides being made in both the human and pet oncology fields, the death rates are still high.  

The most common types of pet cancers are: 

• Bone 

• Testicles 

• Lymphoma 

• Abdominal Tumors 

• Skin 

• Breast 

• Head and Neck 

Just like humans, there is a possibility of chemotherapy, clinical trials, treatments, and study being done, the National Cancer Institute said.  

In fact, some treatments tried on dogs have paved the way for cancer treatment in humans. However, the field has a long way to go.  

Utah has a few pet oncology specialist locations, mostly located in the northern part of the state. For those located in Southern Utah, chances are that if your pet has cancer you will have to do some traveling for treatment. 

So, as we head into November, remember to take care of your four-legged friends and regularly take them in for checkups.