11/11/2025
Cancer is a common dread that can loom over us and can also affect our pets. We are going to speak about a few signs and symptoms your pet may show if they are being effected by cancer, this is not to say your pet has cancer but it is always worth checking with a veterinarian if you have any concerns.
Lumps and bumps may appear on our animals that we may not have noticed before. Cancerous lumps may appear hard and fixed to an area, rather than moveable and soft and can grow quickly, however they may grow slower also depending on how aggressive the cancer is. The vet can do a number of different tests to determine if the lump is cancerous. This can range from a fine needle aspirate, taking biopsy to removing the entire lump and sending it away for testing.
As in humans, any sudden weight loss or unintended weight loss would be a concern and we would start looking at why. If you have not increased exercise or decreased food then your pet should really be staying at a steady weight, although mild fluctuation is normal. So, if you notice any sudden changes there is no harm mentioning this to your vet clinic.
You know your pet best and you know what there feeding habits are, if you notice that they suddenly stop eating which is completely unlike them then we would want to rule out any possible cause.
Lumps are not the only abnormalities associated with cancer. Bleeding from their mouth or nose or blood in their urine or faeces may also be a symptom. If you have seen no obvious injury or signs of possible urine infection or gastrointestinal problems it’s always worth ruling out other causes to the bleeding.
Lymph nodes may appear swollen, although just like us if the lymph nodes are up, they could just be fighting an infection. However, if this persists ensure you are getting it checked out.
Any changes in behaviour, again this comes back to you knowing your pet and their daily routines, but if they seem more lethargic, less willing to play, more grumpy then usual there may be something else going on to change their normal happy behaviour.
More urgent concerns would include breathing difficulties. This could suggest cancer within the lungs and we would want to see as a matter of urgency. Alongside this if your pet has a distended stomach they could be signs of cancer but they could also be signs of other emergencies.
As with us, the sooner the cancer is detected, the higher the chance of being able to treat it. Often our animal companions don’t show signs and symptoms until quite late on, so if you do notice anything that you may think is strange then please do not hesitate to contact us.
