No one likes to think about cancer, especially for our pets. But, early detection can save lives. That’s why we want to talk about the facts of canine lymphoma.

November 7th is Canine Lymphoma Awareness Day. You may be wondering what that is and how to detect it in your pet.

According to Canada Pet Care, lymphoma is a common cancer that derives its name from the white blood cells the cancer attacks. It is so common that according to AKC Canine Health Foundation, 1 in 15 dogs will be impacted in their life time.

Symptoms you should be on the lookout for include:

Loss of Weight
Swelling in the Area of Lymph Nodes
Loss of Interest in Doing the Physical Activities
Being Extensively Lethargic

Canada Pet Care has identified the four major types of lymphoma:

Multicentric Lymphoma: This is the most common type affecting the dogs. This kind of cancer is not painful but it enlarges the lymph nodes of neck, armpits, and groin areas causing redness all over the areas surrounding.
Extranodal Lymphoma: This is rarest of all. It happens away from the common nodal and can develop near eyes, skin, lungs or even nervous system.
Alimentary Lymphoma: This causes the effect on intestines and results in vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea.
Mediastinal Lymphoma: This is rare and it affects the organs in chest.

Remember that like people, early detection can make all the difference in implementing effective and potentially successful interventions. While the cause isn’t fully known, it tends to impact larger breed dogs more so than small breeds.

Just another reason why careful observation of your pet’s normal behavior and regular medical visits are an important role in keeping your pet healthy.