 |
 |
| |
| Departments |
Home
Columns, Special
Topics & Features:
The Columns:
Angels, Guides, &
Loving Spirits:
Angel Blessings:
with Dr. Doreen Virtue
Ask Valerie Morrison,
Internationally
Acclaimed Psychic
Trust Your Vibes
By Dr. Sonia Choquette, PhD.
Internationally Acclaimed Psychic Healer & Author
Love Letters
by Erika Morrell,
Soul Mate Medium™
Astrologer's Notes:
Carin Martin,
Astrologer
Donna Cunningham, MSW, Astrologer
Basil Fearrington,
Astrologer
Diana Stone,
Astrologer &
Huna Shaman
Jeff Jawer
Astrologer
Ray Merriman,
Financial Astrology:
MMA Market Week
Noel Tyl,
Astrologer
Daily Aspect Calendar
by Care
MoonWatching with Dana Gerhardt and Friends
Creating Bridges:
The Spiritual &
Philosophical
Act of Power
Discovering the Key to Living Your Sacred Dream
by Lynn Andrews
Avant-Gardening:
Insights
by Frank &
Vicky Giannangelo
From The Heart:
Alan Cohen
Teachings from the Western Mystery Traditions: The Esoteric "Paths of Return"
by Jacquelyn Small, Eupsychia
Spirituality in Daily Life: by Bhikshuni Thubten Chodron
The Conscious Column
by David Ault
Spiritual Mastery
for the 21st Century
Dr. Gwen MacGregor
Encounters on the
Shaman's Path with
Dr. Hank Wesselman, PhD.
Anthropologist, Zoologist, Author, Shamanic Healer & Teacher
The Divine Human
by Ornesha De Paoli
Awakenings
by Karen Johnson
Worshipping by Wondering with
Sankara Saranam, MA Founder of the Pranayama Institute
Wisdom Walks in Circles
by Margaret Lewis
Author & Shamanic Practitioner:
The Awakening Generation
by Ann Marie Judge
Water For The Dry Sponge: Chronicles and Essays
by Shaun Brown,
Be Well Publications
Crystals, Minerals
& Gemstones
Light and Love with Crystals, Minerals & Gemstones
by Raven,
Raven Crystals
Furry & Feathered Family Members:
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care
by Dr. Kathleen Carson, D.V.M.
Animal Insights
by Charlene Boyd, Animal Communicator,
talk-to-animals.com
Healing & Alternative
Health:
"Spirit and Practice
of the Wise Woman
Tradition"
By Susun Weed
The Holistic Mystic,
by Lonny Brown
Medical Intuition: Tune
in to Your Body and Improve Your Health
by Caroline Sutherland, Sutherland Communications
Transformational Healing through the Violet Flame!
by Eva Kettles
Herbs for Health
with Kami McBride
Cure Your Cravings
...For Life
Rena Greenberg,
Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming & Hypnotherapist
Humor:
Wake Up Laughing.Com:
Swami Beyondananda
Interviews:
Watch for Upcoming Announcements
Kabbalah:
Kabbalah Revealed:
Rav Michael Laitman, PhD, Kabbalalist
Numberscope Forecast
by Vincent J. Barra
Oracle & Divination Systems:
Be Your Own Oracle
by James Wanless, Ph.D. Creator of the Voyager Tarot Deck
Resources:
Archives
Blessings & Messages
The Book Nook
The Directory
Event Calendar
Historical Notes & Data
The MetaPersonals
S.O.L.A.R.®:
S.O.L.A.R ®
Beyond Materiality. Beyond Spirituality. Toward the Complete Human Being...
by Martin Lass, Emissary
Tarot:
Moment to Moment
by Gigi Miner
Author, Tarot Consultant, & Teacher
Reviews:
Tarot, Cartomancy,
Oracle Decks,
Books, & Software.
by Bonnie Cehovet,
Tarot Educator
Tidbits:
Almanac of the Ancients
by TripleMoonGoddess
News Briefs
Op-Ed
Pearls of Wisdom
by Astro Aeon
& Astro Care
Symbols, Seals,
Amulets & Talismans
The What in the
World Department
Trivia & Life's Other
Novel Moments
Publisher's Corner
General Information:
Advertising Information & Opportunities:
The Directory Advertising Rates
Premium Pages:
Groups 1, 2 & Display
Advertising Rates
The BookNook
Advertising Rates
About
The Meta Arts Magazine
Editorial Submission
Information:
Contact Us
Legal Notices
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Healing & Alternative Health
Dr. Carson's Holistic Animal Care:
SIGNS OF AGING IN THE DOG AND CAT, PART XXIX:
Organs of Reproduction: Mammary Gland Cancer
by Kathleen M. Carson, D.V.M |
|
|
|
|
|
All of us are aware of the toll that breast cancer takes in women. Unfortunately, our canine and feline friends are also susceptible to this disease.
Dogs are better off than cats in regard to mammary gland tumors (MGT): even though MGT are the most common tumor of dogs, only 50% of their MGT are malignant; the rest are benign. Cats, while they develop breast tumors less frequently than dogs (mammary cancer is the third most common tumor of cars), have a greater chance of their tumors being cancerous: 85 -90% of their tumors are malignant.
Certain breeds have predilections for developing mammary gland cancer (MGC). In cats, the Siamese is the most likely breed to develop MGC (and they tend to develop it earlier than non-Siamese). In dogs, Boxers, Cocker Spaniels, English Springer Spaniels and Dachshunds have the greatest chance of developing MGC.
In both species, the average patient with MGC is a 10-12-year-old female. (Mammary tumors do occur in male dogs and cats, but they’re rare.)
Prevention is even better than cure for this nasty disease. Since MGC is a hormonally-based disease, having your animal spayed (ovariohysterectomy, or removal of the uterus and ovaries) early in life significantly reduces the chances of the development of MGC later in life. Risk of development in dogs spayed prior to first estrus (heat) is 0.05%; after first estrus it is 8%, and after second estrus it is 26% as compared to the risk in intact females.
However, if your animal wasn’t spayed early in life, early detection is the key to a good outcome/increased chance of survival. If you have a geriatric (8 years and over) dog or cat, especially a female, get into the habit of regular palpation (feeling with your fingers) of her breasts. (Just like is recommended for us women.)
Dogs and cats have a total of 10 mammary glands: 2 chains of 5MGs on each side. They start around the area of the axilla (like our “armpit”, where the front legs join the body). The last two are in the inguinal (groin) area. If your animal is short-coated, it is fairly easy to find the teats (nipples) in the center of each gland. (The nipple of the 1st MG is very small; especially in long-haired animals, it can be very hard to find; the rest are more easily found.)
If you find any sized lump(s) in your dog or cat’s MG(s), whether through regular palpation or chance occurrence, immediately bring this to the attention of your veterinarian.
Benign tumors are more likely to be smaller and fewer, with easily palpated borders, and they don’t adhere to the tissues underneath. On the other hand, malignant tumors are more likely to be larger and more numerous, with more diffuse borders, and they’re more likely to adhere to the tissues under them. If the tumor is large enough, it will eventually outgrow its blood supply and the innermost part of the tumor(s) will start to undergo necrosis (death of tissues). This dead, ultimately infected, tissue will eventually break through the overlying skin, and there will be a smelly, blood-tinged discharge.
There’s a particularly nasty form of MGC in dogs called inflammatory carcinoma (IC), which causes inflammation and ulceration of the skin over multiple MGs; the inflammation can spread even as far as the inside of the hind legs. IC spreads rapidly, both locally and to other parts of the body.
Next month I’ll write about the diagnosis and treatment of MGC. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Dr. Kathleen Carson, DVM
Veterinarian & Author
|
 |
Dr. Carson received her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of California at Davis in 1968. She's been a small animal practitioner (dogs and cats ) for all the years since, except for a short stint at the San Diego Zoo when she first graduated.
She belongs to the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association.
Since 1974 she's lived and practiced in the South Bay Area near Los Angeles. She started the area's first house call practice in 1976 and the first pet crisis/loss group in 1989. The human-animal bond is of special interest to her.
She started exploring complementary veterinary medicine in 1987. Her practice became 100% holistic in 1996. She utilizes acupuncture, herbs, supplements, Bach Flower Remedies, homeopathic remedies, nutrition and medications for her patients in her practice.
She's currently taking a leave of absence from her house call practice due to health reasons but continues to do phone consultations and to write.
E-mail:
Critterhlr@aol.com
website:
http://www.holistic
vetconsult.com
|
 |
You'll find it in
The
Directory! |
|
|
|
|
