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This information is provided by Provet for educational purposes only. You should seek the advice of your veterinarian if your pet is ill as only he or she can correctly advise on the diagnosis and recommend the treatment that is most appropriate for your pet. Lung cancer does occur in pets and it can be a devastating disease There are two main types of lung cancer :
If the cancer is localised in one lung lobe treatment is possible - especially if the cancer is not an aggressive form and it doesn't spread quickly. Surgical removal of part of the lung is the treatment of choice for this type of cancer. If the cancer has multiple growths throughout the lung tissue (as occurs usually with secondary spread) there is little that can be done which will be successful, although some cases may benefit from chemotherapy or radiotherapy. The rate of progression of lung cancer varies from one patient to another and palliative treatment can be offered eg pain relief. Signs of lung cancer include :
Interestingly, although only a few studies have been performed, there does not appear to be an increase in lung cancer in pets exposed to passive smoking in smoking households.
Updated October 2013 | |||