Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in pets here in the USA. The main problem with this disease is that it stays hidden and it is often difficult to get an early diagnosis. Did you know that there is preventative wellness bloodwork that could pick up some markers in the blood that could give us clues that there is a cancerous process going on? When we see the clinical signs like poor appetite, weight loss, lethargy, or changes in routine, it might be far into the development of cancer.
Cancer is an inflammatory condition, it is an exaggerated and chaotic response to chronic tissue damage. Chronic stress and inflammation will create the conditions needed for tumor growths to be stimulated. The pathogens or entities that cause chronic inflammation can include a poor diet, toxins in the environment, bacteria/viruses, and stress. First, they cause damage to the cells and cause transformation at that level, then those cells undergo uncontrolled proliferation and multiply causing the tumors, and lastly, the tumors metastasize to another location. How can we detect the cancer cells at that first stage? In dogs(like in humans), the liver tries to fight the acute inflammation by creating the C-reactive protein. This is a very important early marker (first phase) of inflammation in your pet’s body. In the second phase of proliferation, there is another marker called Thymidine kinase Type 1 or TK1.In a study at the University of Missouri, they concluded that 82% of all cancers were detected 6 months prior to clinical signs and 100% of cancers were detected 4 months prior to clinical signs. Another important finding was that inflammation correlated with a 20% risk of death. They developed a screening test called the Cancer Risk assessment or CRA and recommended to do every 6 months in dogs with familial history of cancer or breeds that are at high risk to get cancer like Golden retrievers and Boxers. I believe this test is also a good screening for cancer relapses in survivors. We are utilizing a canine cancer screening test that adds the Vitamin D and B12 levels in addition to the C-reactive protein and the TK1 levels. Vitamin D has been widely discussed lately as a good way to prevent infection with Covid because the D levels indicate the strength of your immune response. According to a 2015 study by Tufts University, 75% of dogs are Vit D deficient! The signs of deficiency vary but most dogs develop heart or kidney disease and bone issues if deficient. Cobalamin or Vitamin B12 is essential for our pet’s health. It is a needed cofactor in multiple enzyme systems, in blood creation, and in keeping the gut biome healthy. Although we assume all dog foods meet minimum criteria to add these vitamins, most are lost in the food processing and storage. Also, each dog is a unique individual with their needs, and absorption of these will vary. If your pet is a cancer survivor or if you suspect your dog might be at risk of having cancer, ask your veterinarian to run a CRA test today!