When your dog has pancreatic cancer, it can be very concerning. Cancer, in general, is a great threat to your pet’s quality of life, but the pancreatic kind can be especially serious. One of the reasons why this kind is so concerning and negative is because with pancreatic cancer, typically, you won’t notice any of the symptoms until it’s too late, and the cancer has entered its later stages. This means that once the cancer is diagnosed, it’s devastating. Your options for treatment as a pet owner are also very limited, so once you receive a diagnosis, you’ll be considering anything you can possibly do for your dog. This includes thinking about treatments that are alternative to the traditional methods, to ensure you’re doing everything you can for your pet.
One of these alternative treatments is CBD oil, or cannabidiol. It is especially unique and effective, because it can help your dog manage their pain, and provides natural relief for inflammation. Pain and inflammation are both things your pet will be undoubtedly suffering from if they have pancreatic cancer.
Another good thing about CBD is that your dog can take it in conjunction with medication your vet prescribes and with any medical procedures your pet has to go through. CBD is great to take in tandem with these other treatments, and it doesn’t have any side effects. It also won’t interact or interfere in a harmful manner with any other type of medication.
While it’s important that you keep in mind that CBD won’t necessarily cure your pet’s cancer, CBD is definitely known in the medical world to be effective and to work well alongside other treatments. Traditional drugs tend to come with negative side effects and sometimes don’t work as well as they should. By utilizing CBD, if your dog has pancreatic cancer they’ll gain the ability to get as well as possible, and you’ll be able to help your dog with their suffering and make their quality of life a lot better.
What Are the Symptoms and Signs of Pancreatic Cancer In My Dog?
If your dog has cancer, this condition starts off as their body’s cells begin to divide in an uncontrollable manner. This is what leads to the growth and spread of tumors, and leads in turn to a wide range of complications. Any gender or breed of dog can be impacted by pancreatic cancer. However, dogs that have the highest risk of getting it tend to be female dogs that are older, and Airedale terriers specifically. If your dog falls into one of these two categories, you should especially take care to watch for any signs or symptoms of this cancer.
If you think your dog may have cancer or any type of issue with their pancreas, you should take them to the vet right away. Your vet will help determine if this is true by conducting tests, including a blood test. These examinations of your pet will give insight into how many enzymes their pancreas is releasing. Generally, the rule of thumb is that if there are increased levels of a specific enzyme, the lipase, your dog is more at risk of having pancreatic cancer. X-rays over the abdomen area and ultrasounds conducted by your vet can help to determine whether there are already growing masses of cancer or any other type of change within your dog’s pancreas. In addition, your vet can also perform a biopsy, which can help to make a diagnosis and confirm it.
As a pet owner, it’s essential that you pay close attention to the behaviour and characteristics of your pet. It’s completely up to you to notice if they begin to act in an unusual way, are acting funny, or are no longer interested in or physically able to do the things they used to love, such as going on a walk and playing with you. You can help decrease your dog’s chance of having their pancreas cancer getting worse, by spotting changes to their daily lives and getting to the vet as soon as possible once you do notice something.
If you’re especially concerned that your pet may contract pancreatic cancer, you should watch out for noticeable indications of the disease, which include:
- Weakness
- Fever
- Poor or abnormal diet
- Jaundice
- Pain in the abdominal area
- Drastic change in weight
- Walking on unsteady legs
- Having tremors, convulsions, or seizures
- Passing out often or going unconscious because their blood sugar levels are so low
It has been reported that sometimes, symptoms of pancreatic cancer can show up, fade away, and then come back again later on. If you notice any of these signs, you need to get in touch with your vet immediately.
What Causes My Dog to Have Pancreatic Cancer?
Unfortunately, one of the reasons why pancreatic cancer is so serious and devastating is because there is not a known, consistent cause for it and it is classified as idiopathic. However, there are certain things that your vet will try to detect in your pet to determine they have the cancer. They’ll look to see if your dog has high levels of bilirubin within their blood, anemia, or increased counts of white blood cells.
Once it’s been determined that your dog has pancreatic cancer, it’s very difficult to treat as well. This is because it usually gets to its advanced stages before your pet begins to exhibit signs. At this point, it can be too late. A standard treatment is to remove tumors, however tumors typically come back because removing tissues that are cancerous from the pancreas is very difficult to do. The cancer also spreads very quickly and usually has infected other organs by the time a diagnosis has been reached. Overall, the prognosis for this type of cancer is poor.
What Are My Options for Treatment if My Dog Has Pancreatic Cancer?
Unfortunately, another reason why pancreatic cancer is so concerning is because you will have very limited options when it comes to treatment. Usually, surgery is required to remove tumors that are cancerous, and these procedures will either be expensive or health-compromising. It’s also almost impossible to completely remove the cancer from your pet’s pancreas, because this could lead to the loss of function of the organ, which will put your pet into even more fatal danger. Chemotherapy and radiation are common treatments and are used in tandem with surgery to ensure tumors don’t come back as well.
If you’re able to remove the cancer during the earlier stages, medication will be given to your pet that they’ll have to take for as long as they live. For a while, your dog will suffer from pain as they recover. During this time, CBD oil is very recommended, as it can help alleviate their pain and suffering and help them get better as soon as possible.
What Exactly Is CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in the hemp plant. Naturally, CBD works with the endocannabinoid system, or ECS, a system that’s within both humans and dogs and is responsible for maintaining overall health. Unlike THC, CBD does not have any psychoactive properties and has only medicinal benefits. When used correctly, CBD can greatly help your dog with their pancreatic cancer.
CBD can benefit your dog as it:
- Relieves pain
- Alleviates anxiety
- Reduces vomiting and nausea
- Reduces joint pain and arthritis
- Helps with digestion
- Fights inflammation
How Can CBD Fight My Dog’s Pancreatic Cancer?
On top of all of the benefits listed above, studies have shown that CBD also has the ability to help fight cancer. It’s mainly able to do this by reducing growth receptors that concern cancer cells, which reduces the growth of cancer throughout the body. CBD can also be used as a preventative measure if your dog is prone to certain health issues, and it has been shown to be effective against fighting these issues when they do occur.
Conclusion – CBD Oil for Dogs with Pancreatic Cancer
If your dog has pancreatic cancer, this is very concerning. The good news is, beyond medical treatment, there are some viable options that pet owners can turn to. One of these options is the use of CBD oil to ease their pet’s suffering and pain.
You can give your dog CBD through different kinds of products, such as capsules, CBD treats, and tinctures. You need to start slow, and watch how your pet reacts before you give them more. Typically, people give their dogs treats or tincture oils, as this makes it special for the dog and can easily be administered.
Overall, it’s recommended that you use either treats or a form of oil to give to your dog. Start with a low dosage and increase this only slowly to ensure you’re being safe. Pick great products that are made from reputable companies, and monitor your dog’s reaction. As always, you should speak with your vet about putting your dog on a CBD regimen before you begin this, because your vet can explain how it will work with the other treatments and may even have a certain company or brand they will recommend.
