Q: A friend’s dog recently died of cancer, and we want to do all we can to keep our own dog cancer-free. What advice can you offer?
A: Cancer is far too common in dogs, particularly large, purebred dogs. You can’t change your dog’s genetics, but there are things you can do to minimize the risk of cancer.
Overweight dogs develop cancer more often than slim ones. Slim dogs also live two years longer than their overweight counterparts, so keep your dog at a healthy weight.
Environmental toxins can cause cancer in dogs. If you smoke, do so outdoors away from your dog, or better yet, quit. Dogs with long muzzles are particularly susceptible to nasal cancer from secondhand smoke….