Diseases like cancer are not always as apparent as we think they are. Decompensation in dogs with cancer isn’t always gradually apparent.
They do not knock on the door and notify you that they have started to take root. Sometimes signs and symptoms can start to show up after they have embedded themselves deeply into the dog’s system. By that point, things just may start to be a little out of hand.
You should be aware of certain signs that may show up and alert you that something is amiss.
Lumps are always a good way of knowing something could be wrong. Your dog may also smell bad, not feel like eating or drinking, get diarrhea, have their abdomen swollen up, or be unable to breathe properly.
If you observe such signs, know that your dog’s body has started to deteriorate pertaining to cancer.
What is Decompensation in Dogs?
Decompensation of cancer may not be a term that you are familiar with.
That is because generally, most pet parents do not have a lot of knowledge about this. It’s understandable; the amount of education available is limited. In its most precise and clear terms, decompensation means that a system that was previously functional can no longer continue to perform to it’s full potential.
Cancer could have found its way inside your dog’s body and buried those roots deeper. It could have spread long ago without you having the slightest idea.
To the naked eye, your dog may appear perfectly healthy, doing all her regular tasks right until a sudden hit shocks you to the core and lets you realize that something has been growing inside her body for a long time.
This, however, does not only have to apply to animals or even to cancer. It can occur for a range of different problems that may result in the body.
Cancer and the Immune System in Dogs
Your body has its own internal balance that allows it to regulate all its functions enough to keep you fit and healthy. There is an entire mechanism in place that acts as protection in case some issue arises.
This is known as the immune system. It aims to restore the body back to its original state if something goes wrong.
That could be either a severe or minor disease or a cut or bruise on your skin. As long as the body detects that something is wrong or there are foreign entities intruding, the immune system kicks up and tries to make you healthy again.
When the time comes when not even the immune system can repair the damage because it is so deep and extensive, your body is no longer capable of compensating for the issue.
That is when things can potentially get dangerous, as your defense system would essentially have given up. The same thing happens to your dog when the cancer is too deeply embedded for the body to be able to fight it any longer.
The terrible thing about cancer is that it does not instantly make itself known. It invites itself in and lingers around for a while before allowing any signs to appear.
You may have no idea that your dog has it, and once you do, it will already have spread far enough to do some real damage.
This is even the case with humans, who start to feel worse for wear once it has reached a certain stage. Getting to identify it in an early stage is pretty hard.
Preparing for the Decompensation Process In Your Dog
There is a good chance that you might feel overwhelmed if the news hits you all of a sudden that your dog does not just have a minor disease, but cancer.
The word itself can be terrifying and bring even the strongest people to their knees. A kind of finality makes itself known at that moment. But this doesn’t have to be. You can work towards increasing your dog’s life and ensuring that she lives a good one.
Just try to take a few deep breaths and calm yourself down before making any decisions. Consult a few vets to really make sure that it is indeed cancer that is plaguing your dog.
Vets may not always have the same diagnosis, so it is better to be on the safe side and get an accurate diagnosis instead of venturing in unchartered waters.
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