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Once a guaranteed death sentence for pets, cancer is claiming fewer four-legged victims in the US these days thanks to sophisticated treatments and the willingness of pet owners to pursue those treatments. Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI) will seek to raise national awareness about the disease during November with its fourth annual National Pet Cancer Awareness Month. VPI launched Pet Cancer Awareness Month in November 2005 to educate pet owners on the prevalence and management of cancer in pets and raise funds for research through the sale of Pet Cancer Awareness dog collars.
“Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in pets,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “Even though nearly one in four pets will be diagnosed with cancer, few pet owners know how commonly it occurs and what treatment options exist. It only adds to the shock of the diagnosis when pet owners are unprepared for the costs. Our goal for Pet Cancer Awareness Month is to educate and empower pet owners so they can make optimal health care decisions for their pets.”
Now through the end of November, visitors to
PetInsurance.com will have the opportunity to purchase Pet Cancer Awareness dog collars, with all profits going directly toward advancing the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of cancers in pets and people.
VPI claims data from 2007 reveals that the most common cancers in dogs were lymphosarcoma (a cancer affecting the lymph system), skin tumors and osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer). Cats similarly suffered from lymphosarcoma and skin tumors, but showed higher rates than dogs for intestinal cancer and leukemia. Claims data from previous years showed almost identical trends in cancer disease rates. Combined cancer claims were the sixth most common canine and fourth most common feline medical claims submitted in 2007. The total number of canine and feline cancer-related claims in 2007 was 25,519, up from 21,881 in 2006.