KENDALL, Fla. – When Carol Melendi first noticed a lump in her dog's lower abdomen, she immediately took him to the vet.
"I had a sinking feeling when I first took him in and was relieved when they said it was just a urinary tract infection," Melendi said.
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When she returned to the vet a few weeks later, the diagnosis was far worse. Hunter, her aging beagle, had prostate cancer, and the prognosis was not good.
"My first reaction was, 'I'm not ready,' even though he was as old as he was," she said.
Warning signs of cancer in pets are in some cases similar to other common conditions.
They include any new lump or bump, a change in the size or characteristics of an existing bump, a runny nose -- especially if blood is present -- difficulty urinating or defecating, foul breath, limping or a change in gait and drainage or odor from the ears.
"A lot of these things people may write off as other issues and don't necessarily respond with the urgency that may be necessary," said Dr. David Lurie, with Miami Veterinary Specialists.
Once diagnosed, the treatments for cancer in animals are similar to those for people.
"Usually when the tumors are smaller, we can operate and the saying is, 'A chance to cut is a chance to cure,' if we catch them early," Lurie said.
Treatment for advanced cancers can also include chemotherapy and radiation.
"Animals can actually tolerate those very well. It's different from what people go through in many instances," said Lurie. "We're also now beginning to work on more targeted therapies."
After a series of treatments, Hunter the beagle rallied for a while but ultimately succumbed to the forces of age and disease.
"I've now come to think about it as he lived and they all have to die of something and I'm just grateful I got to be his owner," said Melendi.