Do your part for Pet Cancer Awareness Month

While millions of pets in the United States are diagnosed with and treated for cancer, many pet owners are still surprised to learn that the disease targets dogs and cats as well as people. What’s even more surprising to some pet owners is the cost of pet cancer. Between 2003 and 2009, Veterinary Pet Insurance policyholders spent more than $51.2 million treating common cancerous conditions.

To help raise pet owner awareness and money for pet cancer research, VPI and the Animal Cancer Foundation (ACF) are hosting the Long Beach K9K Pet Cancer Awareness Walk. The Long Beach K9K Pet Cancer Walk will take place Nov. 13 in Long Beach, Calif.

Can’t make it to Long Beach? No sweat. You can do your part for Pet Cancer Awareness Month within the comfort of your own clinic, at no cost. Simply start a conversation with clients about the prevalence of pet cancer. Explain to them the importance of early detection and encourage them to pay attention to warning signs, such as growing lumps, sores that fail to heal, unusually strong odors or discharge, and difficulty chewing or swallowing. You can also start an angel fund for affected pets at your practice, or educate clients about pet insurance and third-party payment plans to help ease the burden of medical costs. Check out the related links for tips on how to do both.