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Veterinary Care Page 7

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Cancer

We are now compiling data on various cancers found in skunks and possible treatments. We will begin with some basic information.

Though there are many different types of cancer, there are five basic categories:

  1. Carcinomas - the most common cancers, which are those that originate in the tissues which cover a surface or line internal organs. Carcinomas include lung, breast, prostate, skin, and intestinal cancers.
  2. Sarcomas - cancers which originate in the connective and muscle tissue, attacking bones, muscles, cartilage, or the lymph system. These are considered to be the rarest and also the most deadly types of cancer.
  3. Myelomas - these tumors are also rare and originate in the plasma cells, which are found in bone marrow.
  4. Lymphoma - these are cancers of the lymph system. The two most prevalent types in the U.S. are Hodgkin's disease and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
  5. Leukemias - this type of cancer originates in the tissues of the bone marrow, spleen, and the lymph nodes. Leukemia manifests itself as an overproduction of white blood cells and is not a cancer that forms solid tumors.

Listed below are some cancers and tumors found in skunks:

Mastocytoma (MCT)

Submitted by Unknown Author

I recently had one of my dogs diagnosed with a Mast Cell Tumor (MCT) or Mastocytoma.

I searched for a treament and found Kinavet-CA1® at
http://www.kinavet.com/Information-for-Pet-Owner/About-Mast-Cell-Tumors/

I used this product on the tumor for five days. It worked!

Note: We do not have any information that this product has been used on skunks.

Please consult with your skunk veterinarian whether this product is safe for use on your pet.

Cancer Prevention and Treatment

Resource links for homeopathic and natural dietary suppliments.

We are giving our skunks Essiac Tea. We buy the box and brew ourselves.


If you pet has growths, cancer, tumors, etc. coming out from the skin.
Your vet can call Buck Mountain Botanicals, Inc.
They have products that can dissolve the growth.
Its cheaper than surgery and radiation treatments.
Read about it here ⇒ http://www.buckmountainbotanicals.net

We hope to someday have EBC-46 in the United States to help our animals and humans too. Scientists have identified a compound in the fruit of the native blushwood shrub that appears to "liquify and destroy cancer with no side-effects", according to latest research.

Read about it ⇒ http://www.qbiotics.com/

Read about it ⇒ http://www.topicalinfo.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=729

MORE suggested items to take to help prevent or fight cancer for both people and pets. We use a lot of the items below on ourselves and our skunks.

NOTE: These are just suggestions. We are not Veterinarians or Doctors.

Always consult your Doctor or Veterinarian.

Do not take all suggestions all at once.

Do your own home work on each item.

Cell Forte MAX with IP-6 & IP-6 & Inositol plus Maitake & Cat's Claw and Cancer

Submitted by Unknown Author

* We use Cell Forte MAX with IP-6 & Inositol plus Maitake & Cat's Claw made by Enzymatic Therapy

Inositol is a natural phytochemical (plant chemical) found in rice bran. Several studies since the mid 1980s have shown it to increase Natural Killer (NK) cell activity, thus also exhibiting anti-tumor activity. Studies published in Cancer Letters (1992; 65:9-13) show that Inositol prevents tumors, reduces their size, and is non toxic in both megadoses and long term usage. An article in Carcinogenesis (1995; 16(8):1975-1979) states that "The marker for prostatic cell differentiation, prostate acid phosphatase, was significantly (P < 0.05) increased after 48 h treatment at 0.5-5 mM InsP6. . . . InsP6 [Inositol)] strongly inhibits growth and induces differentiation [often resulting in a reversion to normal cells] in human prostate cancer cells. . . ." We've known about Inositol for some time now, however just recently a supplemental form has hit the market, patented by Dr. A. Shamsuddin, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Maryland where inositol underwent years of testing. The patented formula is known as Cell Forte with IP-6T and is distributed by Enzymatic Therapy. (Enzymatic Therapy's products are sold by health food stores, food co-ops, physician and chiropractor offices only. If you have trouble locating their products, you may call them at 800. 558.7372 for the store nearest you.) This particular supplement is a unique combination of inositol and inositol hexaphosphate.

There is another form of rice bran found online called RiSoTrieneT. A wonderful antioxidant, this supplement also contains inositol as well as amino acids, lipoic acids, CoQ10, and is also a rich source of vitamin B. Just search for RiSoTriene with any search engine to find a source.

Some facts on Inositol: Inositol is needed for insulin and calcium metabolism, is essential for hair growth, the production of lecithin, growth of cells in the bone marrow, eye membrane and intestines, and aids in the movement of fat from the liver to the body. It also helps to reduce of blood pressure. Caffeine can deplete the body stores of Inositol.

Update: We have recently discovered a number of studies showing Cell Forte with IP-6T is beating chemotherapy. Yes, it is not a 100%, but it is beating any Chemotherapy's statistics in colon, prostate, breast cancers, and a whole lot more. But please, do not run out and begin self medicating; find someone who knows what is going on, a good naturopath, a good nutritionist. Things like this work a lot better when you have a team on your side.

You can research further by reading The Overlooked Cancer Cure From Japan by Bill Sarin

Helicobacter pylori and Cancer

Several authorities have shown that a direct link exists with Helicobacter pylori leading to Hodgkin's Disease and lymphoma. In ferrets they have documented cases of H. pylori and lymphoma. There may be common factors and connections to several types of cancer.

The best interest would be to have young skunks tested for Heicobacter pylori and older skunks tested for Hodgkin's Disease and H. pylori. Skunks with signs of Hodgkin's Disease that pass should on have a necropsy and tested as well.

If we have young skunks tested and can kill the bacteria early then they may not have lymphoma at an older age.

Reference Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology - Helicobacter Pylori for more information on H. pylori.

More information can also be found at Healing Naturally by Bee

Treatment and cures can be found at Earth Clinic and Health Alternative.

This five year old male had a few bumps on the back  The skunk had mouth surgery about a month before the bumps multiplied. It is assumed the surgery might have made the cells mad and starting going out of control all over this skunks body.  

Taz  Taz1  Taz2

The biopsy stated this could have been and was more than likely Cutaneous Lymphoma, read about it ⇒
  http://ezinearticles.com/?What-is-Cutaneous-Lymphoma?&id=3572140

 The other possibilities were:
 Infectious Dermatopathy OR Immune-Mediated Disease; these could not be ruled out.

Gastric Lymphoma

This is a 10 year old that died of Gastric Lymphoma. This consumed the whole stomach. The skunk stopped eating and then started to bleed internally.

Gastric lymphoma

Read about Primary Gastric Lymphoma and Gastric Lymphoma.

X-Rays

It is best to get a second opinion by a specialist.

We suggest you have your Veterinary send any X-Rays to Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging see https://www.vet-rad.com/

Have your Veterinary call for pricing at 1-888-483-8723 (1-888-4-VETRAD) 24/7/365 Toll-free phone/fax

Or Email at info@vet-rad.com

Bone Cancer

The following is submited as an example of the difficulty of diagnosing and treating various cancers:

Submitted by Deann Oakes -

This is my story about our SweetPea, We got him in Aug of 2003 and when we bought him home he wasn't acting right, laying by his water dish all the time and not eating. So I called [another skunk owner] and she said take him to the vet so we did and he had a kidney and bladder infection. He was put on amoxicillin that seemed to work well for him. So another month went by we had him nutered all went well. Then about a month after that again not acting right back to the vet again another infection. So put back on amoxicillin.

In Nov my vet passed away and we had no vet so I called aprox 20 to 30 vets to find one and we thought we did but she new nothing about skunks and he did have another infection and she put him on Baytril well that made him worse he could not pee or poop for 2 days so I stopped the Baytril and I started looking for another vet that knew something about skunks and we found a father and daughter team so we took Sweet Pea for a check-up and he did have another infection plus his liver enzymes elevated very high 997, normal is in the 100's. So he was put on Clavamox. For months through most of the winter we went for our monthly check-up for liver, bladder, kidneys. Well all was starting to look great, enzymes we got down to 150 range and one morning he woke up limping for no apparent reason. I thought he pulled something so I called the vet; she said it was probably a soft tissue pull to put heat and cool compresses on it whichever he liked. So we did and it was still getting worse so I called her back made a appointment.

We did X-rays and found which looked like several holes in his right front arm elbow. So she sent the X-rays to a specialist to read and we all agreed he needed a biopsy of the arm. So 10 days later he was getting the Biopsy when he was on the table asleep the vet called and said this arm is a mess there is no way to save it. It looked like mush and everything was eaten away. The only way to save his life was to take the arm. So we did she sent the arm away for a biopsy and it came back that my baby SweetPea has CANCER, 10 months old very rare type of cancer for his age. The first my vet has heard of Osteosarcoma. And she was telling me that this type of cancer travels throught the blood stream and he will be dead within a year. That next it will attack lungs,liver kidneys, bladder ,spleen, lymph nodes and so on. Now all was making sense this is why my baby was always sick.

Skunk after surgery to remove leg width=248 height=200> Skunk bandaged after leg removed width=248 height=200>

So now here we are today his incision won't heal so we do our weekly Tues at 10am to the vet and this has been 2 months now. We did just wrapping it, then we did Sugar bandagages, then he went back in for a debreedment with a drain put in. I had to pull the drain in 3 days so I did it looked geat (see pics below) But 2 days after I pulled the drain the incesion opened right back up with a hole and puss. So we're leaving it opened I'm cleaning it 4 times a day with ST-37, BETADINE, and putting this Phytogel around the incesion and he's leaving it alone.

SkunkHaven™ Note: I am happy to say that Sweet Pea is doing good as of 10/04.

Freedom print

Mesothelioma

In a recent skunk necropsy, the skunk was found to have Mesothelioma. This seems to be the first documented case in our skunks.

We know the first owner had passed on and that is how this skunk came to us. The skunk was soon adopted out in summer of 2004. Recently she was getting fussy about eating and her stomach was filling up with fluids. When she passed on a necropsy was preformed.

At this time we do not know if the skunk lived in her first home with asbestos or not.

This from EzineArticles, What is Mesothelioma?:

Pleural mesothelioma is one of the most common types of lung cancer and is usually brought on by exposure to asbestos. When asbestos is inhaled, the micro fibers pass down the airways and become embedded in the pleura ( the thin outer lining of the lungs). This induces serious scarring and chronic inflammatory lesions on this delicate tissue. Over a period of time these lesions and scars slowly develop into pleural mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer for which there is no definative cure. These asbestos micro fibers sometimes also settle in the abdomen, leading to the development of peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of cancer, although less common, is just as deadly. Just like asbestosis, pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma usually have a long period of dormancy after exposure before clinical signs start to show. In fact some patients do not show symptoms for 40 years after exposure.

This from National Cancer Institute, Mesothelioma: Questions and Answers:

"The risk of asbestos-related disease increases with heavier exposure to asbestos and longer exposure time. However, some individuals with only brief exposures have developed mesothelioma. On the other hand, not all workers who are heavily exposed develop asbestos-related diseases."
...
"There is some evidence that family members and others living with asbestos workers have an increased risk of developing mesothelioma, and possibly other asbestos-related diseases."
 
More information on lung cancer causes can be found here ⇒ http://www.lungcancer-prognosis.com/causes.html
More information on lung cancer symptoms can be found here ⇒ http://www.lungcancer-prognosis.com/symptoms.html
Other treatments for lung cancer can be found here ⇒ http://www.lungcancer-prognosis.com/treatment.html
Another source for prognosis can be found here ⇒ http://www.mesotheliomahelp.org/mesothelioma/prognosis/

Mesothelioma Treatment

Are you looking for Mesothelioma Treatment?

Mesothelioma.net provides mesothelioma patients with free resources, support, education, and referrals to experienced mesothelioma doctors.

They are a current sponsor of the American Cancer Society, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Make a Wish Foundation and the National Patient Travel Center.

In addition, they have established a scholarship for high school and college students that will help further educate students of this rare cancer.

For more information go to here⇒ http://mesothelioma.net/

Anti-Aging

New research on anti-aging looks promising within the next 25 years. Reimagine aging here ⇒ Sens Research Foundation

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Revised 02/25/2024 (SRS)

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