Hypersensitivity, or a food allergy, is a physical reaction triggered by the immune system due to one particular substance in the food. Like humans, pets including cats and dogs are also affected by food allergies. Typically, dogs develop food allergies due to animal protein including beef, chicken, egg, fish, lamb, pork, and rabbit. Rice, soy, and wheat can also cause food allergies in dogs. On the other hand, preservatives like BHA and BHT, meat by-products, dairy items, corn products, artificial coloring, and seafood are common culprits causing allergies in cats. Signs and symptoms of food allergies in pets Itching is the most common sign of food allergy in pets. Incessant itching can further lead to rubbing and scratching which causes hair loss and tenderness of the skin. The following are some other additional signs triggered by food allergies. Diarrhea Skin and ear infections Vomiting Abdominal pain Weight loss Watery eyes Runny nose Coughing and sneezing Paw chewing Swollen paws Discoloration of the nail beds Dull and brittle fur Apart from food allergies, a lot of these symptoms could be a result of other health conditions, such as bacterial or viral infections. Sometimes, the symptoms could merely be a form of intolerance and not an allergy.

Do you know that bacteria are essential for keeping us healthy? Sounds contradictory, right! Well, in this case, we are talking about the good bacteria. Multiple research studies infer that friendly bacteria like probiotics can be beneficial in fighting off or preventing numerous health conditions. Including dietary probiotics can be an incredible way for maintaining your well-being in the long run, however, it might not be sufficient. So to gain quicker results, you can try using probiotic supplements. Read on to find out more about probiotic benefits: Improves gut health The overall health of our gut directly impacts our immunity. Medical investigators suspect that numerous chronic diseases are linked with a poor digestive system. Regularly consuming probiotic supplements can balance increase the good gut bacteria, which will help control inflammation. This can prove instrumental in preventing gastrointestinal diseases such as Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, diarrhea, and inflammatory bowel syndrome. Reduces antibiotic resistance According to the WHO (World Health Organization), antibiotic resistance is one of the greatest concerns when it comes to global health. Bad bacteria in the body can become resistant when prescription antibiotics are overused. Using probiotics can help strengthen the gut health by boosting the number of good gut microbes in the intestines.

According to the American Cancer Society, approximately 22,500 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2019. Mostly observed in older women, this female reproductive system cancer has been usually diagnosed in women who are 63 years or older. Despite alarming statistics, it has been observed that the rate of diagnosis of ovarian cancer has been on a steady decline over the last 20 years. This has been mostly due to advanced research that has led to very efficient ways to detect high-risk genes. Moreover, the diagnosis has become easier with effective ovarian cancer screening tests in place. Ovarian cancer screening With early detection of ovarian cancer, it is possible for nearly 94% of the patients to live longer than 5 years, post-diagnosis. There are multiple ways to find ovarian cancer as early as possible: Pelvic exam During this exam, a physician will check the uterus and ovaries for shape, size, and consistency. Pelvic exam has been found to be quite useful in the early detection of certain female cancers. However, it has been observed that pelvic exams are rarely successful in early detection of ovarian cancer. Pap test Pap test can be done for ovarian cancer. However, it does not detect the tumors until cancer reaches an advanced stage.

Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that forms in plasma, a type of white blood cell. Plasma helps in fighting infections by producing antibodies to recognize and attack germs. Multiple myeloma accumulates in the bone marrow by crowding out healthy blood cells. As a result, rather than producing antibodies, bone marrow produces malignant cells with abnormal proteins causing complications. Three percent of people in the U.S., older than 50-years old, suffer from a condition called monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS). The condition is marked by the presence of M proteins which eventually leads to multiple myeloma. The following risk factors increase the risk of developing multiple myeloma: Age The risk of suffering from multiple myeloma increases with age, as most people are diagnosed with myeloma in their 60s Gender Recent cases have revealed that men are more likely develop multiple myeloma than women Genetics The risk of suffering from multiple myeloma increases if a family member has been diagnosed with the same. MGUS Almost one percent of people suffering from monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance develop multiple myeloma. It is still unclear how multiple myeloma develops. However, oncologists know that malignant cells don’t age and degenerate as normal cells do.

Melanoma is skin cancer caused due to genetic mutations in the pigment-producing cells known as melanocytes. These cells are responsible for maintaining skin, hair, and eye color. The mutation results in an imbalance that leads to changes in the composition of existing moles or spots on the body. Visible indicators include rapid changes in the asymmetry, border, color, diameter, and elevation of the moles or spots. Risk factors that can increase the chances of suffering from melanoma include excessive exposure to UV rays, sun damage or sunburn, skin color, family history of the skin disorder, and a weak immune system. The treatment options for melanoma by stage are as follows: Treatment for stage I melanoma Surgery is one of the best options for people who are suffering from stage 1 melanoma. Wide excision surgery is performed by the doctor to remove the affected area along with a marginal portion of the skin around it depending on the thickness and extent of the skin cancer. Complete removal of the cancerous cells gives patients a better survival rate in the early stages of the condition. Doctors may also recommend a sentinel lymph node biopsy as an alternative to surgery for a slightly more advanced substage of skin cancer.

A lymphoma is a form of blood cancer, that affects the lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. Lymphocytes travel throughout the body using the lymphatic system and fight off external invasions by viruses and bacteria. A change or mutation in the cell structure of lymphocytes causes lymphoma. The mutation causes healthy cells to develop and multiply rapidly and can affect one’s bone marrow, thymus, spleen, tonsils, and lymph nodes. Non-Hodgkin’s and Hodgkin’s Lymphoma are the two primary classifications, as follows: 1. Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) It is one of the more common types of lymphoma. The subtypes can be further classified into different forms of lymphoma depending on the growth rate of the blood cancer. There are two primary classifications of the subtypes based on whether they are fast growing (aggressive lymphomas) or slow-growing (indolent lymphomas). Primary types of lymphoma include the following: B-cell lymphomas 85% of the cases are identified as B-cell lymphoma in the country. Medical professionals also refer to it as Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and it is one of the most aggressive forms of blood cancer in the Non-Hodgkin’s subtype. Abnormal B-cells in the blood can lead to Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma and if left unchecked cancer can prove fatal.

Cancer is a chronic condition that can be treated only when it’s in the initial stages as the cancer cells have not yet affected the adjacent areas. When cancer metastasizes, the treatment options shift focus from curing cancer to improving the symptoms of the same. Like every other form of cancer, lung cancer too can be cured only when it is diagnosed at an early stage. For those who smoke or smoked previously, it is imperative that they undergo lung cancer screening as it will help with early detection in case they have developed lung cancer. This lung cancer screening can help determine the stage of lung cancer and the severity of the same. There are two types of lung cancer and they are non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and small cell lung cancer (SCLC). NSCLC is the more common form of lung cancer and forms about 85 percent of the total lung cancer cases. When lung cancer is in its initial stages, there are several treatment methods that can completely cure it, whereas, as the disease progresses, the focus shifts to managing the symptoms of lung cancer. The different options available for treating lung cancer are as follows: Surgery When lung cancer is in its initial stages, the patients have to undergo minimally-invasive surgery that involves removing lobes or portions of the lung that are damaged.

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming tissues of the bone marrow and lymphatic system. Usually, they detrimentally impact the white blood cells that are responsible for protecting the body from infections. It affects both, adults and children, however, it is more common in adults. Likewise, Caucasians and men suffer from an increased risk of leukemia. It is characterized by signs and symptoms such as fever, chills, fatigue, frequent or severe infections, swollen lymph nodes, easy bleeding or bruising, petechiae (tiny red spots on the skin), bone pain, excessive sweating, unexplained weight loss, and recurrent nosebleeds. Researchers still haven’t been able to narrow down the exact cause of leukemia. However, it is strongly suspected to be linked with a combination of environmental and genetic factors that lead to genetic mutation of cells in the blood or bone marrow. The following are the primary types of leukemia. Some of these might be acute, (i.e., the symptoms develop faster, therefore, they require timely and aggressive treatment). On the other hand, chronic leukemia develops slowly so they don’t produce any symptoms in the early stages: Acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) The most common type of cancer in children, ALL advances quickly, replacing healthy cells with abnormal cells that don’t mature properly.

Kidney cancer, also known as renal cancer, is a condition wherein cancerous cells are found in the lining of the tubules. The tubules of the kidney clean and filter the blood, flush out the waste products, and make urine. Kidney cancer is one of the ten most common cancers and more than 70,000 new cases of kidney cancer have been identified in the country in 2019. It is important to diagnose the condition to get the right treatment using the following methods: Diagnosis Kidney cancer can often be cured if the condition is diagnosed at an early stage and treated when the cancer cells have not spread to other parts of the body. The chances of the condition to be cured depend on the degree of the spread of the tumor and the stage of the disease. Although kidney cancer screening is based on the size of the tumor, the size should not be the only determining factor for the treatment. This is because metastasis can occur with a smaller mass of tumor as well. Some of the medical tests and procedures that may be used for kidney cancer screening are: Ultrasound CT scan Urinalysis Blood chemistry examinations Biopsy MRI Physical exam Moreover, a physical examination of the body may also be necessary to check for any lumps, signs of a condition, and general health signs.

The primary purpose of immunotherapy is to boost the body’s natural defenses to fight different types of cancer. Immunotherapy restores the normal immune system by curbing the growth of cancer cells. The medications also stop the malignant cells from spreading to other parts via the lymph node or blood circulatory system simultaneously boosting immune function. Although it is not completely possible to restore health, immunotherapy helps patients suffering from varying levels of the symptoms associated with a type of cancer. Chronic myelogenous leukemia, follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma are among many cancer types that can be managed with a combination of treatments in immunotherapy specifically. Popular options for immunotherapy include the following: Monoclonal antibodies The immune system is the body’s primary defense and produces antibodies when it senses a threat or external attack. Antibodies are loaded with powerful proteins that counter and, in most cases, fight the infection. Immunotherapy using monoclonal antibodies helps the body block abnormal proteins in the cancer cells directly thus curbing the mutation at its source. The medication also enable the natural defense system to identify destroy cancer cells without harming the healthy cells in the vicinity by identifying the proteins linked to the antibodies.