New Delhi, Nov. 12 -- Every November, cancer awareness messages flood our social media feeds. We think of humans first, but pets suffer from cancer too. It is one of the most common life-limiting diseases in older dogs and cats, yet many families are unaware that some everyday choices can influence risk. Genetics matter, but environment and long-term habits matter as well. Cancer prevention is about understanding where risk lies and making steady choices that protect health over the years.

Excess weight is an easy yet very big risk to overlook. A round dog or cat may look cute, but fat is biologically active. It releases inflammatory chemicals that interfere with normal immune surveillance and make it easier for damaged cells to survive....