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by Laurie Kaplan, for the Pet Press
In
July of 2000,
Bullet was a
strong, healthy, 9½-year-old
Siberian Husky. I took him to the vet because I felt enlarged lymph
nodes in
his throat, but a diagnosis of cancer was the last thing I expected. It
was late
stage lymphosarcoma (lymphoma). After the initial shock wore off, I
resolved to
do whatever I could to help him survive.
Bullet
stole my
heart in September of 1992. I found
him, a
year and a half old, at my local shelter and he became my constant
companion. I
was constantly enthralled by his beauty, his grace and his bemusing,
confounding and humiliating antics. (If you’ve ever lived with a
Siberian, no
explanation is necessary!) I couldn’t imagine not fighting for
this wonderful and
vibrant creature’s survival. Bullet
received medical treatment in the form of chemotherapy and I created a
home care
cancer-fighting program for him, borrowing and combining bits and
pieces from
consultations with holistic vets, research and experience.
Hundreds
of thousands of dogs and
cats are
diagnosed with
cancer each year, yet shock is a typical reaction among caretakers who
learn
that their pet has cancer. There are about 64 million pet dogs in the
U.S.
today and the experts predict that half of them will have some type of
cancer
in their lifetimes... eighty percent of dogs over the age of 10 will
die from
cancer... the dismal statistics go on and on. There are, however, two
pieces of
good news. First, there are precautions that you can take to lower your
pet’s risk
for developing cancer. Second, if your pet is diagnosed with cancer,
there are
options available to you.
Precaution
= prevention. Naturally,
prevention is
preferable
to treatment! The chemicals used in many lawn care products are cited
as a
leading cause of lymphoma in dogs. Failure to spay or neuter leads to
mammary
and testicular cancers in dogs and cats. Over-vaccination and exposure
to the
sun may cause many cutaneous cancers, including mast cell cancers as
well as
some sarcomas and
carcinomas. Diet and genetic predisposition are also
factors.
In light of the statistics, having a medical insurance or discount plan
for
your pet makes a great deal of sense. When all precautions fail to stop
cancer
from developing, such a plan may succeed in making treatment affordable
and
possible.
Until
the past decade, pets
diagnosed with cancer
were generally
not given treatment. In fact, until 15 years ago, veterinary oncology
didn’t even
exist as a board certified subspecialty of veterinary medicine. Now,
state of
the art cancer treatment for pets is nearly on a par with human cancer
treatment. Because there are approximately 160 veterinary oncologists
to date
and there are millions of cats and dogs with cancer, many general
practice
veterinarians are learning to provide treatment as well, usually under
consultation with an oncologist.
Many
types of pet
cancer can be
treated successfully with
surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Additionally, because a
great deal
of research is underway in the field, entering a pet into a clinical
trial
program is another possibility. This option is especially attractive
when a pet
has a type of cancer that’s not successfully treated by existing
therapies and
also for caretakers who can’t afford state of the art treatment.
Lymphoma,
the
cancer that my
precious Bullet had, is the
third most common cancer in dogs, after cutaneous cancers and mammary
cancer.
While human lymphoma may be Hodgkins or Non-Hodgkin’s, only the
malignant
(Non-Hodgkin’s) type appears in pets. This is a very aggressive cancer
with a typical
survival rate of only 4-6 weeks without chemotherapy, but it is also a
cancer
that responds well to treatment. A course of chemo may earn a pet an
extra year
to 18 months of survival—borrowed time—in excellent health.
The most important
components of a
successful fight against pet
cancer:
- A
top
notch veterinary team including (at least) a provider of traditional
cancer treatment, an oncologist who might provide treatment or might be
a consultant, and a holistic vet
- A
cancer-fighting diet low in carbohydrates and high in Omega-3 fatty
acids
- A
supplement regimen formulated with the guidance of a holistic vet
- A caretaker who is able
to hold
steady when
problems arise while constantly re-eveluating the wisdom and humaneness
of continueing the fight
I was hoping against
hope
that Bullet would respond
to
chemotherapy and outlive his prognosis. He went into remission after
his first
treatment and, although he ailed from side effects from time to time,
he
remained in remission for the rest of his life—4 years and 4 months of
borrowed
time. It’s just possible that one additional factor in his survival was
the
strong physiology and stubborn nature of the Siberian, both of which
Bullet had
in Spades! I lost Bullet in November of 2004 to kidney failure, at
nearly 14
years of age and still in remission.
Taking the
cancer journey with a pet can be a rewarding experience
regardless of the outcome. When
cancer threatened to take
the life
of my four-legged companion I said, “Not today and not without a
fight,”
and the depth of my commitment to him crystallized.
Laurie Kaplan is the
author of “Help Your Dog Fight Cancer:
An Overview of Home Care Options.” This book, Bullet’s legacy, has
helped thousands
of dogs and caretakers in their fight against cancer. Information at
www.HelpYourDogFightCancer.com.
Kaplan is the
administrator of The Magic Bullet Fund, a program of the
501(C)(3) Perseus Foundation. The Fund helps caretakers defray the
costs of
cancer
treatment for their dogs. Donations may be made at www.TheMagicBulletFund.org.
T-shirts and wristbands bearing the message FIGHT CANINE CANCER are
offered in appreciation. Donate to help this fund help more dogs
survive
cancer; wear
the shirt and wristband to raise public awareness.
www.themagicbulletfund.org.
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Hi
Laurie,
I
don’t know if this will reach you, but I have to try. I want to extend
my most sincere thanks for how much your book and Bullet’s story has
touched and helped me with my dog Kobi’s ongoing battle with lymphoma.
At
the beginning of June 2007, our beloved mixed breed Kobi (10) was
definitively diagnosed as having lymphoma. My husband and I were
devastated and fell into a deep depression.
I had been doing tons of research and while on a website supporting
chemo dogs, I found someone who raved about your book & how helpful
it was. I immediately ordered a copy and couldn’t wait for it to
arrive! Once it did arrive, I devoured your book with the
heartfelt story and advice it shared.
Kobi
went into remission shortly after starting chemo and has been doing really well ever
since. It is amazing how well he’s done – minimal side effects after
the initial (what I like to call) night from hell. There is so much
more to our story, but I’m sure you’ve heard it all before. Kobi has
two more “induction phase” chemo treatments then goes into the
maintenance phase. I am eager yet apprehensive about what will happen
to him once we stop the chemo. I have changed his diet and added
several herbal supplements.
Thanks
to your book and all the tips inside, Kobi is well on the road to
recovery! He’s actually
healthier than before being diagnosed – despite being on the dreaded
chemo. We have also been blessed with a wonderful, compassionate
and professional vet, Randy Wirth, DVM, and his wonderful staff at Newport Animal
Hospital, Middletown, RI.
Thank you so much for
all that you & your boy Bullet have given us with your fabulous
book. I have even made notes in the back of the book and refer to it
still months after finishing it.
The financial burden of chemo is immense and has pretty much
wiped us out financially & emotionally. I had initially
checked out
the Magic Bullet Fund for assistance but found that it is tapped out. I
am now pushing to get people to donate. It is such an awesome cause.
I can’t thank you enough, Laurie & Bullet, for what you
have done for us. I know how much you miss your boy, but I know he is
proud of you for what you’re doing. You are a brave and generous soul.
God Bless.
Sincerely,
Lisa M. Lopes
and Kobi
Middletown,
RI
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