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If
your dog has cancer and you decide to pursue treatment, choose
a medical team. Your team may include your
primary veterinarian, a veterinary oncologist, a holistic veterinarian
and other
specialists as needed. Don’t forget your emotional support group of
other caretakers of dogs with
cancer as well as your family and friends. You’ll need allies in this
battle.
2.
ARM
YOURSELF WITH INFORMATION
Read
books, go online, join support
groups and talk to
people who have had dogs with cancer. This will not only help you
better care
for your dog but will also make you feel more confident and in control.
Ask your veterinarians questions and write down their answers. Through
teamwork, you may be able to uncover new information and draw
new
conclusions.
3. KEEP
A LOG
From the very
beginning, keep track of
medications,
changes in
eating and defecation/urination habits, names and dates of treatments,
side
effects and attempts to counteract side effects. This information may
be invaluable later during the course of treatment.
4. MAKE
CHANGES SLOWLY
Yes, there
will be changes during
this
journey, such as diet, surroundings and daily routines. Take
care not
to change too many things at once. Do one thing at a time so your pet
has a chance to adjust
and avoid unneeded stress.
5.
KEEP
YOUR DOG IN TIP-TOP CONDITION
When
your focus is
on helping your dog fight cancer, it’s easy to overlook other whole
health considerations. Perform routine at-home check ups once a week.
Be
vigilant for health problems such as new tumors, unhealthy teeth and
gums, elbow sores and brittle nails. Bathing,
grooming and brushing your dog's teeth are particularly important.
6.
MAKE DIET AND
NUTRITION A PRIORITY
Research
has shown
that dietary intake plays a significant role in the survival of a
cancer-dog.
The best options are to prepare a homemade cancer diet for your dog or
feed him
Hill’s n/d diet® (available through your veterinarian). With the
guidance of a holistic veterinarian, provide cancer fighting and
nutritional supplements.
7.
BE
PREPARED
Doesn't it
seem as though dogs always get sick on the
weekend or late at night? Stock a first aid kit with the things you may
need
including over the counter items, pain medication and homeopathic
remedies.
Know where the nearest 24 hour emergency clinic is and program the
telephone number
into your cell phone. Have a plan in place to get your dog to the car
in case
he’s unable to walk.
8.
KEEP
AN OPEN MIND
From
nutritional and herbal supplements to raw diets to massage,
chiropractic, Reiki and acupuncture, there are many alternative
therapies that
may make your dog more comfortable. Don't knock ‘em till you try ‘em.
You just
may find the perfect combination of therapies for your dog.
9.
REMAIN
CHEERFUL AND LOVING
It’s
difficult during this very emotional
time to maintain a positive attitude but it’s important for your dog –
and for
you! Take time to simply be with your dog without thoughts of cancer.
Be
grateful and full of joy for the time he has been with you and because
he is
with you now.
10.
TRUST
YOUR JUDGMENT
Many
difficult decisions need to be made
on behalf of a dog with cancer, including treatment options, diagnostic
testing,
resolving treatment side effects, home care options and sometimes the
very hard
decision of whether or not to terminate treatment. Consider what’s best
for your
cancer-dog and his comfort - you know him better than anyone - and
trust that you’ve made the best decision.
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AND
REMEMBER...
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Excellent
resource for any
canine cancer caregiver!
This
book has been phenomonal - Laurie Kaplan's advice for assembling
a cancer care team is very helpful, particularly to dog parents who may
be "new" to the worlds of holistic and complementary medicine.
Laurie's
advice helped us implement the homemade diet... Perhaps most
importantly, this book gives us
caregivers hope and a real sense of being able to help our canine
friends through this ordeal. Laurie also emphasizes that the degree to
which each of us decide to treat (or not to treat) our pets' cancer is
a personal matter, with no "wrong" decisions.
I highly, highly
recommend this book -- three cheers to Laurie Kaplan!!
by Shawn Messionnier,
DVM
A nice overview of a tough
topic with expert advice! As a
holistic veterinarian
and author (8 Weeks to a Healthy Dog, The
Allergy Solution for Dogs, the award-winning The Natural Health Bible
for Dogs & Cats, and the upcoming The Natural Vet's Guide to
Preventing and Treating Cancer in Dogs,) I appreciate a frank
discussion regarding a difficult topic. This timely book offers the
experience of a pet owner who faced the challenge of pet cancer as well
as veterinarians who deal with this horrible disease on a daily basis.
This book presents a good overview which will allow pet owners to make
the best decisions for their pets.
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