Prepare
for your battle
against canine cancer
1. Put on your game
face!
Your
every mood and facial expression has a profound affect on your dog. You
may be angry, determined, sad or terrified, or all of the above. Still,
try to remain calm and upbeat. Don't make your dog wonder what he
or
she has done wrong to upset you!
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.
2.
Assemble your team
Fighting
cancer is a
team effort. Begin
to assemble a team
of experts to guide you and advise you during your journey. Your team
should include a veterinarian who will provide treatment. If this is a
general practice vet, a veterinary oncologist should be accessible to
him/her for consultation on your dog's case. If you need help finding a
veterinary oncologist in your area, the
Magic Bullet Fund can help. Visit the page on this site called Find a
Vet.
Don’t
forget your
emotional support group as part of your team. Others caring for dogs
with cancer can help, as can your family and friends. You’ll need
allies in this
battle.
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 diet and nutrition a priority
The
cancer fighting diet is is low in carbohydrates and high
in Omega-3
fatty
acids with moderate protein. You
will also want to provide
cancer fighting and
nutritional supplements. Always make
dietary changes
gradually. Do one thing at a time so your pet
has a chance to adjust
and avoid unneeded stress.See
more about diet on the Nutrition page.
A
very
good alternative to feeding canned or bagged
food is
a good home
made cancer diet! Many have chosen to feed their dogs with cancer
"Bullet's Cancer Diet." In my book Help
Your Dog Fight Cancer
you will find complete
detailed instructions for preparation of this tried and true
cancer-fighting diet for dogs, with color
photographs of each step (cookbook style).
5.
Provide filtered water
Provide plenty
of
fresh drinking
water. Cancer dogs should
drink filtered water only. The simplest way to provide this is with a
countertop filter with the spigot positioned just above the water bowl.
6.
Beware all chemicals
Lawn-care
chemicals
are a leading
cause of canine lymphoma,
transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) and others.
Household cleansers and carpet cleaning chemicals are also dangerous
because dogs lick them off their paws!
7.
Never vaccinate a dog with cancer
Vaccinations required by state law may in
some cases be
waived if a form is submitted, signed by your vet, saying that
vaccination could be harmful to your dog because of his diagnosis. For
a sample waiver that you can print and bring to your veterinarian, CLICK
HERE.
For more information about vaccines and cancer, CLICK
HERE. In
the words of Dr. Messonnier in his book The Natural Health Bible for
Dogs &
Cats, "Vaccinating a dog with cancer is like throwing gasoline
on a fire."
8.
Be prepared for emergencies
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.
9.
Don't overlook your dog's whole health
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.
10.
Trust your judgement
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.
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.
Remember
your new mantra...
NOT TODAY AND NOT WITHOUT A FIGHT!
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I wrote the
book "Help Your Dog Fight Cancer" while Bullet was fighting lymphoma. I
wrote it to help others navigate the uncertain and emotionally trying
waters of canine cancer treatment.
I wrote this book for YOU! To
you help you help your dog fight cancer. This page is a summary of the
first chapter, "Prepare for Battle." It will help you put on your game
face, and get ready for the roller coaster ride that you are now
beginning.
"Not Today
and Not
Without a
Fight!"
I also wrote the book
"So Easy to Love, So Hard to Lose."
This book is carefully assembled to help owners through all phases of
pet loss.
If offers a new definition and understanding of pet
loss. It offers information and asks the reader to answer questions
about their relationship with their pet.
Grief does not begin when a pet passes. It begins
earlier, when the owner knows that the pet is going to pass. It begins
as an anticipation of the loss.
The opening section of the book deals with this anticipation and with
preparation for the loss.
The book
should then be set aside until the pet passes. The text and questions that
follow will help owners come to terms with their throughts and
feelings. Through this book you will pay tribute to your pet.
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