Do you feel alone?
You are not alone!
People say:
“My dog has cancer: Now what?”
You need a crash course on canine cancer – and you have come to the right place! This website will give you the basics, how to get started. For a quick-action plan, read the book Help Your Dog Fight Cancer.
Get started by finding the vet who will give your dog cancer treatment, and deciding on a treatment plan. Don’t dilly-dally! Keep in mind that while you are considering your options, the cancer is progressing.
My dog has cancer: Now what?
There are so many diagnostic tests! Do we need all of them?
Some testing is necessary. A vet cannot give a dog cancer treatment without confirming that it is cancer, and without knowing what type of cancer it is. But there are a thousand tests that can be done! Not all of them are needed. You don’t want to put your dog (or your wallet) through tests that are not necessary.
Ask your vet to help you rule out the tests that are not necessary. Tests that are not necessary are the ones that will not have any effect on the treatment plan. Ones that don’t render any information that is needed to diagnose and treat your dog.
My vet chose a treatment for my dog. Should I know more?
A vet’s job is to inform, not to choose. Your vet’s job is to inform you about ALL treatments that could help your dog fight cancer. Then, it is your job to decide which treatment plan is best for you and your dog.
Your vet is not aware of your financial situation, your personal, philosophical, religious, or spiritual feelings about cancer treatment. And he doesn’t know your dog as well as you do. If your vet tells you about only one way to treat your dog’s cancer, get a 2nd opinion and do some research.
After I decide on a treatment plan, what else should I do?
Learn what the side effects are to cancer and to the treatment. Find out what side effects might be caused by the treatment, and be prepared to manage them.
Feed your dog an anti-cancer diet with low carbohydrates and high Omega-3 fatty acids. O-3 fatty acids provide your dog with nourishment and may also protect your dog from cancer cachexia. If you want to prepare your dog’s meals yourself, you’ll find a complete illustrated guide to Bullet’s Cancer Diet in the book, on pages 168-175.
Here are a few of the great support groups for owners of dogs with cancer: