The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (11 page)

I jumped in. The diagnosis, while serious, was not an immediate death sentence. In fact, this particular cancer seemed to respond very well to the supplements I sometimes recommend, and had good track record with chemotherapy, too. Several clients had gained months of good quality life with almost no side effects. Jake had time to consider all of Fluke’s options while starting her on some inexpensive dietary and mind-body treatments. Her pain could be managed, and she could actually feel better, while we tried to give her more time.

But, Jake’s mind was made up. He was not “going to put Fluke through this,” and he “couldn’t watch Fluke die a slow, painful death.” He wanted it quick, painless, and now.

Jake is a very loving guardian, so I knew he wasn’t being heartless. Although he didn’t share his personal story with me, I would bet a hefty sum that he once watched a loved one go through a painful, prolonged death process, and thought he was saving his dog from a fate worse than euthanasia. Jake had a rule of thumb running his brain, and that rule of thumb spoke up and made the decision for him. There was no talking him out of it, no matter how much evidence I had.

“I use the Pledge of Thanks daily and all three of my dogs get lots of Message Massages. My oldest dog is a Jack Russell Terrier named Gorilla and last year was a rough one for him. He went through an agonizing vestibular incident, lost most of his sight and toward the end of the year had a series of seizures that left us suspecting that a brain tumor was the cause of his fading cognition and failing health. Massage has always been a part of my dog’s lives because it is my profession. I have a school in Seattle called the Northwest School of Animal Massage and Gorilla is the school mascot! ... last year, those massages became as important to me as they were to Gorilla. The time I spent cradling his frail body and lovingly stroking his coat lifted both of our spirits and empowered me as his guardian to be able to provide him comfort. When he didn’t want to eat, massaging him would revive his appetite and then help him keep his food down. When he was restless and couldn’t sleep through the nights, I would lie on the floor with him massaging his crown and his belly until he was snoring peacefully. And when his vestibular incident left him with a dramatic head tilt and sore muscles that nearly immobilized him, the massage helped restore his posture and his independence. Using many of the suggestions from Dr. Dressler’s book and website and with the help of a TCM Veterinarian who provides acupuncture and herbal supplements, Gorilla has regained a lot of his former vigor and is entering his fourteenth year in better weight, with more energy and a renewed enthusiasm for his daily activities. I know we still have some tough days ahead with an inevitable heartbreak at its end, but in the meantime, I am thankful for every glorious moment I have with my amazing dog. Oops... gotta go...someone is looking at me as if to say, ‘Is it time for my massage?’”

-
Lola Michelin, Shoreline, Washington

Catching yourself in moments like this is critical to taking good care of your dog. If you’ve ever flown on a commercial airliner, you remember that you are advised in the pre-flight announcements that in an emergency, you must put on your own oxygen mask before you start helping others – even your own children. The reason for this is simple: if you are gasping for air and about to pass out, you can’t help those who really need you.

Guardians get to choose their emotional states. It may seem a little wacky to say this – but consider it for a moment. There is probably a part of your life in which you set aside everything else to focus on the task at hand. Maybe it is when you go to work, or when you play a sport, or when you spend time with your kids. Most people can literally choose to feel something different, if they must.

The clearer your mind and heart are, the easier you learn. The more you learn about cancer and how to treat it, the wiser the decisions you will make about your dog’s treatment. The calmer you are, the more likely your dog will be calm, too.

“My main concern was keeping Daisy’s spirits up, keeping her challenged, stimulated and occupied vs. lying in bed, so that she had something to live for. I was so incredibly proud of her for everything she had overcome all ready; it was easy to tell her how wonderful she was and to thank her for everything she’s ever done, every day with the
Pledge of Thanks
! She helped me foster over 250 dogs during her life time. She selected the dogs we brought home from the kill shelters, and she helped reassure then, train them when they needed training (manners, house training, you name it). She corrected them, and made it so easy for me. She kept her brothers and sisters in line, she was a therapy dog, and she was always there for me when I just wanted to go for a walk and get away from everything. We did a lot of energy healing and a lot of massage therapy and touch therapy. Even our cat got involved and I found him curled up next to Daisy, both on their sides with his 4 paws massaging her back in a
Message Massage
! We kept Daisy a
Dynamic Dog
; stimulated and playful. We took her out to sit at the field and watch the sun set, and the other dogs play, and sniff the air, the grass, and the trees. She couldn’t go far sometimes but just being outside with the other dogs and still keeping to her regular schedule really stimulated her! We also discovered something called the “Dog Brick” which I think is an amazing toy, especially for a dog going through cancer, provided they aren’t nauseous. It is made by Nina Ottosson and has a number of sliding compartments where you can hide treats. The dog can sniff the treats and has to use their brain power to slide the doors open to find and get to the treat. Nina makes a number of toys like this with different levels of challenges for dogs. The great thing is the dog doesn’t have to move much and it takes more brain power than physical power so it’s a great stimulating tool!”

– Chris Shoulet, Bethesda, Maryland

Your dog is completely dependent upon you, and, as you probably already know, she can pick up on your emotions easily. As you’ll find out, a dog who is depressed or stressed is not able to heal as easily as a content and calm dog. Managing your emotions is a mission critical step to take in treating your dog’s cancer.