The Dog Cancer Survival Guide (69 page)

“I just want her to feel better,” guardians tell me, “because as long as she’s still happy and wags her tail, I know she’s OK.”

Preserving your dog’s happiness – and increasing it as much as possible – is the fifth step in Full Spectrum cancer care. Once you’ve taken care of your dog’s physical needs with conventional treatments, apoptogens, immune-boosters and an excellent diet, it’s time to turn your attention to optimizing her brain chemistry.

The treatments in this chapter may seem “out there” or even a little frivolous when compared to “big gun” therapies and important supplements; they are not.

According to research conducted in humans and lab animals, stress may reduce the activity of cancer-fighting cells, such as natural killer cells and cytotoxic T-cells, not only diminishing the number of these cancer fighters, but their effectiveness at finding and killing cancer cells. Stress can also increase angiogenesis (blood vessel creation) in tumors, allowing them to grow faster. Some lab studies even show that stress hormones directly stimulate cancer cells. Reducing stress is not just a nice idea – it’s crucial for cancer care.

One of the clearest studies I found in my research involved 826 women with breast cancer, each of whom was surveyed about her loneliness, marital contentment, life changes and emotional repression. The researchers then ranked each respondent, from most depressed to least depressed, and compared the results with the severity of their cancers. Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), the more repressed, depressed and lonely a woman was, the more severe her cancer.

The scientific field of study called psychoneuroimmunology explores the intimate connections between brain chemistry (psychiatry and neurology), immunology and physiology. This interdisciplinary field looks at how our mental and emotional states directly impact our health. Experts in this field are currently studying many of the strategies in this chapter.

To my knowledge, this treatment has not been deliberately applied to dogs with cancer; it’s time to change that, because ignoring the body-mind connection is a mistake.

Humans are social creatures – and so are our dogs. If humans with cancer benefit from support, companionship and esteem-building exercises, dogs do, too. I consider these exercises essential. To my knowledge, this treatment has not been deliberately applied to dogs with cancer; it’s time to change that, because ignoring the body-mind connection is a mistake

Based on what we know from human and lab animals, many negative mental states could weaken your dog’s ability to fight cancer. Depression, loneliness, repressed emotions (or lack of an emotional outlet), low self-esteem and stress may impair your dog’s body. If you can help your dog ease these emotions and replace them with ease, relaxation, connection, contentment and even joy, you may get an edge on cancer. The strategies outlined in this chapter tap into your dog’s instinctive drives, which are likely connected with brain chemistry, physiology and the immune system.

“Angus gets a couple of walks per day. Mostly what he looks forward to is walking by, and in, the ocean in the morning. He’s got a “sister”, Maggie, to hang out with during the day. We play fetch with his stuffed monkey for short periods, but don’t press it for fear of an accidental injury to his remaining rear leg. He gets massages and, when my wife isn’t looking, energy therapies (the few times she’s seen me do this, she rolls her eyes and asks me what planet I came from).”

– Al Marzetti, Raleigh, North Carolina

Daily physical movement can “burn off ”stress and provide your dog with a dependable outlet for excess emotions and energy. Exercise may also help build muscles, wasted from cancer or cancer treatments, and improve the immune system’s function. Exercising with your dog has the added benefit of giving him time with you, which makes it a social activity that decreases loneliness. Daily exercise helps dog to sleep better, which can increase melatonin levels, and, out in the fresh air and sunshine, your dog’s body is stimulated to make the hormonal form of vitamin D.

Most dogs are used to taking walks outside, and this is a wonderful form of exercise for a dog with cancer; you don’t need to create a track star. Get your dog walking; he may not be able to walk down the block, but he might be able to walk around the room.

Walking isn’t the only way to move. Depending upon his physical condition, personality, and disposition, he could jog with you, run while you bike, swim, sprint, chase a ball, play with his toys, wrestle or fetch. Even yowling or barking can burn off steam. Getting dogs moving can help a lot, even if they can’t do what they used to.

It may sound kind of silly, but even climbing a short flight of stairs can feel like an accomplishment. Aiming for that top stair can give a dog a sense of purpose, get his blood pumping and make him feel good about reaching the top.

No matter which form of exercise you try, the key will be to start out gradually. If your dog is a couch potato, a five-mile walk could overwhelm him. Start with a manageable amount of exercise, and then gradually increase it, a little every week. Consistency and routine is more important than the length of time you spend exercising. For example, a ten-minute walk in the morning and another ten-minute walk in the evening are better than one half-hour walk, once a day, and five minutes of exercise is better than no exercise at all.