Note: The contents of this blog are for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice or substitute for professional care. For medical emergencies, dial 911!
The author, Frederich R. Lynch, a university professor, asks, "How far down the road of high-tech vet care would our pets want us to take them?" Lynch's cat developed a rare cancer associated with a vaccine and the best option in terms of a cure was amputation. Lynch went for the amputation at a cost about about $4,000. However, some later complications followed, and before he knew it, Lynch was looking at a bill for $11,000.
Lynch questions the ethics of spending this kind of money on a cat when there are humans with far greater needs, acknowledging that this cat is not a person.
He is still waiting to see if Fritz beats the odds thanks to the expensive intervention.
I'm not sure what I would do in this situation. I don't underestimate the love and connection that people have with their pets, as I am a pet guardian myself. I guess it would depend on my financial situation at that moment and what the prognosis was for the pet with and without treatment. I would also consider how much pain the treatments would cause the pet.
What do you think? Do you think that paying this kind of money for treatments for a pet is going overboard?
According to Brenda Coomber, dogs with cancers that have naturally developed are a much better model of human cancer than using mice and rats, where tumors often have to be induced for studies.
But what about the dogs at this clinic? Is this research good for them?
Coomber states that all dogs treated at the clinics have developed their cancers naturally and that the quality of life of the animal is always kept in mind. In addition, the research will also work towards coming up with new and better options for treatments for canine cancers in the future.
As for the human benefits, one example was work in dogs with osteosarcoma in a limb that led to the development of a novel surgery that is now being tested in children.
According to Coomber, "Cancers that develop in these dogs are an enormous resource. Figuring out what's going on in a tumour, finding out about the disease, it will absolutely be applicable to people."
He's was an unconventional hero but a hero nonetheless. Jake, a courageous black lab who spent the days following 9/11 burrowing through smoking debris to find survivors has died of cancer at the age of 12, after one last walk with his owner, Mary Flood.
Jake was bred trained to be a rescue dog -- he himself was rescued from the streets where he had been abandoned with a broken leg and a dislocated hip. But regardless, he proved himself as a hero when the world changed at the blink of an eye.
In studying a cancer found in dogs, researchers were able to establish that tumor cells can become parasitic and transmitted from one dog to another by way of sex, licking, biting or sniffing cancerous areas of an affected dog.
University College London researchers state they were able to trace back at least 200 years the origin of the first venereal tumor (CTVT) to a wolf or other ancient dog breed.
Not only does the discovery make this cancer, known as Sticker's sarcoma, the oldest cancer studied, as it has been continuously passed down for hundreds of years, it also allows scientists to gain a greater understanding of how cancer can progress.
"Our results, based on several independent genetic markers in tumor-bearing dogs living on five continents, show that CTVT arose from a common ancestral cancer cell," Weiss said. "The cancer escaped its original body and became a parasite transmitted from dog to bitch and bitch to dog until it had colonized all over the world." Early in its evolution, the clone diverged into two separate lineages, each of which now has a broad geographic range, explained Robin Weiss of University College London.
The study appears in the August 11, 2006 issue of the journal Cell.
When six-year-old Emily Kearney was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma, her parents thought a pet might cheer her up after she spent five months in the hospital undergoing intensive cancer treatments. Casper, a Yorkshire Terrier, became a dearly loved pet companion and comfort to Emily when she came home.
Emily, now 12, and cancer-free, has new cancer worries. Her beloved dog has been diagnosed with the same cancer she had six years ago. Casper has been diagnosed with lymphoma and is currently undergoing the exact same cancer treatments she had to go through -- receiving the same chemotherapy drug, called cyclophosphamide.
Two weeks ago, Emily's mother Jackie, found the lump in Casper's neck. Both parents said they just broke down when the vet gave them Casper's diagnosis. Emily is heartbroken and scared her beloved pet is going to die from the same disease she fought so hard against as a little girl. Her parents are telling her Casper can make it too, and the family is now cheering on little Casper, who once cheered on a little girl through the same cancer.
The Canadian Cancer Society, concerned with the potential long-term effects associated with the ornamental or cosmetic use of pesticides, has launched an email Take Action! campaign to support a ban on the ornamental use of pesticides in the City of London.
According to the the cancer society, the majority of Londoners support a ban on the use of ornamental pesticides. In a recent poll, 81 percent of Londoners want to phase-out pesticides in city parks and 74 percent support a phase-out on private residential property; 71 percent of Londoners feel cosmetic pesticides are a health threat to children and pose a health threat to pets such as cats and dogs and 74 percent of Londoners believe pesticides are a threat to the environment, including wildlife, air quality, and ground water.
If you would like to participate in the campaign to support the ban, the Canadian Cancer Society has provided an advocacy action page where you can send an email to the Mayor and London City Council. The deadline is June 12.
Several months ago, we posted the news The Canadian Cancer Society was calling for a ban on the use of pesticides in private gardens, lawns, parks, recreational facilities and on golf courses because of the potential cancer risks associated with the chemicals used in maintaining ornamental gardens and lawns in Canada.
Having a dog or cat or any other pet diagnosed with cancer is just as hard as having a friend or family member diagnosed. We have to determine the treatments and procedures since they can't speak up. A common cancer in dogs and cats is bone cancer. Osteosarcoma is the most common long bone tumor in dogs and cats. Often it is mistaken for arthritis or pulled muscles or stiffness in its early stages and so is not diagnosed sometimes until drastic measures have to take place. Cats and dogs differ in the way bone cancer matures and how treatment should be administered. Because of the rapid nature of osteosarcoma, treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The only trouble is that the most common sign -- lameness and pain -- usually happens when it is already taken firm hold.
Growing up with a father that loved birds and who raced homing pigeons, both my sister and I learned at very young ages to love birds and both became bird owners. Similar to mammals, birds can have bacterial infections, cancer, and hormonal disorders. Which might explain the PMS attitude my little Wahoo - parakeet - gets periodically and wants to do nothing but bite. Birds may not show signs of disease until they are really quite sick. Knowing what diseases are common in your species of birds will help you more easily identify signs that your bird may be ill.
Not all cancer victims have two legs and walk upright. Many are quadrupeds and are the much loved canine friends with whom we share our lives. When our dogs get cancer it is sometimes a sad road and we lose one of our dearest friends. Other times we, and our friends, are lucky and go on to share many walks and games of catch together. One such story is about Carter.
Carter's person was fortunate enough to find a vet who specialized in animal cancer, the dog's tumor was successfully removed and follow up treatments were administered. The vet recommended a supplemental product to help Carter gain back his strength and boost his immune system during the months of recovery. Today Carter is a healthy adult dog who loves to play games and enjoy life with his person. To read more about this happy story, please visit Carter's site.
For many people, pets are a beloved member of the family. If you are cancer prevention health-conscious in the foods you eat, you want the best in nutrition for your pet as much as you do for the rest of the family. I prepare meals for Murphy, our Rat Terrier, the same as I would for a family meal. He does not eat exactly what we eat, as salt and spices for Murphy are not a good thing, but he does get a balanced diet of fresh organic foods. I am not an eccentric purist in my care for Murphy -- no -- I came to my common sense pet food preparation choice as a result of discovering that the pretty bags of dry dog food that line the shelves of the local grocery were not nearly as healthy as all the vegetable and real meat claims printed on the side of the bag. Warning: the following descriptive preparation of commercial pet food is gross.
My pal Murphy does not have cancer. But, while looking through my book on Rat Terriers, I came across a valuable source of information to share with you. Did you know the number one killer disease for dogs is cancer? Of the ten most common fatal diseases in dogs, cancer is the cause of 47 percent of disease. The risk of cancer increases as your pet ages, but cancer can happen at any stage of your pet's life. One in five dogs will develop cancer, with skin cancer being the most common type. As with humans, early detection can save a dog's life. The early warning signs of cancer in dogs are:
Abnormal bumps or lumps that continue to grow.
Bleeding or discharge from any body cavity.
Persistent stiffness or lameness.
Recurrent sores or sores that do not heal.
Lack of appetite.
Breathing difficulties.
Weight loss.
Bad breath or odors.
General malaise or fatigue.
Eating or swallowing difficulties.
Difficulty urinating and defecating.
If you notice any unusual symptoms or behaviors in your pet, seek medical attention with a qualified veterinarian. In addition, it is reported that many cancers, including prostate, ovarian and breast cancer in dogs can be avoided by spaying or neutering. A cancer prevention diet for your dog would include more fish-based foods and less meat-based foods.
Interesting "My Turn" feature this week in Newsweek about a man who paid over $11,000 in vet bills for his cat Fritz's cancer treatment.
He's was an unconventional hero but a hero nonetheless. Jake, a courageous black lab who spent the days following 9/11 burrowing through smoking debris to find survivors 
In studying a cancer found in dogs, researchers were able to establish that tumor cells can become parasitic and transmitted from one dog to another by way of sex, licking, biting or sniffing cancerous areas of an affected dog.
When six-year-old Emily Kearney was diagnosed with 
The Canadian Cancer Society, concerned with the potential long-term effects associated with the ornamental or cosmetic use of pesticides, has launched an email Take Action! campaign to support a ban on the ornamental use of pesticides in the City of London. 
Having a dog or cat or any other pet diagnosed with cancer is just as hard as having a friend or family member diagnosed. We have to determine the treatments and procedures since they can't speak up. A common cancer in dogs and cats is bone cancer. Osteosarcoma is the most common long bone tumor in dogs and cats. Often it is mistaken for arthritis or pulled muscles or stiffness in its early stages and so is not diagnosed sometimes until drastic measures have to take place. Cats and dogs differ in the way bone cancer matures and how treatment should be administered. Because of the rapid nature of osteosarcoma, treatment should be sought as soon as possible. The only trouble is that the most common sign -- lameness and pain -- usually happens when it is already taken firm hold.
Growing up with a father that loved birds and who raced homing pigeons, both my sister and I learned at very young ages to love birds and both became bird owners. Similar to mammals, birds can have bacterial infections, cancer, and hormonal disorders. Which might explain the PMS attitude my little Wahoo - parakeet - gets periodically and wants to do nothing but bite. Birds may not show signs of disease until they are really quite sick. Knowing what diseases are common in your species of birds will help you more easily identify signs that your bird may be ill.
Not all cancer victims have two legs and walk upright. Many are quadrupeds and are the much loved canine friends with whom we share our lives. When our dogs get cancer it is sometimes a sad road and we lose one of our dearest friends. Other times we, and our friends, are lucky and go on to share many walks and games of catch together. One such story is about 
For many people, pets are a beloved member of the family. If you are cancer prevention health-conscious in the foods you eat, you want the best in nutrition for your pet as much as you do for the rest of the family. I prepare meals for Murphy, our Rat Terrier, the same as I would for a family meal. He does not eat exactly what we eat, as salt and spices for Murphy are not a good thing, but he does get a balanced diet of fresh organic foods. I am not an eccentric purist in my care for Murphy -- no -- I came to my common sense pet food preparation choice as a result of discovering that the pretty bags of dry dog food that line the shelves of the local grocery were not nearly as healthy as all the vegetable and real meat claims printed on the side of the bag. Warning: the following descriptive preparation of commercial pet food is gross.
My pal Murphy does not have cancer. But, while looking through my book on Rat Terriers, I came across a valuable source of information to share with you. Did you know the number one killer disease for dogs is cancer? Of the ten most common fatal diseases in dogs, cancer is the cause of 47 percent of disease. The risk of cancer increases as your pet ages, but cancer can happen at any stage of your pet's life. One in five dogs will develop cancer, with skin cancer being the most common type. As with humans, early detection can save a dog's life. The early warning signs of cancer in dogs are:
