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Posts with tag pets
Posted Sep 10th 2007 6:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Research, Smoking, Daily news, Thought for the Day
You should think about protecting your pets from secondhand smoke. According to researchers at Oklahoma State University, secondhand smoke has been determined cancer-causing for household pets, such as dogs, cats, and birds
"There have been a number of scientific papers recently that have reported the significant health threat secondhand smoke poses to pets," says Dr. Carolynn MacAllister, an Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service veterinarian. "Secondhand smoke has been associated with oral cancer and lymphoma in cats, lung and nasal cancer in dogs,
as well as lung cancer in birds."
The news about smoking just keeps getting worse and worse. When we will get the hint?
Posted Apr 20th 2007 12:00PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Animal, Liver Cancer
Cleopatra was her name, she died yesterday. She was eleven and half years old. What a sweet girl she was and I am going to miss her so much. She died of a liver tumor that was diagnosed yesterday. I took her to the emergency animal hospital after I noticed that she looked very lethargic.
Cleo was part of my life for such a long time. One thing that sticks in my mind about her was that after I was diagnosed with breast cancer she would always come over to me when I was crying -- like she knew I was upset and she always made me feel better.
Goodbye Cleo -- mommy loves you.
Posted Mar 12th 2007 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: Drug, Chemotherapy, Animal, Research, Opinion, Daily news
More than 47 percent of people view their pets as family members, according to a 2002 American Veterinary Medical Association survey. It makes sense then that people are routinely treating their pets for ailments that might strike a family member -- like arthritis, heart disease, diabetes, allergies, dementia, obesity, and yes, cancer.
New studies show that Americans are stuffing their pets with more drugs than ever before. They are medicating their dogs, cats, and sometimes other pets as much as they medicate themselves -- and they are doing it with many of the same human drugs they use for themselves, like steroids for inflammation, antibiotics for infection, anti-depressants for anxiety, and even new slendering drugs for obesity.
It's a big market -- pharmaceuticals for pets -- and for those who love their pets so much they can't let go, going to extremes is worth every penny.
Think about this:
- For dogs and cats alone, Americans spent $2.9 billion on pet drugs in 2005. While this is equal to only one percent of human drug sales, the market has grown by half since 2000.
- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved more than 40 new pet drugs in the past five years.
- A single three-month course of pet chemotherapy can cost $3,000 -- and chemotherapy doesn't typically extend the life of an animal as much as it soothes symptoms of the disease.
- Health insurance for pets was nearly invisible in 2002 but has gained popularity over the past few years. Premiums can cost $30 per month, and the total market is expected to climb to $500 million in the next five years.
- Some human drugs leave pets with unexpected, sometimes deadly, side effects. The drug Rimadyl, made by Pfizer and used as a treatment for dogs with arthritis, has been shown to cause kidney and liver damage in some animals. More than 3,000 pet deaths have been attributed to this drug.
- Some question the priorities of a society that allows for medically treating pets like they are humans. Dianne Dunning, an ethicist at N.C. State's vet school is concerned that millions of animals are lost, unwanted, and euthanized while millions are spent on pet medicines. David Rothman, an expert in medicine's role in society from Columbia University, says, "If you can't get malaria drugs in some Third World countries, what are we doing with chemotherapy for cats?"
- Others don't flinch at the expense it requires to keep their pets alive. One man, whose dog was expected to die of lymphoma within weeks, still enjoys the company of his pet some two years later. Chemotherapy saved the dog's life and when asked if he thinks the drugs are too expensive, this man says NO -- because his dog is still here.
Posted Dec 22nd 2006 4:22PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, All Cancers, Research, Stress Reduction
Human touch with someone you trust and share a strong bond can bring
immediate relief from stress, according to University of Virginia neuroscientist Dr. James A. Coan. The findings are based on the study of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans that measured the participant's response to a threatening situation when they were either holding the hand of a spouse, the hand of a stranger, or when they were alone.
"This is the first study of the neurological reactions to human touch in a threatening situation, and the first study to measure how the brain facilitates the health-enhancing properties of close social relationships," stated Dr. Coan.
For this study, the participants were women who expressed a high degree of satisfaction in the relationship with their husband. Holding their husband's hand while experiencing a threatening situation prompted the most dramatic decrease in stress level as reflected by the readings of a brain scan.
Based on previous studies that indicate beloved pets have the affect of lowering blood pressure and reducing stress for their owners, it seems logical that this current research finding will extend to include the close trusted bonds we share with both humans and pets. Anecdotal evidence has suggested that touch facilitates the healing process. This research offers scientific evidence that touch calms during times of stress and adds support to popular belief -- touch has the power to promote better health.
Posted Nov 15th 2006 9:00AM by Jacki Donaldson
Filed under: All Cancers, Environment, Stress Reduction, Magazines
Flowers can lift spirits, brighten days, and heal hurting souls. They can actually make us healthier too. And while there is not a lot of science backing this fact just yet, it's long been understood that flowers really do help us
Get Well Soon.
In ancient Egypt, physicians ordered walks in gardens for patients with psychological problems. Currently, horticultural therapy is a well-established method of rehabilitation for patients with physical and mental difficulties. Medical institutions all over have created flowering spaces intended as therapeutic gardens. One study determined that 100 percent of women presented with a flower bouquet reacted with a genuine smile that involves the eyes and the mouth and indicates changes in the brain. There was no such common
happiness reaction among women presented with other gifts. Further studies found that men also reacted positively to flowers. A study of cardiac patients found flower therapy improved mood and lowered heart rates, possibly reducing stress that contributes to heart disease. It seems some patients seem to forget about their pain when strolling through gardens. They forget about their pain medication too. One flower expert's research brightened her own world at a time when chemotherapy and surgery for breast cancer had her feeling pretty low. Studying flowers gave her a whole new, brighter look at the world.
Flower therapy includes almost any contact with plants. Color, texture, and scent all play a part in the relaxation and healing that results from a little flower time. Why it works is a mystery -- it could be that we associate flowers with pleasure, that flowers fulfill emotional needs, that they are the pets of the horticultural world. We breed them for traits that please us and then capitalize on how they lighten the load and enhance our moods.
The bottom line is this -- we just don't know exactly why or exactly how flowers do what they do. We just know intuitively that they work, that they spread hope and renewal and peace like nothing else.
For more information on the healing power of flowers, pick up a copy of the November 2006 issue of The Oprah Magazine.
Posted Aug 31st 2006 1:30PM by Kristina Collins
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Animal, All Cancers, Opinion, Cancer Survivors
Cancer survivors can have a lot of support when going through treatment. After all the surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy the survivors are usually stuck in a weird place. We are done treatment but sometimes at that point the fear can really kick in. During treatment and doctor visits we are busy fighting the cancer but after that period is over we are left with just the hope that we will not have a recurrence.
Animals can be very therapeutic. I didn't plan on buying a dog after my treatment ended. It just happened. My husband and I were shopping for clothes and wandered into the pet shop. We saw the cutest dog in the world. We took him home that day in October of 2002. I had just finished up my chemotherapy and radiation for breast cancer. I never had a dog before. I looked at him on my lap and thought "what did we just do?" Well, we did the best thing ever!
Steve will be four this month. It's been four years since my treatment ended and Steve has been with me to help me through the hard days. One look at his cute face and I feel better and worry less. I see how he lives for the moment and enjoys his life. He is such a good friend!
"The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a child" - Will Rogers
Posted Aug 10th 2006 3:16PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Research, Pet Cancers, Magazines, Daily news
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.
Posted Jul 25th 2006 11:33AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Breast Cancer, Prevention, Environment, Non-toxic alternatives, Products
When Robin Levin's healthy and athletic sister whose diet consisted of organic food loaded with good nutrition was diagnosed with breast cancer, Levin wondered how that was possible when they had no family history or lifestyle risks for breast cancer. Levin began to do research and found evidence that environmental pollutants and chemical toxins in the home can increase a woman's risk for breast cancer.
Based in part on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies that have found the air in homes is two to five times more chemically polluted than outdoor air, and
The Breast Cancer Fund report that stated
50 percent of breast cancer cases are the result of pollutants in the environment, Levin set out to find safer chemical-free products.
The search was not as simple as Levin might have thought, as she found many of the natural cleaners on the market still use synthetic chemicals for colorants and small amounts of ammonia and harsh additives. She came to the conclusion the only way to be certain of the ingredients in a product is to make them yourself from scratch.
ECO-Me is Levine's company, and Eco-Me Home Cleaning Starter Kit is the product she is hoping will make a difference in reducing cancer risks. Levin donates part of the profits from the sale of her kits to The Breast Cancer Fund and Cancer 101. To learn more about Eco-Me, read information in Eco-tips and Eco-news, the company has a website
here.
Posted Jul 2nd 2006 8:00AM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Prevention, All Cancers, Non-toxic alternatives
The National Toxicology Program and the International Association for Research on Carcinogens classifies naphthalene and PDCB as potential human carcinogens because research has demonstrated that these two chemical compounds have been shown to cause cancer in rodents -- and yet, more than one million pounds of naphthalene and PDCB are used by consumers annually. Naphthalene is found in mothballs and para-dichlorobenzene, PDCB, is found in some air fresheners.
While researchers could demonstrate that naphthalene and PDCB caused cancer, they could not explain how. University of Colorado researchers
can explain how these chemicals work in the body to create a pathway for the development of cancer. Naphthalene and PDCB block enzymes that normally initiate the programmed cell death required to prevent cells from replicating out of control in the formation of tumors.
Continue reading Alternatives to cancer-causing mothballs and air fresheners
Posted Jun 7th 2006 1:35PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Childhood Cancers, Prevention, All Cancers, Politics, Environment, Non-toxic alternatives, Pet Cancers
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.
Posted May 30th 2006 9:00AM by Vicki Blankenship
Filed under: Animal
Spotted Calamity Jane, my Dalmatian, was 3 1/2-years-old when she was determined to have breast cancer. I spotted this when checking her breasts after she was near completion of breast feeding her litter of 11 pups. At that time my vet was not concerned that the little marble sized lump would turn out to be cancer thinking it was probably where a pup had bit her harder than normal while nursing.
I had already made the decision to have Cally spayed after this one and only litter, so I gave the go ahead to have my vet remove the lump in her breast and biopsy it for safety. We were all shocked to find out the results from the tumor biopsy was indeed cancer. I questioned whether chemo or any other kind of treatment was necessary and my vet felt like all of the lump had been removed and that there should not be any alarm for it to grow or spread.
Continue reading Pets: dog breast cancer survivorship story
Posted May 30th 2006 8:30AM by Vicki Blankenship
Filed under: Chemotherapy, Animal, Bone Cancer, Pet Cancers
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.
Continue reading Pets: bone cancer in dogs and cats
Posted May 30th 2006 8:00AM by Vicki Blankenship
Filed under: Animal, Pet Cancers
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.
Continue reading Pet birds: watching for cancer and other illnesses
Posted May 12th 2006 4:22PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Prevention
According to the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund, cancer is the most frequent cause of death for dogs. More than 45 percent of all dogs will die from some form of cancer. Suzi Beber founded the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund after the loss of her beloved friend and constant companion, Blues, a Canadian Champion golden retriever, who was lost to cancer five years ago. "He was the sun and moon and stars to us. He showed us how to live, love, laugh and learn." Blues assisted Beber when she became unable to walk without help as a result of a complication during surgery in 1993. In the short six years of his life, Blues was designated as a Canine Good Citizen -- certified by the Human/Animal Bond Association of Canada -- and he passed all of the requirements to become a St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog. Beber is convinced Blues was a healer, as he brought much comfort and joy to others.
The fourth Annual Smiling Blue Skies Walk for canine cancer will be June 11 at Bronte Creek Provincial Park in Oakville with a performance by Chris Cummings. All proceeds from the event will go to the University of Guelph, Ontario Veterinary College Pet Trust for canine cancer. For more information, visit the
Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund.
On the homepage of the Smiling Blue Skies Cancer Fund it reads, "If hope were a medicine, then surely, love would be a cure." Yes.
Posted Apr 28th 2006 12:27PM by Dalene Entenmann
Filed under: Alternative Therapies, Prevention, Animal, Cancer prevention foods, Pet Cancers
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.Continue reading Cancer prevention diet for pets
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