Dog cancer veterinarians discuss what to do if your dog was diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is the #1 killer of dogs around the world and this channel has been producing videos to help dog lovers since 2008. "Dog Cancer Answers" is our weekly podcast. New videos are released each week. Subscribe today! If you would like to ask a dog cancer related question for one of our expert veterinarians to answer on a future Q&A episode, call our Listener Line at 808-868-3200.
Sadly, this interview did not help at all. And the there really was no answer the question. It was quite vague. I'm assuming the real help is found in the hyperlinks above
Oh my goodness, I cried at minute 48. That's exactly what we did with our puggle almost a year ago. We knew we could have kept him a little longer, but he was already suffering and we refused to let it get any worse for him. I loved when she said she suffered so the dog wouldn't have to because that is exactly it. It's so hard to do but I know he's ok and the others we have said good bye to now.
I’m 65 and I grew up in the country and we had all kinds of animals. Our dogs lived well into their teens and some over 20 years. They didn’t have cancer or other diseases. Something is very wrong with what our animals eat and the vaccinations they are injected with.
I think knowing when to let them go, rather than keeping them around just to make YOU happy is super important… you have to consider the consequences of that for the dog.
My Mindy will be turning 15 in 5 weeks and was total high energy. Last year she lost 85% of body weight, fur and energy. Found a sarcoma between small and large intestines. I changed her food and within a week her energy was back, the next week her weight was starting to come back the next week. Her fur started to grow. I thought we were out of the woods until it flared up just three weeks ago. She started with heavy diarrhea lack of appetite and was in a lot of pain. We took her to the emergency room where they made her comfortable and took an x-ray. Monday I took her to her vet and they did an ultrasound to find that the tumor had doubled in size in this last year. There was a mild infection along with a lot of inflammation. We now have good days and bad days. Sometimes she eats breakfast sometimes she won’t. We’re doing everything we can to calm down this inflammation and hope that she will have a sense of her beautiful spirit come back. I’ve heard oil of oregano can help. Am I at the point where it’s just wishful thinking, or could my dog have another six months of joy?
Mindy sounds like an amazing dog! Everything is possible, but as you know, her time is probably limited. Since we don't have a crystal ball, we'll say that depending upon her weight, time passes 4-7 times faster for her than for you. So you could think about her "last year" as more of "four years ago" or even "seven years ago." Similarly, your six months might be one month for her. You can find more about sarcoma specifically in our article (link below) but it's just so important to remember to cherish your time with her. You clearly are a great dog mom and have already given her TONS of time in dog-years! www.dogcancer.com/articles/types-of-dog-cancer/soft-tissue-sarcoma-in-dogs/
My dog is blind and too tiny for a halo. She’s around 6 lbs. She’s also deaf and loosing her sense of smell. She sleeps about 22 hours and in diapers. Lily will turn 16 in 5 weeks.
Hello from Bulgaria. I have a 15 old Golden Retriver with a tumor in the spleen and a tumor in the pancreas.Tumors do not bleed. Can i use Yunnan Baiyao as prevention ? Blood counts are perfectly healthy. The dog is in very good physical condition.He eats great !!!
Your veterinarian might want to use yunnan baiyao with tumors in those locations, because they tend to rupture and bleed. It wouldn't stop a rupture, but it might reduce the rate at which the blood flows long enough to stop the bleed!
@@yugoserb1 ask your veterinarian's advice in your dog's specific case. Some veterinarians would want to use it as a proactive anti-bleeding supplement just in CASE those tumors rupture (because their locations often cause bleeding, even if they haven't yet). Others like it for mild anti-cancer effects. It's not going to "remove" enough tumor to make a huge difference but it might slow growth, for example. Unfortunately there is no single supplement or drug that 100% of the time kills cancer, or removes an entire tumor.
Dr. Dressler has been talking about the high -temp cooking of kibble as being a culprit since 2007! This is all over our site, too. Here's an article about acrylamide: www.dogcancer.com/articles/causes-and-prevention/acrylamide-in-dog-food/ which Dr. Dressler wrote about in his book, The Dog Cancer Survival Guide. If we tried to fit all 500 pages of information about cancer in every video ... phew. They would all be so long! ;-)
It would be helpful if you actually shared that diet with us here instead of talking about it for 4 minutes and then telling us to go to that link or buy the book.
Hi! The dietary guidelines are many, too much for this video when it was first made. If you want a free copy of Dr. Dressler's diet, which is GREAT ... go to www.dogcancerdiet.com to get a free copy of that part of his longer book.
I just lost Luca, 8 yr. Old GS working dog, assistance aid bc vet said no hope for my dog. Put her down. Now I regret it, listening to this. The system is Broken. Get 3 opinions. DEMAND yearly, early X-ray and blood test and stay clear of Hills science dog food. 😞
Artemisinin is a really potent supplement and not used for general health. Definitely check with your veterinarian about anything you are considering for your dog!
-my dog had mass cell cancer too, already had surgery and not on chemo. I was paralysed and not knowing what to do- and just starting to look for alternatives food / diet for her. May I ask for you to share your dog food recipe pls?
i had a staffy that was 10 y 7m she had a pyro operation a few months back but noticed a huge change in her she became lethargic non eating as much and walking slow not as fast as she once used to before leaving for work i bent down to giver her a hug and a clap and kiss and in horror i saw this red purple mass at the lower teet i knew it was cancer straight away i looked it up and it sayed it could be a mammery gram tumour but took her to the vet tp get checked they scanned her took bloods and of course of the lump itself and came back as a aggressive cancer in the blood hermangiosercoma it was in her blood system it was in the liver and as the vets went on i nearly passed out they gave me a few options those that i didnt want to hear or want i just wanted my loved esme to be ok but for the options they were to operate to remove it and to treat her then we asked how long she said 2 to 3 months i burst out crying i didnt know what else to do there was nothing i could do only other option was a quick and peacful death and even i didnt want that but came to think of the pain and suffering she would go through after surgery she wouldnt be the same again it was aggressive cancer that couldnt be cured we sadly agreed to putting her to sleep everything happens so fast you dont know whats around the corner you dont have time to proccess whats going on u wish you done this and that before knowing but its to quick to do anything for her 1 last walk or 1 last play or 1 last meal 😢😢😢😢 it was there and then all came to fast and then she was gone my wife didnt want to be there when she went through her euthination but i did i just couldnt bare to let her be on her own to pass away knowing that there was no one there for her she saw us cry she saw us upset she didnt like it she didnt come near us after we were told she knew she was going she hid under the chair i didnt want to let her go i wasnt ready nor was my wife as selfish as it would be to just let her die natural causes it would be selfish to put her through more pain cause its all down hill i was there with her to the very ladt breath and it broke my heart i felt horrified to have done this to her while she was getting put down felt so ashamed and guilty for killing her but i can think a positive note now that i wanted her at peace and not to be in any pain i want her to know she is well loved and always thought about when she reaches that beauty of freedon to roam free i said i wouldnt get another dog as my wife said also but my wife knew it broke me every day not seeing her wag a tail or some for a clap or the jingle of her collor hitting the tin bowl while she ate the house felt ao empty and horibly scary she took it apon herself to get another dog not to replace esme but to take the hurt to heal a broken heart and it has but times i will cry i will have thoughts and memorys of good times and bad thats life we just have to proccess it and work through it it foes get easier ur heart heals for a time till the next dog passes away then we go through it all over again people say its only a dog or a cat or just an animal its part of you and your family they are your family and as people die we mourn we get past it and its the same with dogs and cats and all animals its called a recycle of life we are born we die we go through it all over again to something else i do hope the rainbow bridge is real maybe its a myth or something made up but in our beloved minds of pets its there i do hope to meet my dog again in the after life along with my new dog in the future ❤❤❤❤
Nothing can ever relieve the guilt because it is a moral issue... not a rational one. Rationalizing euthanasia because you "love" them is still an excuse. That's why the guilt is still there. A beating heart deserves to beat as long as it wants it. Don't kill "man's best friend" as it's like stabbing them in the back with a death needle. The reason why we feel guilt for stopping a heart and ending a life is because it is a moral issue... a moral conflict and our conscience is aware we are betraying that part of us that says "this is wrong". Don't betray yourselves and your pet because you think you can read a pets mind and what they want. When they are looking into your eyes they are longing to be close and have company and love and comfort. That is what love is... witnessing and being with others. Not taking lives. Death is natural as natural as birth. If they made it into the world they will be able to make it out, as you will do the same someday.
We understand that feeling. Some of us find ourselves in a position where the suffering is so bad that it feels more humane to end it than to wait for natural death. It's another way of honoring that trust our dogs have in us -- by helping them when they need it and can't help themselves. But there's a reason we say it's the hardest ever decision! The fallout is always guilt, because, like you, we all feel an instinctive urge to keep our dogs alive for as long as possible. It's natural to feel that way. But choosing euthanasia isn't a betrayal of your dog, if the choice is made out of love and care.
@@DogCancerthank u for commenting this i felt the same i was heart broken while it was happening she knew she didnt want to be near me i feel very guilty for ending her life and will do so for the rest of my life i told her i was sorry and that i hope she knows that and that if she could forgive me in what i have done 😢
Palladia provided a temporary remission on grade 2 Mast cell cancer. Diagnosed in may, by mid september it stopped working. Steroids are my drug of choice for mast cell cancer. Just started my young baby on steroids and vinblastine. This whole thing is unfair.
I lost my dog a few months ago and I did see some of these signs. Unfortunately my dog was at the vet twice in six months and told me nothing was wrong ..Wasn’t happy
My border collie has been diagnosed with cancer, curious how long to continue giving this to him? Gave 1st dose of 3 today. Give until see internal progress possibly?
We believe they are still in trial stages, so your local veterinarian may not be able to order it for commercial use. BUT you can check with the company directly: eliasanimalhealth.com/
Dr. Dressler may be a little less concerned about the regulatory environment today than he was when this was recorded, but it of course, still remains a gray area until it's worked out on the federal level!
Dear Dr Silver. My 13 yr old has just been diagnosed with hamangiosarcoma and had spleenectomy same week 2 weeks ago. We are not keen to start chemotherapy as he also has EPI diagnosed at the same time. I am desperate to start the Turkey tail and Reishi mushroom extracts. I am in UK and I cannot find the one shown above. when googled there are so many selling it that I don't want to gamble on if not the real ones or scam. Please Please advice urgently where to buy? Thank you ever so much.
Hi! Dr. Silver doesn't answer questions on our channel, he was a guest on our show, but doesn't work here. We suggest you contact his company and see if they ship to the UK or have another suggestion. shop.realmushrooms.com/pages/shipping-info/
Hello Dr Duffy, my dog was just diagnosed with mammary cancer. Multiple pulmonary nodules and large masses on the lower belly. My local oncologist said she is at Stage 4. She said an option to try Palladia. What are your thoughts?
Hello Dr. Silver, Would you recommend that we purchase mushrooms that are sourced in North America than in China? Also, do you have a brand you recommend mushroom supplements for dogs?
Dr. Silver is a guest on our show, so he doesn't answer questions here ... but we imagine he would recommend his own brand of mushrooms! www.realmushrooms.com/
watching this as interested in the loop for my dog who has s4 carcinomas just about everywhere. I have been supporting her with diet and mushroom therapy. Was really interested in the comment about SA. As a behaviourist this is one of the more common issues, and Lincoln Uni (i think but it might have been Bristol) in the UK have found that many dogs with SA also have pain somewhere in their bodies.
My girl (King Charles Cavalier spaniel, age 7) has squamous cell carcinoma of the tonsil. She had both tonsils removed June 13th along with her palate shortened. Follow up visit July 25th with an oncologist. During that visit they aspirated her lymph nodes and found epithelial cells. Prognosis poor. However, she is doing great. If you didn’t know it, you wouldn’t suspect she has cancer. Excellent appetite. Enjoying her walks and life in general. The only thing I’ve done is added turkey tail mushroom capsules, another mushroom blend: 5 defenders, and about 1/8 tsp manuka honey daily. She also is 90 percent on a home cooked diet. I know it’s not a cure, and that she is “terminal” but do any dogs ever miraculously get cured??
Hi Charlene! The short answer is "yes,' some dogs do get what we might think of as a "miraculous" cure. There are ALWAYS dogs who beat their prognosis by so long that we say "wow!" Will that happen with your girl? That's where we can't predict. Remember, that the numbers veterinarians quote for how long a dog has are usually median numbers, which means that half the dogs will go sooner than that and half will go AFTER that! Your dog will never ever be just a statistic and there is a lot of room for hope. Here's an article. www.dogcancer.com/articles/diagnosis-and-medical-procedures/median-survival-time-meaning/
No! Nationwide Pet Insurance is a scam. We had our policy for 6 years and they suddenly increased our rate to $900 per month! Our dog is healthy and has never needed major medical care. When I called Nationwide to see if this was a mistake, they just told me that their expenses have gone up. Their expenses have gone up so much they have to charge $900 per month for a healthy dog?! That’s more than my husband and I pay for ours! I looked them up and Nationwide just made record profits and their CEO makes a ludicrous salary. This was vicious of them to do to their customers and should be illegal. They are not on your side and they don’t care about your pets. They just want to take your money for years and then drop you before you ever really need a return on your investment.
Thank you for this message.. It meant so much ❤ My gorgeous baby has a growth which was tested and found to be a spindle cell cancer on his back leg . So instead of going ahead with the recommended surgery which would have probably resulted in an incomplete removal due to lack of available clean margins..therefore needing amputation to prevent metastasis, I asked for a specialist scan of his body. He has another mass in his liver 😢 So now we are not going forward with the surgery. I don't want to put him through the anaesthesia or the very possible amputation.. he's a big guy (husky/collie) and he loves to run and the loss of a limb would be devastating for him. He seems to be coping well for now and isn't showing any major signs of distress such as sickness or diarrhoea or lack of appetite etc so for now we are watching and waiting and continue in giving him his best life. He is my life and my ❤ dog and I will never have another and I want to give him the best so your message meant a lot to me in that it DID give the information that your Vet just doesn't say. It will help a lot when making that decision between him, myself and his Dad that the time is right. Because I believe he will tell me when he's ready. For now, he's still fit and relatively healthy and every day is a great day with him in our lives. ❤
Hi! We don't have any pics to share. Tumors are all basically nasty looking in some way, but nasal tumors might not be visible from the outside unless they start breaking the bone under the skin.
Thank you for this informative video and for sharing your experience. Regarding your point about Maximum Therapeutic Dose, is that the dose recommended on the bottle and you are suggesting that one should start on a lower dose since it is just as effective and less chance of side effects? My vet is just ordering the medication for my 12 yr old Bichon diagnosed with inoperable Pheochromocytoma with Caudal Vena Cava Invasion and the dosage was calculated using 3.25 mg/kg. Should we be starting at a lower dose?
The Maximum Therapeutic Dose is the dose at which effects are seen with the fewest side effects. It's usually a little lower than was originally suggested, as Dr. points out in the video. Your veterinarian will be the best one to determine precisely what dose to give your dog, and you can ask them how they arrived at it. Every veterinarian will lower the dose or stop altogether if side effects become intolerable, though. The best dose is the one that gets results with as few side effects as possible, and that can vary from dog to dog <3
Hi! You can see our general diet guidelines article here: www.dogcancer.com/articles/diet-and-lifestyle/dog-cancer-diet/ and then also read this blog post on our older site -- it covers modifications you can make to diet so that it's lower in histamine, which can help dogs with mast cell tumors: www.dogcancerblog.com/articles/cancer-type/mast-cell-tumors/food-and-nutrition-for-dogs-with-mast-cell-tumors/
One of the nice things about artemisinin is that it seems sarcomas are particularly sensitive to them. This is nice because sarcomas are pretty stubborn in general! For more you can read the article here: www.dogcancer.com/articles/supplements/artemisinin-for-dogs/ and also read chapter 12 in Dr. Dressler's book The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, where he talks a LOT about artemisinin as a "big gun" apoptogen, alongside his writings on Apocaps.
We are on this journey now. Our girl has squamous cell carcinoma metastasis to the lymph node. She’s still eating well, wagging her tail, enjoying life. It’s so hard because I know the end will be coming. My heart is breaking.
My dog has just been diagnosed with the very same thing. Her name is Ella and she just turned 9 years old. This has been so difficult. Is your dog coughing a lot? She is on pain medications and was put on steroids today. She is also still eating and wanting to go on her car rides. I just don't want her to suffer. I'm so sorry for you and your precious dog. I'll be praying for you! ❤
It's so hard to bear the heartbreak while they still seem so alive! Try to ride those waves of grief as they come and then get back to focusing on being with your girl. You will not regret the time you spend with her in these last days <3
Mine has same. She was diagnosed end of July. I have been keeping her on steroids. I lost another dog Labor Day weekend suddenly, I simply didn’t have the 5000 dollars. I had my husband pass on Thanksgiving day 2020. I had admitted him to hospice a week before. Just getting tired of having all these to go through. Still have two more after this one
You're amazing. Bless you. I do have a question: After reading your book, what's the max amount of protein a senior dog with cancer should be getting? So far I'm using Dr. Harvey's Paradigm and adding many of Dr. Dressler's "Healthy Additons") Thanks!❤🐕
The official dietary guidelines don't have maximums, but instead minimums, so it's not a one-size-fits-all situation. The amount of protein a dog needs depends upon their age, fitness, activity, and other health conditions. Here's a good article that might help your decision making: www.dogcancer.com/articles/diet-and-lifestyle/dog-cancer-diet/
How soon after a liver insult like flea and tick or some type of Mushroom or something of that nature? Should we see symptoms again? Symptoms began? How long does it take to Affect? The dog once his liver has been exposed.
The answer to this will depend upon a lot of factors, actually. If your dog's liver is already overburdened, you might see it suffer soon after. But the liver is a hard worker and can handle a LOT of insults before it starts to show signs of struggling. This is one of the reasons Dr. Sheehan suggests assuming the liver can always use some level of support. www.dogcancer.com/articles/supplements/milk-thistle-for-dogs/
Thank you, your message was very helpful to me. I lost my beautiful sweet Gentleman Shepherd boy Shep, on the 17/6/2024. I am looking forward to my death so I can be with my beautiful Gentleman Shepherd baby. He was my whole life, and he is in my heart, soul for all eternity. To my German Shepherd, Daddy loves you baby. 💔😢🥀🐺
