Alternative Supports for Cancer

I have written previously about the sad fact that poodles (and boxers, and some other breeds) are prone to developing cancer. My own family has lost more than one beloved pet to this insidious disease. Most experts believe cancer is triggered primarily by environmental causes in both humans and their pets, though certain genetic weaknesses make it easier to trigger.

Alas, a friend this past week discovered that his beloved dog has lymphoma, a systemic cancer. He is currently out of work (as are millions of others with millions more to come in the current economic crisis), was devastated that he simply cannot afford the expensive chemotherapy his vet suggested. Feeling very depressed about losing his sweet dog in addition to all the other troubles his struggling family is facing, he felt entirely helpless and more than a little bit like a total failure.

So I wrote him a nice little email about my experience with canine cancer, and how that very expensive chemotherapy isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Not only does it not gain the dog any arguably high quality time on the planet, it causes many peripheral problems too. Our dear Bob’s beautiful poodle hair fell out, he suddenly gained so much weight he could hardly walk, and time for “The Shot” came right on schedule anyway, he didn’t gain a single day. Even though it cost us $1500 way back in the 1990s, and those costs have doubled or tripled in the years since.

When our sweet Beau was diagnosed with cancer, we chose not to go the chemo route because we already knew it wasn’t worth the cost. So I told my friend about some herbal treatments that some vets recommend either as systemic support during the course of the disease or to use in conjunction with chemo to offset the gnarly side-effects. These are mostly anti-oxidants, general health supports, and may include energy and/or appetite stimulants. These really can help your dog feel better day to day, have more energy, avoid suffering rapid decline, and in conjunction with reasonable pain relief can at least make your dog’s last months much more comfortable.

Links below go to various pet-med and veterinary sites that offer formulations for cancer support and pain relief that will not break your budget. It is actually a good thing to feel that you’re doing something for your loving companion, while allowing for gentle, focused interaction at the end of a lifetime (the dog’s) spent together.

Links:

Canine Herbal Treatments: Cancer
Foster&Smith: Tramadol [pain relief]
Herbal Medicine as an Alternative Treatment
Integrative Treatment of Cancer in Dogs
All Natural Remedies for Dogs and Cats
Alternative Medicine for Dogs

Related Ads:

Filed under Cancer, Health, Poodle Love, Poodle Quirks |