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The MONSTER
By: Sandra Dale Smolker
"Finding out unexpectedly that my dog Bernie had a Mast Cell Tumor was the worst day in my life."
Did you know 50% of dogs will die of cancer, any age, any breed? I sure didn't. I never even thought about it. Finding out unexpectedly that my dog Bernie had a Mast Cell Tumor was the worst day in my life. |  |
Bernie is a Whippet, part of the Greyhound family, a breed best known for their fast short distance running. One day I noticed that there was something off about Bernie's run. He had a slight limp and when I took a closer look, I saw that one of his hind legs looked a bit swollen. I took Bernie to see Dr. Joyce Loeser, a Veterinarian that specializes in rehabilitation. Dr. Loeser examined his leg and said she suspected it might be a Mast Cell Tumor. When I heard the word "tumor", I expected to see a lump, not just a swollen area. I did not know what a Mast Cell Tumor was at that point. She did a needle aspirate and would let me know the results. |
After the shock, came the tears and anger. How could this happen to my sweet boy? Driving home, crying all the way, I didn't know who to turn to. Luckily, I belong to a lot of Whippet groups on-line, reaching out to them started my journey towards understanding. I don't know what I would have done without the support and advice I had gotten through them and my friends. |
After Bernie was diagnosed with cancer by Dr. Loeser, I saw an Oncologist for a second opinion. The recommendation was to amputate, chemo or radiation. I wasn't prepared to hear "amputation" and I didn't want to go with chemo or radiation so I decided to go with a "holistic" approach. I thought it would be better to keep his immune system strong, chemo is toxic and can make a dog really sick. After doing extensive research, I took my time in deciding the exact path I would take to treat Bernie. I changed Bernie's diet to a high protein, low carb, no grain diet, with home cooked ingredients such as chicken and ground chuck. I also added supplements that came recommended from a nutritionist. Bernie had three weeks of laser therapy on his leg to see if that would help with the swelling over at the Animal Hospital of Ft. Lauderdale by Dr. Cindi Bossart. When I last had a Buffy Coat test taken there were no mast cells present! Bernie's leg is no longer swollen. I took him off all the supplements, but his diet remains the same. Had I listened to the Oncologist, Bernie would now be a tripod. |
The earlier you catch cancer the better are the chances of fighting it. Therefore it is very important to check your pet regularly and to know what to look for. There are 10 common signs of cancer in small animals, they are: abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow, sores that do not heal, weight loss, loss of appetite, bleeding or discharge from any body opening, foul odor, difficulty eating or swallowing, hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina, persistent lameness or stiffness, and difficulty breathing, urinating, or defecating.
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If your pet should ever be diagnosed with cancer, I recommend getting a second opinion from another Veterinarian or Oncologist, and decide which treatment you feel is the best way to go. Consider if you want to try surgery, chemo, radiation, or a combination of conventional and holistic approaches. Whatever you decide, it is important that through it all you keep your hope and spirits high. If your Vet gives you a time-line, just know that a lot of dogs prove them wrong by years, not months. |
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