Comments on: The Cost of My Dog’s Life, part 1 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/ Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM, the dog cancer vet blogs about canine cancer Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:32:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jo Anne http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-2050 Jo Anne Thu, 17 Dec 2009 17:57:35 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=1013#comment-2050 I have pretty much come to a conclusion and a philosophy about dogs with cancer: I have rescued many dogs in my life and have taken care of all of them very well. I had two dogs get cancer and they both died this year. They were older thank goodness or my decisions could have been different. There are many dogs that need a home. There are so many languishing in cages in shelters without much human contact. I have decided that since I have given the dogs I rescued a chance at a good life ( they have lived from 10 to 18 years) I will have to make the decision to NOT spend thousands of dollars on a single dog. I will however, take the best care I can of the dog that has cancer, providing the best comforts, diet and supplements and if i read a new post about a new treatment, I will try it, but since I have seen so few good reports after owners have spent so much money (the dogs still have problems or die anyway) after sometimes thousands of spent dollars. Give your dog the best care without spending so much money. There are many other dogs who need a place to live. I know I will be seen as cold. I have loved every one of my dogs I rescued and I will not discount the bond between a dog and his/her guardian, but I understand the financial limitations and the realities. I respect their life and I have respected their death and I will now be OK with a good death rather than an extension of a poor quality of life. My reaoning too is that I have more than 1 dog I care for at a time. Those individuals with only one dog will probably feel differently and will not spare any costs. I understand this philosophy as well as I was like that at one time. Just don't see too many good outcomes given the money spent. I have pretty much come to a conclusion and a philosophy about dogs with cancer: I have rescued many dogs in my life and have taken care of all of them very well. I had two dogs get cancer and they both died this year. They were older thank goodness or my decisions could have been different. There are many dogs that need a home. There are so many languishing in cages in shelters without much human contact. I have decided that since I have given the dogs I rescued a chance at a good life ( they have lived from 10 to 18 years) I will have to make the decision to NOT spend thousands of dollars on a single dog. I will however, take the best care I can of the dog that has cancer, providing the best comforts, diet and supplements and if i read a new post about a new treatment, I will try it, but since I have seen so few good reports after owners have spent so much money (the dogs still have problems or die anyway) after sometimes thousands of spent dollars. Give your dog the best care without spending so much money. There are many other dogs who need a place to live. I know I will be seen as cold. I have loved every one of my dogs I rescued and I will not discount the bond between a dog and his/her guardian, but I understand the financial limitations and the realities. I respect their life and I have respected their death and I will now be OK with a good death rather than an extension of a poor quality of life.
My reaoning too is that I have more than 1 dog I care for at a time. Those individuals with only one dog will probably feel differently and will not spare any costs. I understand this philosophy as well as I was like that at one time. Just don’t see too many good outcomes given the money spent.

]]> By: Lilly F http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1532 Lilly F Sat, 12 Sep 2009 21:55:21 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=1013#comment-1532 I wonder what the current status is on the dog given the stem cell transplant. It was an interesting story--ahhhh how nice to have money and the connections to the right people. This article was from 2005 and wonder how Comet did long term. Of course I wonder if the people with all the money also sprayed their grass with weed killers and herbicides and fertilizers which is known to cause this kind of cancer---- After having gone through all that--to then have Comet rolling around in chemicals. I wonder what the current status is on the dog given the stem cell transplant. It was an interesting story–ahhhh how nice to have money and the connections to the right people. This article was from 2005 and wonder how Comet did long term. Of course I wonder if the people with all the money also sprayed their grass with weed killers and herbicides and fertilizers which is known to cause this kind of cancer—- After having gone through all that–to then have Comet rolling around in chemicals.

]]> By: Dr. Dressler http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1527 Dr. Dressler Thu, 10 Sep 2009 18:57:53 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=1013#comment-1527 Great point Dr. Chambreau, thanks! D Great point Dr. Chambreau,
thanks!
D

]]> By: Valerie http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1512 Valerie Wed, 09 Sep 2009 04:04:50 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=1013#comment-1512 Thank you Dr. Chambreau for bringing immediate attention to this important matter that prevents most of us from having choices and options available. I had to do the humane thing with my ten year-old Katie just this past June due to upper jaw bone cancer. That had to be the single most difficult thing I ahve ever had to endure! My Father's death and my divorce combined did not cause the anguish that I suffer daily as much as losing my Katie did. I heard a holistic vet on XM radio today on the Martha Stewart channel and she hit the nail on the head when she said any dog lover understands the loss we feel even above and beyond loss of a human. That is so true! Please help change this demise we face so everyone has a chance to help save their beloved dog!!! Thank you! Thank you Dr. Chambreau for bringing immediate attention to this important matter that prevents most of us from having choices and options available. I had to do the humane thing with my ten year-old Katie just this past June due to upper jaw bone cancer. That had to be the single most difficult thing I ahve ever had to endure! My Father’s death and my divorce combined did not cause the anguish that I suffer daily as much as losing my Katie did. I heard a holistic vet on XM radio today on the Martha Stewart channel and she hit the nail on the head when she said any dog lover understands the loss we feel even above and beyond loss of a human. That is so true!
Please help change this demise we face so everyone has a chance to help save their beloved dog!!!
Thank you!

]]> By: Dr. Chambreau http://www.dogcancerblog.com/the-cost-of-my-dogs-life-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-1496 Dr. Chambreau Mon, 07 Sep 2009 22:44:40 +0000 http://www.dogcancerblog.com/?p=1013#comment-1496 Another suggestion is to invite people to contact veterinarians and care givers in advance, if possible, and ask to barter. Maybe you can clean the parking lot, do some on-line promotions, file folders or distribute promotional flyers if you do not have specific skills like accounting or massage. The issue of funds to care for animals in need was addressed at the Second annual Veterinary Hospice conference this Labor Day Weekend, 2009. Another suggestion is to invite people to contact veterinarians and care givers in advance, if possible, and ask to barter. Maybe you can clean the parking lot, do some on-line promotions, file folders or distribute promotional flyers if you do not have specific skills like accounting or massage.

The issue of funds to care for animals in need was addressed at the Second annual Veterinary Hospice conference this Labor Day Weekend, 2009.

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