My Dog is Acting Fine … And Got Diagnosed With Cancer?!?
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: July 27th, 2021
Summary
If your dog is acting fine, even though she has cancer, there could be a couple of reasons. Read this article to discover what they are.
How is it possible that our dog is acting fine — no signs of disease — and have cancer?
This is a pretty common question. It’s also a common scenario. MANY dog lovers have gone to the vet to have a lump checked out, something that doesn’t seem to bother their dog. And then, sometimes even on the same day, the news arrives: cancer.
Whether this is a mast cell tumor, osteosarcoma, lymphosarcoma or some other kind of cancer, the news is horrific. There is not much that can truly prepare someone for the shock.
Blam: your dog is acting fine … but has cancer.
In their shock, many clients and readers ask: how did this happen?
My Dog Is Acting Fine. How On Earth Could He Be Sick?
It is very natural that this question arises.
If my veterinarian is saying that my dog has cancer, how did this happen?
Aren’t cancer patients sick?
Shouldn’t there be some other sign if it really is as bad as the vet is saying?
The answer is no, not necessarily. The key, in part, is in looking back to the natural world.
It’s In Their Nature
Here’s why: in nature, it is not helpful for animals to act sick.
Sick animals get eaten because they stand out from the pack. Sick animals attract the attention of predators.
Another reason acting sick in the wild is detrimental is that a dog could lose its pack position. To maintain their status among peers, it is better to be healthy and vigorous. Those acting sick lose status. Thus they have a strong social penalty for acting ill.
It becomes clear that showing signs of sickness can make matters worse for a dog in the wild. There is a strong instinctive drive hide illness.
Get a copy of the Dog Cancer Survival Guide to read more on canine cancer
What Works In Nature Doesn’t Work in Domesticity
This instinct creates a problem when our canine companions are in need of medical attention. Driven by this strong natural tendency, dogs hide their physical problems from those responsible for them: us!
Many medical problems (not just cancer) are kept under wraps, masked from caring dog guardians.
… Or Maybe There Are No Symptoms Yet
There is another reason dogs can act as if nothing is wrong while there is a cancer brewing. Maybe a dog has a malignant tumor, but it has not spread enough to cause really significant tissue injury.
You may know a human who found a lump, and it turned out to be cancer, even though they were otherwise healthy. They didn’t know the lump was malignant, because it didn’t cause pain.
Tissue injury is what causes pain, and some tumors just don’t cause enough injury as they brew and progress. Until they do, both humans and dogs with cancer can act normally.
Decompensation = Problems Become Clear
Cancer usually starts as just a few old, deranged cells piling up. They should have already been replaced by healthy, vital cells by a process called apoptosis. But cancer suppresses apoptosis (it’s one of the hallmarks of all cancers). No apoptosis = cells live forever.
No apoptosis = cells live forever.
If there is an apoptosis deficiency in the body, these cells will accumulate.
Meanwhile, the normal healthy cells continue to support your dog’s body, and your dog is acting fine.
This continues until those healthy cells can’t keep up.
Once the effect of the pile of deranged cells tips the scale, we see the problem.
This tipping point is called decompensation, a fundamental phenomenon in health and disease.
There is an in-depth discussion of cancer development in several chapters in my book. You may also be interested in reading chapter 3, for free, here.
Best to all,
Dr D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Transfer factors, a natural homeopathic method is highly recommended.
This builds the immune system 20 times higher and is all natural. Highly recommended for dogs diagnosed with cancer. Very effective along with radiation and chemotherapy. We decided not to do the radiation chemo treatment as the tumor my dog had removed was cancer, but very rare and he had good chances without the abusive radiation and chemotherapy. I put him on these supplements to build his immune system as most cancers can be cured by the animal ..VERY IMMPORTANT
to have a holisitic vet. This was recommened by one.
Good news for my 12 year old Westie-po. Her bladder cancer is not growing anymore (for now anyway) !!! Praise Jesus. Dr. Jones’ Supplement Powder, Artemin, Doxycyline, and Piroxicam medications are working!This is not to say she is healed, BUT for a tumor to stop growing after a two month interval, is great news!!!!
i almost forgot,,,,,,,,,,NO COMMERCIAL PET-FOOD,,,,,,,NO MATTER WHAT BRAND IT IS,,,,,,,,,IT IS VIRTUALLY DEVOID OF ANY REAL NUTRIENTS,,,,,,,,ALMOST ALL STARCHES AND CARBS which feed the “cancer”
i am not sure if this will help,,,,average dogs get between 1/2 and 3/4 the HUMAN dose,,,,,,of course smaller dwarf breeds may get less, larger breeds closer to the 3/4 dose
good books to get,,,,,,,,one is by Dr. Richard Pitcairn,,,,one is by Dr. Martin Zucker
lots of good info. and EXCELLENT home-made recipes for food
although, my wife and i do not believe in chemo, nor radiation, we understand
i will give you my advice, from a father who lost his baby girl,,,,DO ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN,,,TO BUMP UP THE IMMUNE SYSTEM!!!!!
GOOD FOOD,,,GOOD SUPPLEMENTS,,,,,LOTS OF LOVE.
TO PROTECT THE LIVER ,,,,,MILK THISTLE
a lot of larger breed dogs, tend to get “cancer” more than smaller breeds,,,,,,,has any of your babies been on STEROIDS/PREDNISONE,,,,,
vets are not required by law to inform you of all the side-effects,,
liver damage,,,,kidney damage,,,,severe stomach problems[that is what caused our baby to NOT be able to handle a VIT. C pill]
steroids, vaccines, too many antibiotics, flea-products ALL,,,,,screw up and weaken the immune system,,,,,and eventually will cause “cancer” an auto-immune disease
to ease the stomach upset,,,,,Essiak tea[ i would get the OJIBWA HERBAL EXTRACT]
to also help with stomach/intestine problems,,,,,,SLIPPERY ELM
Hi Wade. How did you determine how much of each supplement to give your dog? I have an 84 lb Akita currently undergoing radiation therapy to reduce a tumor in her chest cavity. She was barely able to breathe when we started the treatments. They have definitely helped but I would prefer to discontinue them as soon as possible. I would be very interested in trying what you have your dog on. Can you tell me how I would determine how much to give her? Thank you 🙂 !
from everything that my wife and i have learned,,,,the hard-way unfortunately,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,HIGH PROTEIN [MEAT],,,,,HIGH FATS/OILS
NO grain products!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
there is STRONG evidence that “Cancers” have a common denominator,
they all seem to have a FUNGUS in them,,,,,our baby started out with a nasty YEAST infection, that was treated INCORRECTLY by Conventional Vets,,,,,,,until it manifested itself as “cancer”
Fungus infections NEED grains and starches,,,SO DOES “CANCER”
SO HIGH PROTEIN, HIGH FAT DIET
veggies are a GOOD source of energy, without feeding the fungus/cancer
good source of FAT is COLD-PRESSED FLAX-SEED OIL,,,, can get it at health-food store
be careful with VITAMIN C ,,,our baby quit eating because the vitamin C was too much for her stomach to handle,,,,we realized it too late,,,,,maybe try one of the other types of Vit. C,,,,like SODIUM ASCORBATE,,,,tends to be easier on the stomach
good luck to everyone
I STILL HIGHLY RECOMMEND GETTING A HOLD OF A HOMEOPATHIC VET
although our baby lost her fight,,,,,,with the help of an HOMEOPATH,,,she fealt no pain during her fight, AND WITHOUT PAIN KILLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Read Lesson 2 the cancer diet and read the Lung Cancer part
I am very interested in trying the DMSO and Siver Colidial when things turn worse. it sounds promising
My Dogs lungs Exray show what the dr are sure is cancer and cannot find the source
I have decided to not do chemo and is treating the Mushrooms therepy, Noni Juice, Vitamin C, 2500 MG of Fish Oil, Probiotic, Echinachia and Tumeric, Green Tea Extract, Aloe Juice and have been making his food with Oatmeal and Flax Seed and or Meal. hes loves broccolli and brussels sprouts and I have been juicing parsley.
He has stopped coughing ( it lasted 2 months ) and is energized having fun and is hungry all the time. I hope it is working will see
I also massage him twice a day in a dark room with mystical music
God bless you and your dog and make sure he is safe, happy and give him lots of love. until you have to say good bye that is the humans jobs. He loves you !
I don’t really have time to leave all the information, that i have.
My best advice RIGHT NOW,,,,,,contact a HOMEOPATHIC VET, also known as HOLISTIC VET/MEDICINE.
Sadly we lost our baby back in April,,,,,but the Homeopathic VET,,,,,really helped her a bunch.
My dogs was just diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma which they think started in either her spleen or liver and has spread to her lungs, they say there is nothing they can do, there must be something, she is only 6y.o. Please, any help?
We have a white lab.who has just been diagnosed with cancer, they are still trying to estabkish what kind. Her stomach is bloated and full of bloody fluid, it just happened in a week. This is our second dog to get cancer, the other was a German Shepard, and we had one Doberman with liver disease. We also have had 7 small dogs through the years, poodles and Jack Russell Terriors who all live to be 16-18 years old. They all eat the same food our of the same bowl. Any idea whats happening? Also, what is the success rate of kemotherapy and radiation in the cancers in dogs? Thank you for your help.