Diagnosis
Diagnosis is complex and can take longer than we like, especially when it comes to dog cancer. Argh! Here are articles designed to help you understand what your veterinarian is doing with all those tests and needles. They will also help you to understand YOUR role in all of this.
New Early Detection Dog Cancer Blood Test Being Developed
If this “rock star” veterinary oncologist has her way, we’ll be able to detect some forms of dog cancer way earlier than we can now. With a blood test!
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My Dog Has Cancer: What Do I Need to Know?
“My dog has cancer” … UGH. Read this to hear what dog lovers wish they knew from the beginning of their dog cancer journey. Lots of wisdom here!
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Dog Cancer Surgery: What I’ve Learned So You Don’t Have To
Dog cancer surgery is really scary, and there’s a lot to think about. The editor of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide just went through it.
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How Do You Know If Your Dog Has Cancer for Sure? Read Chapter 9: How We Diagnose and Stage Cancer
How do you know if your dog has cancer? Well, no one can tell by look or feel. You have to test. Learn how veterinarians diagnose and stage cancer.
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How to Use the Mitotic Index to Make Decisions About Mast Cell Tumors
Is using the mitotic index mast cell tumor diagnosis useful? In some cases, not as much as others. But when it’s useful, it’s REALLY useful!
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The Most Important Question in Dog Cancer
What’s the most important question in dog cancer care? You’ll be surprised at what Dr. Dressler has to say.
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Video: Lump on Dog? Here’s What You Need to Know
Don’t wait — aspirate. Dr. Susan Ettinger helped Dr. Andy Roark with this excellent, informative video about WHY we should ask our vets to test each bump or lump.
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Treating Dogs with Cancer As If They’re My Own
Can I treat a dog in my care as if he were my own?
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Don’t Forget Your Dog at the Veterinarian
When booking a new consultation with me, pet Guardians often ask if it is necessary to bring their dog to the appointment. From their point of view, they are often concerned about the stress of the visit on their pet, or maybe the travel itself. But from my point of view, a consultation without the…
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Checking Your Dog’s Legs for Signs of Osteosarcoma
Taking it in Stride: Those Amazing Legs Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) is a common cancer in our dogs, and it usually develops in the long bones of the legs and the ankle or hock joint. It is more common in some breeds than others, and although there are certain reasons a dog is predisposed to bone…
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Using the Full Spectrum Approach: Alternative and Complementary Therapies for Dogs with Cancer
When my dog was first diagnosed with cancer I spent time every day looking for help for him. It’s what we do. My vet was wonderful, and together we worked out a great conventional treatment plan. But I wanted more. I wanted everything that had any chance of helping. Sound familiar? In addition to terrific…
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Prepare for Emergencies with Senior or Ill Dogs
The Call We Don’t Want to Make This is a tough one to write, and it will probably be a tough one to read. But part of being my dog’s champion, guardian, friend, and ‘parent’ means I have to be prepared to help. We all do, like it or not. It’s been over three years…
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Winter Dangers for Dogs with Cancer
Even as I begin writing this post I sigh at the title “Winter Dangers”. It just seems that everywhere we turn there is a threat! And constantly being on guard can be exhausting! So I offer this to you both from the perspective of caring for your dog with cancer, who may be more vulnerable…
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How Important Are All Those Expensive Diagnostic Dog Cancer Tests?
You could easily spend over $1,000 just to diagnose your dog’s cancer. Are any of those tests worth it? Which ones?
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How Old Is Too Old to Treat Dog Cancer?
I hear this question a lot: “Isn’t my dog too old to treat for cancer?” The answer is: No! Age is not a disease. I have many 12-plus year old patients that are otherwise healthy and strong. They may have some early kidney disease, a heart murmur, thyroid disease, arthritis, but they are still good…
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Smoking, Second-Hand Smoke, Third-Hand Smoke and Dog Cancer
We are all becoming more aware of healthy nutrition and lifestyle. Much of what was deemed innocuous in our grandparents time is being exposed as risky. We’ve known for decades that smoking is hazardous to the smoker, and the term ‘second-hand smoke’ soon followed as science discovered that you didn’t need to smoke to be…
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Should My Regular Veterinarian Give My Dog Chemotherapy?
Here’s a touchy subject for us to look at: why can’t my regular veterinarian give my dog chemotherapy? Do I really need to see a specialist? I am often asked these questions by clients, and my answer is always the same: no. That might sound harsh, but let’s look at this a little closer. If…
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Common Dog Cancer Mistake: Doing Too Many Diagnostic Tests Before Seeing the Oncologist
When you first hear your dog has cancer, you may panic and feel that everything must be done, and now. It’s true, cancer is an urgent situation, and it’s a great idea to find out as much information about your dog’s cancer as is possible. But how many diagnostic tests should you have your vet…
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Primary Lung Tumors, part 2
Unlike people where lung cancer is one of the top five cancers and the leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide, primary lung cancer is very rare in dogs. Dogs are often diagnosed with lung cancer as in incidental finding during a routine geriatric screen. Lung Cancer Symptoms in Dogs Often dogs have NO clinical signs,…
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Uncommon Tumors: Primary Lung Tumors, Part 1
As a boarded oncologist, I see not only the common cancers in dogs like lymphoma, mast cell tumors, osteosarcomas, hemangiosarcomas, and mammary cancers. But I also see the uncommon ones. Recently I have been seeing more of the uncommon tumors, and what’s even strange to me, I am seeing more that one within a few…
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What’s My Dog’s Prognosis? When to “Believe” Numbers You Hear from Your Vet
Dog Bone Cancer Prognosis: Dr. Susan Ettinger looks at two case studies to show how statistics cannot predict how an individual case of canine cancer will turn out.
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DogCancer.TV: Dog Cancer Diagnosis Not An Immediate Death Sentence
Dr. Dressler and Dr. Ettinger discuss how anticipatory grief may affect you and your decisions and how to be proactive when dealing with a dog cancer diagnosis.
Read ArticleDNA Discoverer Watson Echoes Our Dog Cancer Approach
Its all over the news wires. James Watson, the Nobel Prize winner for his work in helping discover DNA’s double helix, is repeating what we have been been advocating for years in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide and this blog. One of the best ways to help deal with cancer is by targeting a mechanism…
Read ArticleHow Long to “Watch and Wait”
Last week I told you about two recent cases in which the tumors were too big for surgery by the time they came to me. I also promised to give you some guidelines about how long to wait when your vet says “let’s just monitor this.” Too many lumps and bumps are being monitored for…
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