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Featuring Demian Dressler, DVM and Sue Ettinger, DVM, Dip. ACVIM (Oncology), authors of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide
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Full Spectrum Cancer Care Step 5: Brain Chemistry Modification

Mind-Body Therapy for Dog Cancer

Mind-body therapy fights dog cancer: by reducing stress, it allows your dog’s immune system to focus on the real threats.

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Magical Thinking and Dog Cancer

Is using magical thinking regarding your dog’s cancer a good idea? It could be — as long as you keep it in perspective.

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Dog Cancer Pain: Acupuncture?

Dog cancer pain: acupuncture? Even if your vet dismisses it, it is more than just a placebo!

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Should My Dog with Cancer Still Exercise?

Can my dog with cancer exercise? Yes — in fact, it’s really important!

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Reducing Anxiety in Dogs with Cancer

A worried dog has a harder time healing — and dogs mostly worry in response to OUR worry. When it comes to reducing anxiety in dogs with cancer, what’s a dog lover to do?

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Is Sunshine Bad for Dogs with Cancer?

There’s a common myth that sunlight is bad for dogs with cancer. But, that’s not true. According to Dr. Dressler in the Dog Cancer Survival Guide (Chapter 13), the only dogs who shouldn’t be exposed to the sun are those with Squamous Cell Carcinoma or Hemangiosarcoma. For all other cancers, dogs should be free to…

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Playdates for Dogs with Cancer

Dogs are social animals just like us. And, our dogs can get lonely even with our company, especially if they’re the only dog in the house. Dr. Dressler covers this topic in chapter 15 of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, which talks about life quality and “brain chemistry modification” strategies as step five of Full…

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Is My Dog Still Happy?

So, is your dog happy? It’s not always easy to tell. But there are certain tell-tale signs that will help you know one way or the other.

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Lavender Oil for Dogs

Is lavender oil for dogs an indulgent luxury, or a necessity? You’d be surprised!

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Better Life Quality: Play with Your Dog with Cancer

How important is it to play with your dog with cancer? Very!

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Facing Dog Cancer? This Is Your First Priority

Want to help your dog with cancer? Learn this, FIRST — it’s the foundation of every cancer journey.

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“Alternative” Strategies That May Help Dogs with Cancer

Some conventional vets find Chapter Fifteen in The Dog Cancer Survival Guide one of the most controversial sections of the book. It’s where Dr. Demian Dressler talks about his fifth step in Full Spectrum cancer care: brain chemistry modification. Dr. Dressler has found that it’s really important to boost your dog’s mood in order to…

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Is Optimism Appropriate in Dog Cancer?

Are we setting ourselves up for disappointment by holding on to optimism when it comes to dog cancer treatments?

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On Blame

For those coping with dog cancer, there is usually a very large amount of pain. First is the shock of the diagnosis, which is common. After this comes a flood of emotions of various kinds. For some it is confusion, trying to make sense of what it actually means to have a dog with cancer.…

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Attitude Adjustment in Coping With Canine Cancer

One of the most shocking discoveries for some guardians starting their dog cancer journey is there seem to be few options. These guardians go to the vet or oncologist, and many times return from the visit with a very heavy burden that seems to have little relief. And strangely, it happens to those who ask…

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Does Massage for Dogs with Cancer Do Anything?

Life quality is a major part of dealing with canine cancer. Since cancer is a disease that impacts a loved dog’s quality of life, it makes sense that we should pay attention to it.  Treatments designed to kill cancer cells are not enough. One of the overlooked areas in conventional veterinary medicine is that of…

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Homeopathy for Dog Cancer?

Using homeopathy for dog cancer is a mixed bag in terms of the literature, but it may be useful for certain cancers. What Exactly Is Homeopathy? Homeopathy is a system of medicine based on the administration of very diluted amounts of substances that mimic the symptoms of the disease being treated.  The underlying idea is…

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The Two Sides of Sunlight and Dog Cancer, part 2

In the last post, we examined those cases where a dog lover might want to protect dogs prone to certain skin cancers with sunscreen and indoor living. However, these are the minority.  The vast majority of dogs actually benefit, in a real way, from some direct sunlight.  Here’s my argument… Sunlight exposure in people is …

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End of Life Care in Dog Cancer

The end of life stage can be very hard on everyone. It often is gut-wrenching to see your dear companion start to say goodbye. Like any weighty decision, sometimes the emotions involved can paralyze our ability to choose. During these times it is so important to gain some clarity by seeking support in counselors, support…

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Is The Hammer The Tool For The Job?

How a flexible and vulnerable mindset can help us identify the problem correctly, and choose the right tool to solve it.

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Do Numbers Matter?

A lover of a dog with cancer needs to come up with an plan that makes sense. The first step in any plan is arming oneself with answers, or data that relates to the situation. There are two basic areas that we need to focus on. The first is what can we do to maintain…

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Life Quality in Dog Cancer: Dr Dressler’s Joys of Life Scale

When we are dealing with cancer in our loved dog, especially the bad cases, we immediately enter into a new way of thinking.  We start to have thoughts about life quality assessment.  We are put in a position where we are in control of  life and death (euthanasia) decisions.  Sometimes in a very sudden way,…

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Pain in Dog Cancer and Life Quality, Part 2

Many times people talk about life quality in pets and pain.  “Is my dog in any pain?” is a common question I get at my hospital.  To be sure, pain is an important consideration in life quality. Of all the factors that contribute to a bad life, pain may be the most potent.  BUT…it is…

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Pain in Dog Cancer and Life Quality

Many have concerns their dog may be in pain.  And rightfully so, since pain is a definite negative.  Pain control is a massive topic all by itself, and it is by no means strait forward. There are different kinds of pain. Sometimes  dull, throbbing pain happens in cancers like osteosarcoma (bone cancer).  Severe pain in…

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Fight Dog Cancer and Depression with Self-Esteem

Learn how to fight dog cancer and depression using esteem-building exercises. They will benefit your dog’s mood AND help fight cancer!

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Depression, Stress and Dog Cancer: Let’s Think About It

Are depression stress and dog cancer linked? Let’s take a look.

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