Full Spectrum Cancer Care Step 1: Conventional Treatments
Dr. Dressler’s five-step approach to treating dog cancer is called Full Spectrum, and the first step is to consider conventional treatments like surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. The other four steps are more “outside the box.” Here are the many, many articles he and his colleagues have written about the pros and cons of conventional veterinary canine cancer treatments.
Laverdia for Dogs: A Pill for Lymphoma
Laverdia for dogs is a tablet to treat lymphoma. This medication is convenient and less expensive than traditional chemotherapy!
Read Article
How to Take Care of Your Dog After Surgery
To take care of your dog after surgery, protect the incision and make sure your dog is calm and not too active while healing.
Read Article
Day of Dog Surgery: Timeline and What to Expect
It’s the day of your dog’s surgery: learn what happens once you drop off, and what to expect throughout the day so you can feel calm and prepared.
Read Article
Getting Your Dog Ready for Surgery
Dog surgery can be stressful. Be sure your dog is ready for the big day and that you know what you need to do ahead of time.
Read Article
Senior Dog Rectal Cancer Surgery
John’s senior dog has a rectal tumor that might be cancer. But John is worried about complications. Should he go ahead with the procedure?
Read Article
Integrative Oncology Is the Future: An Interview with Dr. Kendra Pope
Dr. Kendra Pope is one of four integrative oncologists practicing in the U.S. She has a lot of advice and straight talk for us humans dealing with dog cancer.
Read Article
Prednisone for Dogs: Uses for Dog Cancer and Other Medical Conditions, Side Effects, Alternative Options, and More
What is prednisone for dogs, why is it prescribed so often, and how can it help your pup? Read on for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about prednisone for dogs—including uses, side effects, dosing, and more…
Read Article
Support Chemotherapy and Radiation with Botanicals: Dr. Dressler’s Article in Innovative Veterinary Care
A new Innovative Veterinary Care journal article shows veterinarians how to support chemotherapy and radiation with botanicals.
Read Article
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.
Read Article
Dr. Dressler: an Introduction to The Dog Cancer Vet
Dr. Dressler is “the dog cancer vet” and author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide. Here’s his own True Tail of how he came to be a pioneer in education and treatment of dog cancer.
Read Article
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!
Read Article
Lumps On Dogs: When To Get Them Checked By A Veterinarian
Finding lumps on dogs is scary, but waiting to get them checked is a terrible idea. The sooner you know what it is, the better. Get the guidelines now.
Read Article
Was There Anything Else I Could Have Done?
Was there anything else I could have done? This is an inevitable question we all face. And the answer is always the same.
Read Article
Treating Dogs with Cancer As If They’re My Own
Can I treat a dog in my care as if he were my own?
Read Article
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…
Read Article
Guidelines for Dealing with Your Dog’s Chemotherapy Side Effects
As I’ve discussed in other posts, chemotherapy is very well tolerated in dogs. Yes I know that is hard to believe. I have had family members get chemo and we have all seen it on TV, but happily it’s not like that for dogs. Approximately 80% of dogs do not have side effects at all…
Read Article
Giving Your Dog Chemotherapy at Home, Safely
Have to give your dog chemotherapy at home? Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, Dip. ACVIM (Oncology) has tips to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Read Article
Metronomic Chemotherapy for Dogs with Cancer
What is Metronomic Chemotherapy? Metronomic chemotherapy is a relatively new type of chemotherapy that uses low doses of oral (pulse) chemotherapy given on a continuous treatment schedule. Since it is given daily or every other day, the chemotherapy is given at lower doses then typical chemotherapy, often with a reduced toxicity profile. That reduction in…
Read Article
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.
Read Article
Do You Need an Oncologist on Your Dog Cancer Team?
Do you really need an oncologist on your dog cancer team? Sigh. As always with dog cancer, the answer is not the same for everyone. Dead Set Against Conventional Treatments? No Need. If you already know that you would never, ever, ever use surgery, chemotherapy or radiation to treat your dog’s cancer, hiring a specialist…
Read Article
Checking your Dog for Testicular Cancer
One for the Boys Intact males (those who have not been neutered) may, in later years be more prone to bladder, prostate or testicular cancer. Dr. Ettinger’s post “Spay/neuter and the association with cancer in dogs: part one” discusses the pros and cons of neutering in more detail, and is a wonderful read. When my…
Read Article
Is My Dog Too Old For Cancer Treatments?
Age is not a disease, but when your dog is diagnosed with cancer, it can be confusing to know if your dog too old for cancer treatments. Dr. Dressler explains…
Read Article
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…
Read Article
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…
Read Article
Common Cancer Mistake: Assuming Chemotherapy Is Not an Option
Do dogs suffer during chemotherapy for their cancer treatments? This veterinary oncologist has an answer that might surprise you.
Read Article
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…
Read Article
Five Common Mistakes with Cancer Surgery, and How To Avoid Them In Your Dog
These are the five most common mistakes with cancer surgery. Read on to find out how to save both time and money (yes, really).
Read Article
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,…
Read Article
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…
Read Article
Spay/neuter and the association with cancer in dogs: part three
Spay Neuter Golden Retriever: Early spay and neuter have several profound long-term effects for one of our favorite breeds.
Read Article