Articles
Dr. Demian Dressler has been writing articles for DogCancerBlog.com since 2008. If you’re looking for excellent advice and insight into your dog’s cancer, this site has hundreds of articles to use. You can search using the box above or choose a topic from the navigation menu. And you can always ask us for help!
Vitamin C and Dog Cancer Update
There is much talk on the use of vitamin C (ascorbic acid), in it’s various forms, for cancer treatment in the “alternative” medical community. It’s use in conventional cancer care is routinely ignored. In the spirit of full-spectrum care and rational analysis, let’s take a closer look. Due to some interesting observations, focus on vitamin…
Read ArticleThe Most Important Question in Dog Cancer Care
Many dog lovers arrive at The Dog Cancer Blog looking or information. There is a problem though, and I would like to begin to spread the word about the most important question in dog cancer care. Here it is: What type of person are you? To many, this may sound very bizarre, so give me…
Read ArticleVaccinating Dogs with Cancer
Vaccination. For some dog lovers, this word is a general part of health care for a canine companion. For others, it is the root of a syndrome called “vaccinosis”. Vaccinosis is a made-up term is a term used by alternative vets to describe the cluster of side effects from vaccinations. Like most issues in medicine,…
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Grief Can Be Complicated
One of the problems in dealing with dog cancer is what to put your attention on. Truly, there are so many aspects to a life chapter like this one. The grieving process is no exception. We experience sadness and pain at so many different times, and in so may different ways, while caring for a…
Read ArticleA Change in Viewing Dog Cancer
I gave a webinar this morning that focused on making a dog cancer treatment plan. I realized the topic should be presented, as so many blog readers post specific questions, but many are essentially the same query. So I presented a structure that would allow people to answer their own version of the question, with…
Read ArticleReal-Life Stem Cell Therapy
The last post focused on the newest version of a canine “Bone Marrow Transplant.” In a nutshell, this is a brand-new procedure that may produce a good number of actual dog cancer cures. Curing canine cancer essentially unheard of in conventional veterinary care using chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, at least with the systemic dog cancers.…
Read ArticleStem Cell Transplants: Dog Cancer Cures?
Many of us have heard of bone marrow transplants used in people with cancers. In the last few years, bone marrow transplants have become available for dogs too. Ironically, it was dogs that served as the models for development of the technology in people more than 3 decades ago. Finally, they are benefiting from the…
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Survival Times and Dog Cancer
I recently got a comment from a reader who was quite upset with her veterinarian because he didn’t fully explain the survival times he expected with her dog’s cancer. Her dog underwent a splenectomy (spleen removal), presumably for treatment of a hemangiosarcoma (a malignant tumor of the blood vessel walls) of the spleen. This dog…
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The Magic Bullet for Dog Cancer Care Cost
I have had people in my veterinary hospital tell me they have to choose between their dog’s food and their own. Or their children’s needs and those of their dogs. Indeed, for many, these dog days are ruff days (sorry, had to lighten it up a little…) So, what to do when faced with the…
Read ArticleA Thermometer to Save Dogs Fighting Cancer?
It is clear that dogs with cancer, at least with true, aggressive forms of cancer, have some special needs. I would like to give you some information about a special need that is often overlooked. Dogs with a cancer diagnosis should have their temperatures taken on a regular basis. If a dog is on chemotherapy,…
Read ArticleA Dog Cancer Wake Up Call
From time to time I receive comments from readers who express opinions about what they will consider in treating their dog’s cancer. These particular folks segregate themselves into a single group…the “anti” people. First, we have those who are very impressed with conventional veterinary care. This is my background, so I see the appeal. Big…
Read ArticleWhen to Avoid Chemo for Canine Mast Cell Tumors?
There has been much online talk these days about dogs with mast cell tumors (read, Palladia) which are the most common canine cancer. So I thought I’d just add some fuel to the fire and give my readers some overall guidelines about mast cell tumors and chemotherapy. As many already know, these cancers come in…
Read ArticleDiet for Dogs With Mast Cell Tumors
Friends, Today’s post will likely be met with some skepticism from those immersed (and confined) to our Western medical approach. So if this is your framework, please keep an open mind. You will be pleased to know that the information here is taken from little known, but still Western, data banks. I have recently been…
Read ArticleUsing Black Salve in Dog Cancer
Dear Dog Lovers, I wanted to touch base with you about some information from the real-life streets of veterinary medicine. Occasionally I will get a question about the use of “black salve”. This rather ugly looking ointment is in a group of medicinals called the escharotics. An escharotic is a preparation that injures the tissue…
Read ArticlePau D’Arco for Dogs With Cancer: Be Careful Says Dr. Dressler
In the last post, I focused on really looking at the source of the information you are receiving about your dog’s cancer. Let’s get into some specific examples of questionable “intelligence” you may have received. Some, claiming authority in the area of supplements for dog cancer, are pushing Pau D’Arco. Be careful, everyone! Let’s look…
Read ArticleFalse Hopes and How to Spot a Charlatan…
So many times I hear of the benefits of a new (or ancient) miracle treatment for dog cancer. Often these are from someone who has seen the benefit, or believe they see the benefit, of a certain protocol. The fact is that in most cases these claims have not been established to the point where…
Read ArticleKeep Yourself and Your Dogs Safe with Palladia
Palladia is the first FDA-approved drug for dog cancer. It is a chemotherapy medication, and as such it is a big gun. When I say big gun, I mean that there are side effects and issues that you need to be aware of. And some of you may have not heard this yet. Since a…
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Yunnan Baiyao for Dogs: Chinese Herb for Bleeding Dog Cancers
Yunnan baiyao for dogs with cancer may sound weird because it’s used for bleeding problems. But in certain cases, it is really useful.
Read ArticleBe Careful What You Read!!
One of the difficulties dog lovers have is in getting good data about dog cancer. Sometimes questions surface after your visit to the vet or oncologist, and you may not be able to reach your dog’s doctor. Logically, the internet is a good place to start. You will find lots of information about dog cancer…
Read ArticleWhy use stomach medication for mast cell tumors?
Many dog lovers are coping with a diagnosis of canine mast cell tumor. Just yesterday afternoon I was removing a very large one from the body wall of Big, a 10 year old, 105 pound, much-loved mixed breed. The day before his surgery, Big started to throw up. He became quite sick, and would not…
Read ArticleCarcinogenic Chemo Drugs
One of the biggest ironies I have encountered are carcinogenic chemotherapy drugs. Sound odd to you? Well, I don’t blame you! When I first found out about it I was shocked. Medication used for fighting cancer actually increasing the odds for cancer later? Now, before everyone gets reactionary, we have to temper this topic…
Read ArticleThe 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 …
Read ArticleThe Two Sides of Sunlight in Dog Cancer, part 1
I practice veterinary medicine and surgery in a sunny area. For those of you with a loved dog who gets a lot of sun, you may have wondered about the effects of sun on canine cancer. As with many topics in medicine, there are a couple different things that have to be considered, as it…
Read ArticleThe Cost of My Dog’s Life, part 2
In the last post, I blogged on what one can do to deal with the difficult financial issues attached to dog cancer care. In this one, I would like to widen back, to help with some of the more personal issues about the subject. To be sure, the real-world money issue is a basic, real…
Read ArticleThe Cost of My Dog’s Life, part 1
If you are a dog lover coping with the diagnosis of dog cancer, at some point you will be forced to deal with costs. In this economic climate, many are faced with heart-wrenching decisions. “I need to choose between my dog’s care and my own.” “I have to pick either paying for my home or…
Read ArticleBone Cancer Pain: New Ideas
Many who love a dog with bone cancer need information to make sure pain is managed. Bone cancers are often very painful. Since life quality is so essential for us when making medical choices, we need to always control pain. Bone cancer is often first noticed as a limp. Many times I have had a…
Read ArticleImportant Issues in Chemotherapy
The problem with chemotherapy, at least traditional drugs, is that it does not always target just the cancer cells. What I mean by that is the chemo drug may not care if it shuts down a dividing body cell or a dividing cancer cell. Chemotherapy drugs tend, with some exceptions, to go after cells that…
Read ArticleChemo side effects: What should I do?
Chemotherapy does have side effects that need to be considered. About 5% of these will require your pet to be hospitalized, on the average, and there is a 1% chance of fatal reactions overall with chemotherapy. Although I have not seen any published data, unpublished estimates on overall risks of any side effect are roughly…
Read ArticleWhy is Canine Cancer Still Winning? Part 2
After all this work, dog cancer is still often incurable. Why? In this second post on the topic, I would like to look at the flow of information. We need to look at where data is generated. And, as usual, recall the flow of the dollar. Generally, cancer research is the source of the information…
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