Rene M. Agredano

If you don’t already subscribe to Dr. Dressler’s Dog Cancer Blog, we highly recommend you do. As a veterinarian who believes in a “Full Spectrum Cancer Care” approach, he covers all of the latest advances in not just holistic medicine, but traditional canine cancer treatments too. We really like this about him.

Earlier this year, Dr. Dressler came out with his first e-book, the Dog Cancer Survival Guide. While not specific to bone cancers that affect many of us, this is a 300 page PDF filled with information that presents the latest findings in suspected causes of cancer, treatment options, nutrition and supplements, and kindhearted advice to help you stay strong throughout it all.

We recommend this book because it’s as much a resource guide as it is a mental health guide for coping with canine cancer cancer. Using the old adage “You must put on your own oxygen mask first,” Dr. Dressler explains why your mental health is mission critical.

“”You must get into a state of mind where you can be most effective as your dog’s primary caregiver. You have some big decisions to make, and they require a clear mind. Your ability to focus and be totally available to your dog — who really needs you — is your number one job.”

In a step-by-step, straightforward manner targeted at the layperson who has just learned that their dog has cancer, he turns complex information into easy summaries the layperson can understand and utilize, such as: what are some suspected causes of cancer, questions to ask your vet, what a pathologist’s report is and why you need a copy, financing treatment and more. You’ll learn basic cancer terms, causes, and why your dog’s immune system is his own best defense.

Because the book is for anyone coping with canine cancer, it covers eight major types of cancers in detail. Later, you’ll learn how Dr. Dressler’s “Full Spectrum Cancer Care Plan” can be tailored specifically to your dog’s health status. You’ll learn what strategies (from chemotherapy to natural medicine) and techniques have scientific studies that support their effectiveness, and the pros and cons of each.

Another thing we liked about the Dog Cancer Survival Guide is, unlike a lot of traditional veterinarians, Dr. Dressler doesn’t ignore  alternative nutrition therapies as a way to combat cancer. He understands that what you feed your dog during his battle with cancer is just as important as what kind of surgery you decide  to have performed. You’ll learn about foods and supplements that can enhance treatments and improve your dog’s quality of life, and how to feed them to your dog.

This book will also help you manage the side effects of most conventional and alternative medicine treatments for canine cancer (did you know you can give your dog fresh ginger to manage nausea?). You’ll learn how to evaluate your dog’s quality of life, and how to figure out when the time is right to set aside cancer weapons and begin hospice care for your beloved companion.

We wholeheartedly endorse Dr. Dressler’s e-book because it’s one of the few we’ve found that addresses all aspects of ways in which you can battle the evil monster called canine cancer. But a word of warning: Dr. Dressler is an eloquent writer. The book’s last chapter, “If Your Dog Could Speak, This is What She Would Say to You,” is a real tearjerker:

“And if their short lives are to be useful, it is to remind us of a few simple facts that we humans forget pretty easily.

‘We are alive. We are breathing. We are here. We are smelling and tasting and the breeze feels good. We are holding each other and we like each other. We play and walk and run. This is good. You are good.”

Be sure to subscribe to our new Tripawds Downloads blog for more e-book reviews and updates about other downloadable resources we find! Have you started your Tripawds Blog yet?

Nine years ago, when Mom and Dad took me to my first vet visit, Mom saw pet insurance brochures on the counter. She remembers thinking to herself; “Insurance, for dogs? You’ve gotta be kidding.” Being new to dog parenting, she didn’t give it a thought after that, for a while.

During the first several years of my life, my vet bills were never more than a couple hundred bucks a year. But then I got cancer.

And as they say, houndsight is 20/20. Mom now thinks differently about insurance. She feels that if health insurance is so important for her, and my Dad, why not for me? I’m a family member too!

Plus, pet insurance premiums are less expensive than human medical insurance. My Mom knows that if she had signed me up long ago, she would’ve saved a ton of money when I got sick. Since my diagnosis, my pawrents have paid out about ten times more in health care costs for my vet bills, then their own health care bills!

Is pet insurance worth it?
If your dog became a Tripawd because of cancer, and you didn’t have health insurance before the illness was diagnosed, you’re already well acquainted with treatment costs. It may too late to buy insurance for your Tripawd (pet insurance won’t cover pre-existing conditions). But if you ever add another furry friend to your family, it’s a good idea to sign up for pet insurance as soon as s/he comes home.

Because sadly, until there is a cure, cancer will keep happening to dogs. And if your dog is one of the unlucky ones and isn’t insured, and you’re in a tight financial position some day, you may end up in the heartbreaking situation of having to put a price on your beloved dog’s life.

Tripawds recently asked pawrents on the Bone Cancer Dogs group if they had pet insurance on their dogs with cancer, and if so, what their experiences were like when filing claims.

“I lost a dog 10 years ago. I had to make a decision about putting her down based purely on what I could afford. I swore I would never do that again if I didn’t have to,” says Mary Beth.

She added, “What they pay back seems worth it to me. Like any insurance policy, you are playing the odds as to how often and how badly your dog will need extra care.”

There are a variety of companies such as Quick Care Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Insurance, and Veterinary Pet Insurance.

You can buy a basic plan that just covers office visits and routine tests, or you can get a comprehensive policy with cancer riders that will pay out higher limits should your pup get sick.

With all of these options, it’s a must that you do your research first. Here are three places to start:

• Pet Insurance Review, is a great resource that also has customer reviews of different companies.
• Top 10 Things to Ask When Buying Pet Insurance, an About.com article written by an insurance expert
• The Morris Animal Foundation Pet Insurance Information has comprehensive information about pet insurance.

Enroll While They’re Young
Bone Cancer Dogs member Ana, says “I would suggest to anyone looking into pet insurance that they do it early, while the dog is still young, before any issues come up. They do require records and will take note of pre-existing conditions.

For example, they will only cover a torn cruciate if the dog has been insured for at least a year prior to the occurrence,” she added.

Ana has had her pet insurance for over 12 years, and it’s covered bills for two of her dogs that were diagnosed with bone cancer, including Roddy (pictured at left).

Although many insurance companies will insure adult dogs, their premiums will likely be higher. And keep in mind that breeds prone to certain health problems, like Shepherds and hip displaysia, may not be insurable at all.

Premiums start from about $20 a month on up. Many plans offer discounts for more than one dog.

Despite the growing popularity of pet insurance, many pet guardians still suggest just putting the money that would go toward premiums, into an interest earning savings account every month. But Bone Cancer Dogs member Diana says that wouldn’t work for her.

“I know some people say just put the premium money in the bank. Well, even if I had done that, there is no way it would have added up to what they have paid so far let alone all the other things they have paid for in Savannah’s life.

I think it is well worth it and I wouldn’t be without it especially after having a dog with cancer.”

How Insurance Helped Tasha’s Mom
Mary Beth shared her experience and suggestions with us. She had a standard pet insurance plan with a “Cancer Rider” on her dog Tasha, that cost $9 a year. Sadly, they had to use it.

When Mary Beth filed a claim for two biopsies, the second of which determined Tasha had osteosarcoma, the company paid out $500 toward the $800 in biopsy costs (some x-rays weren’t covered). And it also paid $1800 toward the $2000 in costs for the amputation surgery.

Her standard plan is also covering up to $374 a year of chemotherapy treatment, with a maximum payout of $1600 (other plans offer higher benefits). The company isn’t paying out any more lab work this year, required as part of the chemo treatment, because Tasha has reached the maximum payout for tests.

Like human health insurance, when the policy renews each year, deductibles and payout limits start all over again. If Tasha lives past the renewal date, the company has stated that they will not cancel the policy.

“I consider it catastrophic insurance,” she says, “and all in all, I think they have done pretty well. I wouldn’t expect the insurance to cover all costs, as it will not. Some allowance levels are high, others too low, but it seems to even out. What they pay back seems worth it to me.”

Denied Claims: Another Side of Pet Insurance
Not everyone has great things to say about pet insurance. Sometimes, technicalities in diagnosing an illness like cancer can lead to headaches when filing a claim.

Tripawds member Kim just ended a battle with her pet insurance company, after they refused to pay out a claim for her Tripawd Buster’s amputation surgery.

For about two years, Kim has paid about $45 a month to insure Buster and her other dog with ASPCA Pet Health Insurance. The policy renews annually.

Over the course of the first policy year, Kim was taking Buster to the veterinarian to try to figure out why he was limping. Nobody could figure it out. Just about one year later, when bone cancer was diagnosed, the policy had already renewed, but Kim thought nothing of it. Buster had his amputation surgery, and submitted a claim for $2600 in pre-and post-surgery costs. Her claim was denied.

The company told Kim that because records showed that Buster’s symptoms started during the previous policy year, they wouldn’t pay because for the surgery appeared Buster had been treated for osteosarcoma the previous year, making it a “pre-existing condition” that they would not cover during the current policy year.

Kim fought the denial, and had to go through hours of research and paperwork. Finally, her persistence paid off, and the company decided on a settlement (not the full amount of the claim), but only if Kim agrees not to pursue any other claims for Buster’s cancer.

“If I had to do this over again, (and I had a crystal ball) I would of done my homework on pet insurance protocols. Also, I would of insisted on an initial better diagnosis of Buster’s condition,” she said.

So when it comes to technicalities, wrong diagnoses and difficult situations, pet health insurance can be as stressful as dealing with human health insurance (at least in the U.S.!). Be prepared, and keep thorough documentation of all of your pet’s vet visits, tests, etc. Hopefully you’ll never be in the same situation as Kim.

Spend Money on Toys, Not Bills

Health Insurance For Pets was unheard of not too long ago. But as veterinary medicine becomes just as technical as human medicine, the costs rise accordingly.

In this day and age, taking out a policy on your furry family member definitely makes good cents!

What do you think? We’d love to get your feedback or hear your own reviews if you have or ever had a pet insurance policy.

I wrote the following short article about diet and nutrition for dogs and cats, for our Tripawds.com website.

It’s estimated that thousands of cats and dogs died from the recent outbreak of contaminated pet food. How could so many animal lovers let this happen to their beloved pets? The sad truth is, they just didn’t know any better. Until my own dog got sick from a diet of cheap food, I didn’t know either.

Like most people, at one time I put a lot of faith in the big brand pet foods. I believed the claims about how nutritious their food would be for my dog. In the first years of Jerry Dog’s life, I chose his food by buying whatever seemed better than the generic bulk stuff at Winco. Jerry ate it up, and grew into what I thought was a healthy adult dog. But when he got to be about 5, his teeth started yellowing, and his skin turned flaky. Then he started having seizures. After some expensive trips to his vet, I started doing my own research. All I had to do was Google “commercial pet food ingredients.” What I found, horrified me, and it should scare you too.

There is No Real Meat in Kibble

Why be afraid? Because if you’re not careful, you can end up feeding your pet road kill, moldy grains, pesticides, and ev cancerous flesh cut from slaughterhouse leftovers. If the pet food industry told the truth about what’s really in their food, the ingredients would read like something out of a horror movie. For example;

Do you think your pet is getting real meat in that bag of kibble? Think again. It’s nothing like the meat you would put on the table for dinner. The biggest source of animal protein in ordinary store bought pet food comes from what the industry refers to as “4-D Animals”. What are the four Ds? They are: Dead, diseased, dying or disabled animals. The meat from these 4-D animals comes from dead stock removal companies that supply rendering plants. Whatever can’t get sold as human grade animal protein in food operations, gets sold as pet food. What’s even more alarming, is the American Veterienary Medical Association and the FDA have confirmed that some of these 4-D processors have supplied euthanized cats and dogs to the plants. And although that practice isn’t encouraged, it’s not against the law.

There is no such thing as FDA oversight when it comes to pet food processing inspections; the federal government leaves it up to the states, which are doing a lousy job so far.

Commercial pet food manufacturers are allowed to put a slew of preservatives into their food, including known carcinogens like BHA, BHT and even an insecticide that’s been linked to liver cancer. In fact, the average dog can consume as much as 26 pounds of these “preservatives” every year from eating commercial dog foods.

There are other ingredients in pet food that might not be as shocking, but they can be just as bad for your pet’s health. In fact, the primary ingredient in these foods are fillers comprised of nothing more than the leftovers of cereals and grains produced for humans. These wheat byproducts have little or no nutritional value, and are the cause of many pet allergies and skin conditions, like the flaky skin that bothered my dog Jerry.

The Rise of Cheap Commercial Pet Food Correlates to Poor Animal Health

We all know someone who has a dog or cat in poor health, with some kind of hard to treat ailment. But it hasn’t always been this way. Studies proove that until just a few decades ago, animals rarely went to the vet, and they lived longer and healthier lives. So, what’s changed?

Well, mass produced pet food hasn’t always been around. Before the 1950s, pets used to eat table scraps every night. But by the 1960s, food manufacturers saw how cheap it was to repackage waste ingredients and call it “pet food.” They sold the public on the convenience of a dry kibble diet for Rover, and it wasn’t long before the pet food industry took off, and people forgot what animals used to eat in the old days.

It’s taken a few decades, but the rise in pet health problems has a direct correlation to we’ve been feeding them. The saying “You are what you eat” holds true for people, and studies prove that it holds true for our pets too.

When a pet is growing, it’s not easy to see the effects of this poor quality food right away. The symptoms are gradual, and might start with high strung behaviour caused by high salt content found in many pet foods. My own dog started out healthy and seemed to be growing fine by eating Purina dog food. But it finally caught up with him by age 5.

For Better Health, Feed Your Pet a Healthier Diet

Like many people, I waited until he was obviously sick to make a change. After drawing the connection between his food and his health, I completely changed his diet and opted to follow what’s known as a “BARF,” or “Bones and Raw Food” diet. This diet is one of the healthiest diets a pet can eat, and is what I highly recommend for anyone who cares about their pet’s health.

The BARF diet means that instead of “mystery meat” from a can, our dog now eats raw chicken, beef and turkey. Raw you say? Yes, Raw. It makes sense if you consider what animals ate before they became domesticated. In the wild, they hunted, killed, tore apart and devoured every bit of their prey. Sure, our pets are far from the killer hunters they used to be, but their digestive systems have not changed. Now, I don’t have a lot of time to get into this, but my handout has some great websites you can visit to learn more about this and other high quality diets that will change your pet’s health for the better.

Once I switched to the BARF diet, Jerry’s seizures stopped. And, I thought we were safe, until last year, when he was diagnosed with bone cancer. Honestly, I really can’t help but think that the poor quality food we fed him in his puppy years had something do do with it. He’s successfully beating the cancer despite the loss of a leg, and he has outlived the vet’s prognosis. I know that his ultra healthy diet is helping him win the battle.

I really hope that you and your pet never have to go through what we’ve gone through with Jerry. The best way to avoid this, is to start feeding your pet a better quality diet from day one. The best type of food you can feed your pet is food you make yourself. It’s really easy to do, and only takes minutes a day. By feeding your pet a combination of certain raw meats and vegetables, and being aware of a few nutrition guidelines, you’re giving your pet the best diet possible.

But if you’re hesitant about trying out a homemade diet, look for your closest premium/natural pet food resource that can help you make a switch to a premium, store bought pet food diet. These stores only carry premium and “human grade” foods that don’t contain wheat by products or fillers. You won’t see this stuff at Safeway. They even carry frozen raw foods for your pet.

Sure, premium food costs more, but pound for pound, you get more out of it in the end. As the saying goes, you’ll either pay now or pay later; by investing in your pet’s diet now, you’ll avoid costly trips to the vet in the future.

So, if you truly care about your pets health, don’t fall for the heartwarming commercials with talking kittens and puppies. Know what you’re putting in their mouths.