*Quick Summary: The author offers some advice for owners of pets with cancer.*
If you’ve read the blog, you’ve learned that our doggie Sophia lost her almost nine month battle with Lymphoma on September 16, 2016. Even though we lost her, the education we gained the hard way will stay with us forever. Her Oncologist, Dr. Claudia McFadden at Carolina Veterinary Specialists is amazing. Truly the BEST. If she couldn’t save Sophia, we can have every bit of relief in knowing it simply couldn’t happen. And believe us, we tried everything we knew to be available, even a horribly failed bout with a holistic Vet.
Dr, McFadden once asked if we might be willing to write something to give a bit of advice from an owner’s point of view. What you will read below is mostly from that write-up, but I changed some of it for this blog post. If your animal has a form of cancer, this may be helpful.
I’d like to tell you a bit about this journey you’re about to tackle. I chose the word “tackle” carefully. It can be hard at times, very hard. Maybe one of the hardest things you’ve ever had to do. That isn’t designed to scare you, it’s designed to prepare you.
The fact you’re reading this shows you’ve chosen to embark on this journey with your little best friend. I would like to help guide you through some things no one else can tell you. Not because they don’t want to, but because they just can’t. For all we know about cancer, we cannot predict the future. Unfortunately, much of this journey is about trying to see into the future. You can only do that by trusting your gut instincts and knowing you are in the right hands. As someone who has been through this, we can assure you things may get complicated. You may trust the Oncology staff to have your, and your pet’s best interests at heart, but there are decisions they can’t make for you. Here are some questions you may have:
How long does this take? – Our three-legged Black Lab mix Sophia, was diagnosed with B Cell Lymphoblastic Lymphoma in January, 2016. We battled it until September. Nine months. A long time, and not at all “typical”, but I mention it so you are fully aware how long this can take. Even longer in some cases. I hope your battle will be much shorter and more successful than ours, and with the care and knowledge of a good Oncology staff and the right circumstances, you have a great chance of that.
How hard is this emotionally? – It can be BRUTAL. If you have to try different protocols or types of treatments because the previous one wasn’t working as well as it was hoped, you might feel you’re “losing the battle”. As hard as it is, recognize that a change in treatment or medicines, if it happens, is part of the solution, rather than any indication of gaining or losing ground. Just know that due to the nature of Oncology, it isn’t an exact science. There may be ups and downs along the way. When those fluctuations involve your furry loved one, emotions can run high. The staff understand that. Just know they are doing the best they can with the information they have at hand.
Which tests do we want to do? – From our experience, I’d suggest doing every test they recommend both prior to treatment and along the way. You may question whether these tests are needed, but if you don’t arm your Oncologist with all the info possible before and during the battle, you are more likely to have to second guess things later in the process. It’s much better to spend a little more money up front to minimize the time and cost down the road.
How much will it cost? – Price varies based on the treatments and medicines needed, but it is expensive. That’s something we can all agree on, but that’s largely out of the hands of the staff. These drugs are expensive. That’s the nature of the business unfortunately. The staff will discuss cost with you throughout treatment. There may be times when you’re presented with options for your pet’s care. Those options will have different costs associated with them. As distasteful as it is to think of, you may find yourself in a position of placing a price on your pet’s health. We all want the best possible care, but no one but you can decide what you can afford. That doesn’t make you a bad person, it’s just part of life. Keep in mind you won’t regret doing as much as you were able to, but no one should pressure you to go beyond your limits. Just understand that you may well be making a decision on your pet’s outcome if you aren’t able to do the recommended treatment. If that’s the case, talk to the staff about your options.
What can we do at home? – This can be tough emotionally as your furry one may not be feeling well. The treatments are hard on their bodies and can weaken the immune system. They may experience secondary infections or other things as a result. Do your best to keep your pet away from pets other than your own. Especially groups of pets. This includes when you go to the Vet. Remember there are sick animals there and your pet has a weakened immune system. Minimizing contact with other animals gives your pet a better chance of staying healthy, and that directly equates to a better chance to fight cancer. Additionally, there will likely be medicines to dispense to your pet. This may be hard to do emotionally, especially if it is a medicine that has seemingly harsh side-effects. Do your best to follow the directions you’ve been given to the best of your ability with the knowledge that you’re doing what needs to be done to make them feel better and be healthier later.
One of the most important pieces of advice I can give you is that if you share ownership of your pet, make absolutely sure you’re on the same page with your partner. Communication is key! Understand that with the emotional nature of this journey, a difference in opinion can be a big deal. Cost, treatment options, home responsibilities, and other things involving your pet’s health are crucial areas to agree. In our case, there were times when only one of us could make the appointment. If anything involving a decision came up, we would call or text the other to confirm the direction before a decision was made. We knew which of us was going to the Vet with our dog, who would be giving her the medicine each day, and communicated with each other immediately after leaving her checkups to keep one another fully informed.
On the same note, communication with the staff is VERY important! Make notes in between appointments. Anything unusual or different in your pet’s routine should be noted. As an example – Frequent urination or bowel movements could be a result of their treatment, or it could be an infection. Sophia was on Prednisone throughout her treatment. One of the side-effects is possible increased thirst, which means increased urination. She also developed several urinary tract infections due to her weakened immune system, which also can lead to increased urination. Being observant enough to see that her frequent pee breaks were even more frequent than the, “new normal” was key to getting her treated quicker for her UTIs. Noting changes in intake of food and water, energy level, and bathroom habits are all important. Taking notes on these things as they are observed keeps you from having to try to remember a possibly important detail at the next appointment.
Lastly, breathe! Make sure you relax as best you can. Your pet will pick up on your vibes, so it’s important to remain calm, even in the face of bad news. The last thing you want is your pet worrying about you, or spending its precious energy trying to make you feel better.
If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me and I’ll help you as best I can.
The words in the photo below were posted in a room at Carolina Veterinary Specialists. I took this picture August 16, 2016, exactly one month to the day before she died. We found it incredibly motivational, even as we experienced a few bad weeks in a row:
What Cancer Cannot Do
Cancer is so limited…
It cannot cripple love. It cannot shatter hope. It cannot corrode faith. It cannot destroy peace. It cannot kill friendship(s). It cannot suppress memories. It cannot silence courage. It cannot invade the soul. It cannot steal eternal life. It cannot conquer the spirit. -Author Unknown
