Help Your Dog Fight Cancer: An Overview Of Home Care Options

by Laurie Kaplan

Animal medical writer shares the benefits of her research and experience as caretaker of Bullet, 4-year survivor of canine lymphoma. Filled with specific actions caretakers can take to help their dog survive the disease and the treatment. Explains medical aspects and helpful supplements; illustrates the preparation of a proven anti-cancer diet; and includes contributions by prominent veterinary oncologists. Bullet's story is intertwined throughout.

Genres: Dogs, Nonfiction, Animals

109 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 2004

Reviews

[DeeDee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Laurie, your book and Bullet’s story has meant so much to me in the past two months. I began reading it while our dog Malibu was recovering from her lung lobectomy in November, (thanks to your foundation who had a HUGE hand in Malibu’s treatment). I continued reading it throughout the short remaining weeks we had with our other dog Hydro, who just one week after Malibu’s surgery was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. We thought we had at least months with him, but unfortunately the tumor advanced quickly and aggressively and he wasn’t responding to the treatments we had tried to reduce the swelling to ease his pain and make him comfortable. Thursday he was no longer doing the things that made him Hydro, so we made the difficult and devastating decision to allow him to “cross the Rainbow Bridge” as you say in your book.

Your book provides a great insight in the emotional roller coaster a pet owner/caregiver may feel during all phases of having a dog with cancer. I appreciate the research, data, and plethora of information about every possible thing a pet owner may question. You even answered questions I didn’t know I had or didn’t know I needed to think about.
In these past few days, as I have reflected and grieved, I have felt the emotions and had the thoughts you describe in your book. Reading it has helped me to realize that I need to not second guess our decision and know we did the best thing for Hydro.
Moving forward I now have more information about different types of cancer, healthy options and lifestyles for our fur babies (food and providing a healthy home environment for them), and what to expect and how to approach cancer if any of our pets are ever diagnosed with it again.
Thank you for taking the time to write this book, share your and Bullet’s story, and doing the research to help improve the lives of pets suffering from cancer and helping us owners get through it as well.

I will be sure to share your book with others and recommend it to our veterinarians so they can share it with others whose pets are diagnosed with cancer as well.

[Chloe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was really helpful even though my dog died a few days after diagnosis, and not from cancer but from the surgery to get rid of it. I read it cover to cover in one sitting and it was easy to understand. For our last few days with Shadow, it gave great insight in how to be strong for your doggy. Things like finding happiness in every day with your dog, singing to your loved one, breathing with him or her, and saying their name frequently. These little tips were meaningful and I could tell doing these things were comforting for him.

I almost gave it 4 stars instead of 5 was because of it's strong focus on chemo, which is what Bullet went through. We did not want to do chemo, and since the diet and supplement recommendations seemed based on a chemo environment, I was tempted to give a little deduction about what that would mean for Shadow. But overall the book was so important for me to read and I fear a 4-star review would make some people overlook it, when I think it is really worthwhile.

That aside, I am grateful that Laurie Kaplan published this book, and highly recommend it for companions of dogs struggling with cancer.

[Val Silver · Rating 4 out of 5]

Few words put dread in our hearts as surely as the word "cancer". Statistics show that half of our canine companions will be diagnosed with this disease, especially in later years. Personally, I've lost 3 of my beloved seniors to this disease. I wish I had this book on my bookshelf as a go-to-first reference for facts to help me understand the situation and help to make informed, timely decisions. Help Your Dog Fight Cancer includes relevant and hopeful information about different kinds of canine cancer, possible treatments-conventional and holistic-and realistic outcomes. It also includes first hand stories, complete with color photos, by people who have walked the cancer path with their dogs- their successes, failures and experiences. I believe that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and plan to take the info about diet to heart for my dog in hopes that he will be one of the 50% who never gets cancer.

[Laurie Gyd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Helpful and comforting

This book was very helpful to me--my dog, Molly was diagnosed with lymphoma early in March 2016 when I took her to our vet for signs of a stroke. He examined her, felt her nodes, and told me she had cancer. He's a terrific vet, honest and suggested options. I referred to this book during Molly's last days, the content was very comforting to read. I applaud the author for writing this book as it helped me to understand when she had similar experiences with her dog Bullet.

[Cindi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was given to me and was a good read. I learned some stuff about canine cancer and possible treatments, though the dog in this book has a different cancer than mine. I know a couple people whose dogs have had cancer and now I'm interested to hear others' stories and experiences, which is really what this book is about. Though it also did give some helpful information and resources for those that might not know where to look.

[Lynda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's a book no one should *want* to read, but unfortunatley, it's become a *must* read for us. We borrowed this one and a few others from the library - I really should buy a copy as every site I find on any kind of dog cancer recommends this one for guidance. It was/is helpful - just need to get a home copy for referring to more often.

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Laurie didn't find a plain-language book to help owners through dealing with cancer in their pets, so she wrote one. I found it to be a helpful resource and certainly a good starting point. Typical protocols for treating cancer are covered, as well as some supplements, briefly. Sources for support and information are given, as well. A helpful guide when treating cancer in your dog.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful through this hard time.

[Juan Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

Compasionate, concise and concrete. This is an Excellent/Must read if you have a dog with cancer.

[catherine Ricketson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read! So much information that you need to know and take under consideration if your dog has Cancer. This book gave me the direction I needed to move forward with treatment.