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You are here: Home > Frequently Asked Questions > Canine Cancer Treatment Options How do I decide what treatments to accept when my dog is diagnosed with Cancer and how do I resolve the difference between what the Vets recommend and what you recommend as a Herbalist?I cannot make the decision for you however I can outline for you the thinking processes I go through when advising people faced with your dilemma.Once you analyse the situation systematically you should be able to make an appropriate decision which sits confortably with your own inclinations and commitment to orthodox or alternative medical systems of treatment. My recommendations in the first instance depend on the severity of the current symptoms. If the diagnosis is early and there are not much in the way of current symptoms. For example no swelling which is interfering with eating, urination, defecation or breathing perhaps, I recommend that you go herbal alone. If there are some of the problems above but they are really a result of inflammation it is often successful to combine the herbal with some Prednisone or other steroid or anti-inflammatory or whatever to help with the inflammation and swelling, while the herbs get to work. If there are symptoms causing some distress then a short burst of Chemo can work pretty well if combined with the herbs. There is no question at all that Chemotherapy can give cancer a hell of a fright. Your Oncologist however will rarely want to settle with only a short burst because his attitude is often that if they can handle Chemo then they should have more. Some of them just keep pushing for more and more until the dog gets just get too sick from it to be able to cope with more. So there we have it. 1. No discomforting symptoms - Herbal alone. 2. Some symptoms but controlled by steroids - Herbal plus Orthodox 3. Symptoms not controllable and compromising life quality - Herbal and Chemo and Chemotherapy Support. Short burst only until the symptoms have abated and then stop Chemo. Chemotherapy support treatment to be continued for 3 months after stopping the course. I will support you fully, whatever way you choose to go, and the choice is yours. The only time I try to argue with people is when there are clear signs that they are asking their dogs to put up with too much. This can be too much discomfort. Too many supplements (like every single herbal thing the owners have been able to find in their research). Too much separation and stress like long stays hooked up to a drip or other drugs or in some place away from home and from its owner. Too much of anything which compromises the dogs life quality and that includes; Too much over caring, you get the idea. Your companion will happily put up with too much just to please you, as this is what they do, right up until the last day. My experience with hundreds of cases which do well with my herbal approach, (either in combination or not and there really seems to be little difference), is that if they then fall out of remission after 12 or 24 months (and I have to tell you that most of them do in the end) they go very quickly, mostly pain free and it is fery clear when to let them go. My aim in all cases, is to have the owner concentrating all the while on their companion's comfort, well being and experience of life. Not own on their own panic, guilt or over-caring nature and transmitting all this to the dog for the whole of their convalescence. The ones who do best, and all the ones which break the 24 month barrier, (patients and owners alike) are the ones who pick a simple and balanced program of treatment and dietary changes etc and get on with it. They then maintain the things which are working and keep the changes in diet etc permanent and get on with life, enjoying each other and not expecting any further problems. It was a rather long-winded reply but it was a good question and so I thought it was a good time to write it up fully based on my experience to date. I might just put it up on the web page as well for others. Thank you for your question. HERBAL TREATMENTS FOR DOGS | ARTICLES ON CANINE HEALTH | TESTIMONIALS AND STORIES NEWSLETTERS - SIGN UP | FREE ONLINE CONSULTATION | FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ROBERT MCDOWELL & THE TEAM © 2003 Herbal-DogKeeping.Com. All Rights Reserved. |