Today we're participating in the Give Cancer the Paw Blog Hop to help share news and information about cancer in pets. We've heard lots of great things about the Morris Animal Foundation and so when they contacted us about the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study, we were already familiar with it and happy to share the information. This is a guest post by Katie F. on behalf of Morris Animal Foundation. Visit morrisanimalfoundation.org/ to learn more about the animal health research that Morris Animal Foundation participates in.
12 million cats and dogs are diagnosed with cancer every year
Cancer affects one out of every three dogs
Half of all dogs diagnosed will die from cancer
But even with these grim statistics there's hope. Cancer is not a death sentence -- amazing advances in treatments can provide some pets with high quality of life for years to come.
So when we heard about the Give Cancer the Paw Blog Hop, which kicks off today, we wanted to participate to help share some of the information we gathered from our cancer experience, and how you can help.
Fundraise for cancer research
Just last weekend we participated in the Puppy Up! Atlanta walk to help raise funds and awareness for cancer research through the 2 Million Dogs organization. You can learn more about it and look for a walk in your area here.
Many of this year's walks have already taken place, but you can keep them on your radar for next year or start up a walk in your area.
Photo by ABJ Photography
We had a terrific time walking in the Puppy Up! walk with Rocco... who always has a terrific time!
You can join in the effort to raise $5,000 for the NCCF. For every "like" on the PetCareRX Facebook page, they'll donate 50 cents to the foundation.
Fuel the Love to Fuel the Cure with Zuke's
Today, Zuke's announced a new social media campaign titled "Fuel the Love to Fuel the Cure"to help support The Dog and Cat Cancer Fund (DCCFund), a non-profit organization dedicated to understanding, treating and preventing canine and feline cancer.
This campaign will invite and inspire Zuke’s fans to share photos and videos of their dogs in action and loving life. For every person who follows @ZukesPets on Instagram or Twitter and tags their action-packed photo or video with #FuelTheLove, Zuke’s will donate $5 to The Dog and Cat Cancer Fund up to $10,000.
Here are a few more resources to help with coping with cancer:
This quality of life scale helps pet caregivers determine the current state of their pet's day to day existence and can help guide future care
This article I wrote on dealing with pet loss includes additional resources and support group
We're joining the first Give Cancer the Paw Blog Hop, co-hosted by Peggy's Pet Place and Pooches Smooches. Check out the blogs in the linky below for more helpful information about pet cancer.
Even if you're not in Atlanta, you can join us in the fight against cancer. Here's how!
For Atlanta folks
In Atlanta, you can join the Puppy Up! walk to help raise funds for cancer research. The walk is organized by 2 Million Dogs, a national nonprofit organization that funds comparative oncology research benefiting both pets and people.
Date: November 3,
2013
Time: 11:30 AM - 4:00
PM
Location: Jim Miller
Park Marietta, GA
Preregistration by October 30 is $20 per person; free for kids 14 and under. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Registration the day of the walk is $25 per person. Participants may bring up to two dogs each. All dogs must be four months or older, up to date on vaccinations and must be on a 6-foot or shorter leash (no retractable leashes). Water for dogs and waste bags will be provided.
For folks outside of Atlanta area
Please consider making a donation on our fundraising page. Rocco and I will be walking in memory of Cosmo Havanese who lost his battle with lung cancer late last year. Remember, no donation is too small (or too large!). We are thankful for anything our pals can do to help in the fight against canine cancers.
The organization donated $80,000 for a comparative oncology
study of mammary tumors at Princeton University in collaboration with the
University of Pennsylvania. The project treats shelter dogs with mammary tumors
and then studies tissues to understand how breast cancer metastasizes in women.
More recently, 2 Million Dogs contributed $20,000 to fund a study on
osteosarcoma (bone cancer) at MIT and Harvard’s
Broad Institute, which is studying eleven breeds disproportionately affected by
osteosarcoma.
2 Million Dogs is also providing $80,000 to Animal Medical
Center of New York to study transitional cell carcinoma (TCC), the most common
type of bladder cancer veterinarians diagnose, and a difficult cancer to treat.
When Cosmo was diagnosed with cancer about four months ago, one of the hardest things to come to grips with was not knowing how the story would end. I did so much research and also read about other dogs with cancer, and so I knew what their stories were, from beginning to end. I was convinced our story would go on much longer than it did.
Last Sunday, Cosmo's four-month journey with cancer came to an end. The average survival time for a dog with his type of cancer -- a metastatic pulmonary adenocarcinoma -- is nine to 12 months. But Cosmo had responded so well to surgery and then to his chemo treatments that his future was looking pretty bright.
In mid-October, six weeks after surgery and after two of five scheduled chemo treatments, Cosmo looked like he felt great, zooming around and chasing squirrels, above.
I took Cosmo to do all the things he loves, like the lure course he got to run near the end of October, above.
By mid-November, Cosmo seemed a little off but blood work came back normal and chest x-rays showed no sign of lung tumors. Still, we already knew that some of the cancer had metastasized to his lymph nodes. And there was no telling if the Carboplatin chemo treatments were getting rid of all the cancer. He was cleared to travel to Chicago with me for Thanksgiving, and while he was just a bit subdued, he did fine with the trip and seemed to enjoy it.
Above, Cosmo enjoyed some reflection time at the Chicago lakefront.
Cosmo lived every day to the fullest up until his last week in mid-December when he declined rapidly. I had wondered how I'd know when the end was close, but Cosmo made it perfectly clear by his actions. He had trouble moving and the pain seemed to be too much. We tried every kind of treatment to help manage the pain but it kept getting worse. Cosmo let me know he had lived a full and wonderful life and now it was time to go. His body was failing him, and the Cosmo we all knew had already left us.
Cosmo went to the Rainbow Bridge on December 23, but his life was not about cancer. He was the life of the party -- a sporty, fluffy, handsome fellow who greeted everyone he met with kisses and wags before he asked for belly rubs. He attended every BlogPaws and BarkWorld Expo social media conference, traveled to Italy twice and all over the U.S.
He used social media to help raise money for animal rescue groups across the world. He loved to zoom, catch discs, play agility, run a lure course, herd sheep and he had started to learn nose works. He just liked to come along, whether it was shopping or to a restaurant.
He'll be missed greatly by both me and young pup Rocco, who came to live us with just four weeks before Cosmo passed on.
I had expected them to have a least a year together and I secretly hoped for a few more, but even in the short time together Cosmo seemed to have an impact on Rocco, teaching him all about toys and treats and how to enjoy a good chew.
And while I miss Cosmo so much, I have absolutely no regrets for the life we led together or the attempt to save him from cancer. I wouldn't do a thing differently, and in that I can find a lot of comfort.
I never really thought about how many folks both Cosmo and I met, through agility, social media and other outings we took. The support of everyone -- from the time Cosmo was diagnosed, up until the end -- has meant a great deal to me and I can't thank you all enough. I'm so grateful to have Rocco now, and what's ironic is that I started the process of getting another pup even before Cosmo was diagnosed with cancer.
These last few photos are some of the last action shots I took of Cosmo, when he was feeling great in October. He was always ready for a great adventure.
RIP sweet Cosmo Havanese. You may be gone, but you'll live in our hearts forever. ♥
It's Mischief Monday, but this weekend Cosmo spent his time preparing for his first chemo treatment since he had surgery to remove a lung tumor earlier this month.
So what does that mean to a dog?... Pretty much business as usual.
Exploring.
Posing for pictures.
Running for treats.
Chasing the vacuum!
Cosmo also came to my agility class with me (the one I teach) and he couldn't wait to get on the equipment. And of course there was lots of strolling and walking!
This afternoon we head to the vet for the first of Cosmo's five chemo treatments. He looks like he feels really good going into this, eating well as usual and zooming around.
We'll let you know how it goes.
Update after today's chemo treatment: We got home from the vet around 6 p.m., Cosmo zoomed around the backyard, ate dinner and we're going for a stroll. He looks great and he handled the chemo treatment like a champ. We go back next week for a checkup and then another chemo treatment is scheduled in three weeks. Paws and fingers crossed he continues to feel good.
Cosmo zooms around the backyard after chemo treatment #1
Today we're participating in the Give Cancer the Paw Blog Hop to help share news and information about cancer in pets.
