Having a Dog With Cancer

Animals are awesome. They have the amazing ability to feel discomfort, yet still act as if nothing is wrong. I mean, there are dogs hobbling around on 3 legs, acting as if it's a perfectly normal thing. People on the other hand, whine & fuss, complain & evoke sympathy, when we are in pain, sick with the flu, or just don't "feel right". When we're not feeling well, most people know it.....unless we have the physical stamina of an animal, & can hide our discomfort well.

My dog has cancer. Leukemia, to be exact. I hate her diagnosis. I hate the disease that is creating havoc in her little body. Had we not had her thyroid checked because she was so overweight despite being on a diet, her cancer might not have been discovered until it was too late to try to save her. The type of cancer she has (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, or CLL for short), is usually discovered by accident, when a dog is being tested for something else. Such was Maggie's case. 

Poor little girl has been lugging around a football-sized tummy around in her Dachshund-Papillon body. She is low enough to the ground as it is, but when she sits down, her belly rests on the floor. So many times, people have remarked to my husband or me, that our dog is sure fat. Not only is that a rude thing to say, besides the fact that they are stating the obvious, but it implies that we are somehow neglecting our dog's health & well-being. It's an insult. But, I have to remember that when it comes to animals, people are more likely to say things to or about an animal, that they would never say to a human being. I guess they figure that the animal doesn't understand what is being said, & therefore won't have its feelings hurt. 

Maggie.....and her little Papillon mix ears

But enough of that nonsense. Rather than dwelling on that, I'd like to encourage all those who have a pet, to do what they can to make sure their pet gets regular check-ups, obtain pet insurance, or at least set money aside each month for unexpected health issues for their pet. When we adopted Maggie from the shelter, we were in a better place financially than we are right now. Her cancer diagnosis caught us off guard, & thankfully, there are organizations out there which help families pay for vet expenses when pet owners can't afford to.  Just a few days ago, someone brought their dog into the animal hospital while I was there, & it had been attacked by a coyote. One never knows when the unforseen emergency can happen. It's good to have a plan in place in case it does. 

Maggie was sitting in an animal shelter for 5 months, before we adopted her. The shelter was close to considering her as "unadoptable" because she had been there so long, & it didn't look as if anyone would adopt her. Most of us know what THAT means. It means she was close to being euthanized. As a last-ditch effort to find her a home, the shelter was giving her away for free (no adoption fee). We chose Maggie, not for her price, but for her disposition. She was so friendly, coming up to the front of the cage for attention, & when the other dog in the cage with her aggressively pushed her out of the way, we knew that Maggie was the dog for us (although I do feel bad for the other dog because it was just feeling desperate...I really hope it found a good home). We had already adopted our cat Ella from a shelter two years before, & we wanted a dog with a gentle temperament, that would get along with our cat. 

Our sweet Ella

Maggie came to us with lots of issues. She almost died that first night of having her home, because she had developed a severe case of kennel cough, complicated by the anesthesia & spaying surgery that the shelter required before we could take her home. Once she got better, & we left her home alone with our cat Ella those first couple of weeks, she destroyed about 3 floor rugs due to her having severe separation anxiety. Not only that, but Maggie did not know how to behave like a dog. She had apparently never played with a human before, & I had to teach her. She was estimated to be between 5-7 years old, yet she was not housebroken. She didn't bark, she didn't know how to walk on a leash, & she was not sociable with other dogs. It took 3 weeks of patient training, for her to feel safe & at home & to behave like other dogs. Now, everyone who meets her loves her. What's not to love??? I mean, just LOOK at that sweet little face!!! 

Maggie

Maggie had weight issues from the beginning, & we had tried various types of dog food, to try to help her lose weight, all to no avail. When despite diet & exercise, she had not lost weight, was moving extremely slowly, & was having increased breathing & wheezing issues (we do playfully joke about her little pig snort, but it really is no laughing matter when you think about why she does it) we decided to have her thyroid checked, as thyroid issues can cause weight gain. We were not at all prepared for the vet's diagnosis of leukemia (CLL). As the vet told me Maggie's diagnosis, he said "I'm very worried about Maggie". That's not something one wants to hear about their beloved pet who is loved more like a child than a pet. He urged us to have her examined by a veterinary oncologist right away.

The oncologist was extremely caring, thorough, compassionate, & she took the time to explain everything & to make sure all treatment options were discussed, as well as to address our concerns over how we were going to pay for Maggie's treatment. You see, our money tree is barren. It has no fruit. While many pet owners may resort to euthanasia instead of expensive treatment, I wonder how many of them realize that there are organizations out there which are dedicated to helping cover the cost of veterinary treatment so that animals don't have to be euthanized. I mean, it's not widely known. I only found out about it because I asked the clinic if they would work with us, & they told me about this option. Most veterinary clinics require payment at the time of service. I can understand that, because treatment is expensive, & when payment arrangements are made, & the pet is treated, often times, pet owners skip out on paying the bill. Clinics have to ensure that they will be paid so that they can continue to provide services to animals in need.

So where are we on this new road with our dog? My teenage daughter doesn't want to think about Maggie's diagnosis, nor hear it discussed in conversations.   My son is married & living in another state. He & his wife's dog recently died, so I try to keep any mention of Maggie's situation to a minimum, so that I don't add to their grief. My husband keeps telling me that Maggie's not sick, even though he knows better, & that's okay. Me? Well, I know what we're dealing with, & I'm focused on doing what has to be done for her, including administering her medication & making sure she is doing okay in terms of weight & exercise. Our cat Ella is jealous because she knows we are treating Maggie differently, & she is meowing more & acting a bit stressed. We are trying to give Ella more attention too, since she doesn't understand that Maggie is sick.

Right now though, Maggie is doing okay. She's not in apparent pain, although the vet says she likely feels bloated because of the pressure of her enlarged spleen on the rest of her organs. Had we not started treatment though, Maggie would have got very sick & eventually died. We didn't want that to happen, if it could be avoided. Hopefully the chemotherapy & steroids will reduce the size of her spleen with time, as well as kill off most of the cancer cells so that she can live out the rest of her life in relative comfort. 

We are still awaiting financial assistance approval for her continued treatment, which we are hoping will include a sonogram & x-ray, to determine the extent of the cancer, & whether or not she needs to have her bone marrow tested to see if it's in her marrow. Knowing that will determine how aggressive we need to be in order to fight this cancer. There is no cure for CLL, but there is a good prognosis for a decent quality of life for the remainder of a dog's life, which can be from 1-3 years from the time of treatment, depending upon how far along the cancer was when the dog was diagnosed. A dog can go into remission & then the cancer will return. It's one of those things that can't be avoided, but it can be postponed. 

So why do we make such an effort for our dog & spend so much money on her (we've already spent quite a lot)? Because Maggie had no choice when she moved into our home & became a part of our family. She had no control over her circumstances, where she lived, & what her family's financial situation would be. She was & is at the mercy of humans. She is a member of our family, whom WE chose to bring into our home & to care for. We owe it to her (since she had no say in the matter), to do our best not to let her down. 

I don't fault those who have put their own pets to sleep rather than pay for expensive treatment for whatever their pet needed. I could never begin to know how heart-wrenching a decision it must be for those who have had to make such an agonizing choice for their pet. But for those who see their pet as "just an animal", & as someone of little worth, then when they make such a decision to put money before the well-being of their pet, well, that makes me incredibly sad. I wonder why such people even have a pet in the first place. 

I'm ready to eat!!!

Animals have feelings. They get scared, just like we do. Just sit in a veterinarian's waiting room & look at how nervous the dogs & cats are, & you'll see proof of that. Leave your pet home alone for several hours, & you'll discover by their reaction when you return, that they do indeed experience emotions. They love us - even when we may not always show them that we love them. They don't ask for much. If we can part with money for a new car, or new clothes, or can spend $5 a day on a Starbucks coffee, surely we can set aside time, effort & money on behalf of our pets. They are counting on us. We can't let them down.

As for how Maggie will fare through all of this? It remains to be seen. She is currently sluggish when she's walking, yet somehow finds abundant energy to eat (thank you Prednisone steroid for that little side effect). We have had to put the cat food up high where only our cat can get to it, because she steals our cat's food every chance she gets. The medication also makes her very thirsty, & she's had accidents in the house. Well, I think they are more like "on purposes" because she makes a point to go on our only rug instead of the hardwood flooring which is much easier to clean. We have to really watch her weight. She will have a follow-up appointment with her oncologist soon, to see how the chemotherapy is working for her. 

For now, we carry her up & down the stairs, since it's difficult for her to navigate stairs. We're loving her lots, & snuggling with her more. We continue to make sure she gets adequate exercise, because it's important. Besides, she would be devastated if she was deprived of the chance to mark every square foot of grass outside........which reminds me - when a dog is on chemotherapy, one has to water down the area where the dog did their business, since their urine contains traces of the medication which could be harmful to other dogs who may want to lick the area before marking it. Is Maggie worth all this effort? You BET she is!!! Here's to YOU Maggie!! I love you little girl!!

Maggie does love her chew bones,
although she has healthier treats these days