Today’s Listener Line call is from Gloria, whose dog has transitional cell carcinoma (a common form of bladder cancer). Piroxicam is a common drug used in bladder cancer because it reduces inflammation and has an anti-cancer effect. But is there something else Gloria can do to save her dog? Dr. Lauren Barrow weighs in with advice on how to think about bladder cancer, what other drugs might be helpful, and general advice about diet and supplements. Links Mentioned in Today’s Show: Transitional Ce...
Aug 21, 2023•15 min•Ep. 226
“Turmeric saved my dog” you’ll hear online. And it’s true that this dark yellow spice, used for thousands of years, has a host of benefits. But it’s really hard to get into the bloodstream, which means it has low bioavailability. Just how useful is it, really? Dr. Jessica Tartof, an integrative veterinarian, joins us to explain why so many of the blends she recommends to her own clients include curcumin … and why feeding your dog spice off the shelf might not be as effective as you hope. Visit u...
Aug 07, 2023•30 min•Ep. 225
Your dog has trillions of cells, each one containing DNA with about 19,000 genes. Every day, cells die and are replaced by new ones after copying their genetic material… and sometimes those copies include mistakes. Charlotte Hacker has a deep love of genetics, and explains the basics of how genetics work and how mutations can occur. Not all of these mistakes are harmful, but a mutation in the wrong spot or a buildup of multiple mutations can lead to cancer. Listen now to learn about proto-oncoge...
Jul 24, 2023•31 min•Ep. 224
Veterinarian Dr. Alex Ubell tells us all about the nutritional benefits of venison for dogs, as well as things to consider when deciding where to get venison for your dog. As well as being delicious, locally hunted venison is a sustainable food source. But hunting comes with its own special considerations for type of bullet used (no lead!), handling of raw meat, and making sure that the deer are healthy and don’t pose a risk to you or your dog. Listen in to learn why venison is a safe option for...
Jul 10, 2023•29 min•Ep. 223
Dr. Kristin Lester is a general practice veterinarian who also offers chemotherapy for her cancer patients. You heard right – any vet can do chemotherapy, not just oncologists. Not all “regular” vets offer chemo, but those that do have some special safety equipment and protocols to keep the clinic staff, you, and your dog all safe and healthy. Complicated and unusual cases still absolutely benefit from seeing an oncologist, but straightforward cancer cases may be able to be handled at your local...
Jun 26, 2023•53 min•Ep. 222
Billy called in to our Listener Line with a question about supplements for dog cancer. Integrative veterinarian Jessica Tartof explains that each dog will likely benefit from different supplements, but there are some ones that she uses frequently for her cancer patients. Some good starting points to consider are Chinese herbal blends, vitamins, and medicinal mushrooms. Talk to your vet to see if these might be right for your dog, and listen in for more advice and resources! Links Mentioned in To...
Jun 19, 2023•12 min•Ep. 221
This is Part 2 of our discussion of cannabis and CBD for dogs with Dr. Narda Robinson. In this episode Dr. Narda discusses how CBD can fit into a cancer treatment plan, the legal complications of cannabis in veterinary medicine, and some tips for choosing a product. Some things to look for when researching products are a Certificate of Analysis, how the product is processed, sustainability and environmental impact of the growing operation, and what your pet’s specific needs are. In her experienc...
Jun 12, 2023•37 min•Ep. 220
Dr. Narda Robinson has been involved with cannabis and CBD in dogs since Colorado State University first started looking into it. In this episode she talks about her first time going to a grower operation, why cannabinoids have an effect in the body, and the differences in how THC and CBD work. She also discusses some of the nuances of dosing, and the different situations where a cannabis product can be useful (and it’s not just cancer!). This is Part 1 of our long interview with Dr. Narda. Link...
Jun 05, 2023•42 min•Ep. 219
Cannabis is being studied more and more in both human and veterinary medicine, and if your dog has cancer, you have probably seen at least one person recommend CBD oil. But all of the terms can be very confusing and may sound the same. Knowing what each term means can help you and your veterinarian determine if CBD is appropriate for your dog and help you to choose a safe and effective product. Here are a few of the terms discussed in today’s show: Cannabis is a plant with many compounds reporte...
May 29, 2023•27 min•Ep. 218
Veterinarian Adrienne Anderson explains how ultrasound for dogs works, when it is used, and where you can get it done with your dog. This “stellar diagnostic” lets your vet see what is going on inside your dog’s abdomen and heart in real time, without requiring sedation or surgery. Many vet hospitals have their own basic ultrasound machine, or you can take your dog to a specialist to get a more thorough exam. Listen in for all of the details on dog ultrasounds, as well as how this technology can...
May 22, 2023•31 min•Ep. 217
We know that humans who endure chronic pain often also experience anxiety and depression. So what about our dogs? Vet Tech Specialist Tasha McNerney explains some of the behavioral changes you might see if your dog is experiencing chronic pain, as well as a variety of the different medications and therapies that can be used to help relieve or prevent that pain from occurring. And while we don’t know for sure yet, it is also possible that dogs who are constantly stressed out become more sensitive...
May 15, 2023•52 min•Ep. 216
Many dog lovers have had a dog they consider to be their “heart” dog – an extra special bond with an extra special dog. Veterinarians are no different! Dr. Adrienne Anderson was blessed with Ludo. Listen in to hear about how Ludo impacted her life, and how she got through the grief of losing him two years ago. Related Links: Pets are Family article How to Cope and Prepare for Your Dog’s Death podcast episode Dog Cancer True Tail: Dunbar podcast episode About Today’s Guest, Dr. Adrienne Anderson:...
May 08, 2023•9 min•Ep. 215
Dr. Susan Recker is a veterinarian with a passion for nutrition. In this episode, she recommends four foods that can benefit any dog with cancer and six things to avoid when choosing foods for your dog. The best foods for dog cancer are sardines, mushrooms, cruciferous veggies, and berries. Listen in to learn how these foods can benefit your dog, how much to feed, and how often to feed. Foods to avoid are foods cooked at high heat, artificial preservatives, rancid fats, artificial coloring, GMOs...
May 01, 2023•59 min•Ep. 214
Massage isn’t just about relaxation – it’s so much more. Dr. Narda Robinson is a doctor twice over, and has done massage therapy for both humans and dogs. She explains how massage is all about knowing the anatomy of the being you are working on and paying attention to what you feel with your hands and what your patient tells you. When is medical massage a good choice for dogs? It can directly benefit patients who are experiencing pain, trauma, anxiety, or even digestion issues. Chronic stress an...
Apr 24, 2023•54 min•Ep. 213
Plastic was a wonder material. It makes our lives easier, and can be produced synthetically without depleting natural resources like elephants or camphor trees. But some of the very qualities that make plastic amazing also make it potentially harmful. Dr. Charlotte Hacker, PhD is a wildlife biologist who researched the connection between plastic and cancer for an article on DogCancer.com. In this episode she talks about several of the harmful chemicals that can be in plastic or produced during t...
Apr 17, 2023•51 min•Ep. 212
Caller Debbie has gotten her dog with lymphoma through chemo, and he is in remission. But she has some questions after someone recommended that she put her dog on ivermectin as a follow-up to chemo. Oncologist Brooke Britton weighs in with the issues with the limited research on ivermectin and cancer, plus the very real risks of giving this drug for extended periods of time or at high doses. Related Links: What to Know About Lymphoma podcast episode Tanovea: The First FDA-Approved Dog Lymphoma T...
Apr 10, 2023•25 min•Ep. 211
Kim Peri is a Golden Retriever lover with a passion for philanthropy and paying it forward. Dr. Mike Lappin is a veterinarian with Goldens and determination to better the health of his breed. How did they meet? Because of Indy the Golden, and an Eagles concert. Listen in to hear what it is like to be involved in the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study as a dog lover and as a veterinarian, as well as some of the things that we have learned so far. The study is ongoing – originally it was going to end...
Apr 03, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 210
Mast cell tumors are fairly common in dogs. These tumors develop from mast cells, a type of immune cell that contains little packets or granules of histamine and other chemicals. Normally, these granules release in response to something like an insect bite. But when mast cells turn cancerous, the histamine release can quickly get out of control. This is called a degranulation event. Veterinary oncologist Brooke Britton joins us once again to explain why dogs get degranulation events, how to reco...
Mar 27, 2023•40 min•Ep. 209
A lump was first found in one of Lilli’s anal glands in early 2020, right as the world shut down due to the COVID pandemic. Despite many challenges and a few setbacks, her person John was determined to get Lilli the best care possible and to choose a treatment plan that felt right for Lilli. Listen in to hear how John navigated the difficulties of getting veterinary care in the UK during a worldwide pandemic, and how he found the perfect veterinary care team that was the right fit for both him a...
Mar 20, 2023•45 min•Ep. 208
Dog cancer is scary, but it’s manageable as long as you have information and hope. That’s what this podcast offers: hope, options, and trustworthy information so that you can make confident decisions you won’t regret later. Listen to leading veterinarians on the front lines of cancer care answer your questions. No time wasted on rambling episodes: these are short and cover one topic at a time. We’ve been podcasting about dog cancer since 2010. In hundreds of Dog Cancer Answers episodes you’ll fi...
Mar 17, 2023•4 min
If you live in Australia, New Zealand, or Texas, your dog might be eligible to join a clinical trial studying the drug monepantel. Monepantel was originally developed as a sheep dewormer, but a scientist in Australia discovered that it killed cancer cell lines in the lab. Now, monepantel is being studied as a treatment for B-cell lymphoma in dogs, cancer in humans, and motor neuron disease in humans. Dr. Kim Agnew, the principal investigator on the dog lymphoma study, explains how this drug work...
Mar 13, 2023•48 min•Ep. 207
As a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner, Tasha McNerney knows her way around pain detection and control. And she says pain control and prevention is so much more than just the pills that your vet gives you when you pick your dog up after surgery. Whether your dog is having a minor procedure to remove a small lump or a painful thoracotomy or amputation, pain control starts before the surgery. Some vets will send medications for you to give before coming in that help to calm your dog or provid...
Mar 06, 2023•49 min•Ep. 206
Dog prostate cancer can be missed because early symptoms look like simple UTIs, but when Renée Michael felt something was wrong with her beloved Roscoe, she didn’t wait. A full veterinary workup at Louisiana State University revealed prostate cancer. Over the next 21 months, Renée learned a ton about the treatment options from prostate cancer, the value of having both an oncologist and a holistic vet on the care team, and how she could support Roscoe’s wellbeing at home with diet and supplements...
Feb 27, 2023•57 min•Ep. 205
Nationwide Pet Insurance has released several white papers looking at trends in dog cancer diagnoses. In this episode, Dr. Jules Benson explains their paper “About the Size of It: Scaling Canine Cancer Risk.” First they looked at the likelihood of developing cancer based on the size of the dog, and found that it appears larger dogs are at higher risk. They then looked at some of the most common cancer types in dogs, and the trend remained consistent with one exception, mammary cancer. They also ...
Feb 20, 2023•59 min•Ep. 204
Although there are many romantic ideas about where acupuncture comes from and how it works, the truth is rooted in science and anatomy. Acupuncture is the practice of applying tiny needles or pressure to specific areas to stimulate nerves and tissue to get a desired effect. Dr. Narda Robinson is both a human doctor and a veterinarian, and she literally wrote the book on acupuncture points and what they do in the human body. In this episode she explains how and why acupuncture works, as well as t...
Feb 13, 2023•55 min•Ep. 203
The Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine is one of the few locations in the world studying histotripsy, also known as high-intensity focused ultrasound or HIFU. This non-invasive therapy uses powerful sound waves to, well, basically disintegrate tumors. It may sound crazy, but it’s a real thing, and there are even clinical trials in humans ongoing in Spain. Dr. Joanne Tuohy explains the method and the current studies that she is involved with. Current work is focused on osteosarcoma ...
Feb 06, 2023•50 min•Ep. 202
When Buddy was diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma, Laura and Richard were devastated. Even worse, he did very poorly after his first chemo treatment. With chemotherapy now off the table, they changed tactics and focused on general wellbeing and quality of life. A year and a half later, Buddy is still thriving! Listen in to hear the full story, along with a discussion of median survival times and how you can approach your dog’s cancer journey one step at a time. Chapters: 0:00 Start 5:10 Trouble with...
Jan 30, 2023•37 min•Ep. 201
Dr. Lauren Barrow is a veterinarian, dog lover, and mom to a child who had cancer. This gives her a unique perspective on the challenges of giving and receiving a cancer diagnosis, as well as the stress of making treatment decisions. Dog cancer has the extra challenge that most veterinary care has to be paid for up front, as even the few dogs that have pet health insurance are likely covered by plans that reimburse later. Even if you are strapped for cash, you have options. Take some time to pro...
Jan 23, 2023•38 min•Ep. 200
Tasha McNerney is a Veterinary Technician Specialist in anesthesia, and she’s sharing all the details on what your dog’s veterinary care team does to keep your dog safe, the things that can go wrong while under anesthesia, and what you can do to prepare your dog beforehand. One of her best tips for dog lovers feeling anxious about an anesthetic event? Talk to your dog’s veterinary team. Ask about what training and credentials your state requires for someone to do anesthesia, as well as how the s...
Jan 16, 2023•56 min•Ep. 199
Tesoro was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma in Feb. of 2017 when he was 6.5 years old. Diana and Tesoro’s cancer fight lasted two years and cost $60,000. It was a journey with ups and downs, struggles and victories. Their fight was filled with love, laughter, and tears. It was a journey which unfortunately many other dog owners will travel. What lessons did she learn? What advice can she give? Diana hopes that the story of Tesoro’s fight as a Cancer Warrior can help others. Listen in to hear the full...
Jan 09, 2023•54 min•Ep. 198
