We Are The Cure Blog | Canine Cancer Information

What about organizing your own dog walks? Right, so that sounds interesting? PDSA, UK’s leading veterinary charity can actually make that happen for you. They are organizing ‘Walkies’ throughout the month of September to raise funds for the treatment of sick and injured dogs.

To realize their dreams, PDSA is urging all dog lovers and owners to sponsor their own dog walks, no matter how big or small it is.

In case you are wondering how to organize the event, trust me PDSA is there to help you in every way. After you register at the PDSA Walkies Registration Page, they will send you an information pack comprising helpful advice and tips, posters, stickers, poop bags and certificates for walkers and all that you need to organize an event.

This is also a very innovative way of meeting vets, in case your pet is in need of one. The organization has published a report recently which says adult dogs need around 20 minutes to 2 hours of exercise a day. But in reality only 26% of dogs get less than even half an hour’s exercise a day. Worse still, 7% get no walks at all.

Lack of exercise coupled with a bad diet, can lead to obesity which can ultimately result in arthritis, diabetes and heart disease for our pawed friends, warns the report.
So this is a wonderful way to kick start your pet’s health regime that will go a long way to ensure his well being.

For more information you can log on to the PDSA Walkies page.

It’s once again that time of the year when you have to innovate cool ways to keep your pets in high spirits. For some of you I know this is a real challenge. But trust me, the recipe I am going to talk about will not only erase those wrinkles from your face, but will also give your friends a welcome relief from the summer heat. This recipe is very simple and lasts in the refrigerator indefinitely.

•    Cut 4 bananas in ¼
•    Take 3-4 teaspoons of peanut butter
•    Take enough water or broth to make a smoothie
•    Place all the items in a blender and mix well
•    Pour the mixture into ice cube trays or plastic cups sprayed with vegetable oil and refrigerate for 4 hours or more. Then serve chilled.

I am sure your pets would absolutely love it.

I came across a very exciting news post which spoke about the world’s largest dog wedding festival.

It’s actually the second year of the Fido’s festival. It would be held at the Salem County Fairgrounds in Woodstown, New Jersey on the August 29th at 2 pm. So, if you have any crazy plans of marrying your pet’s off, this is exactly the place to be in.

Register at Fidofestivalusa.com and upload your pet’s picture. In case you don’t find the right match for him or her online, you can take him to the fair and let him find his right match among the crowd of dogs. At the festival, complimentary lunch and marriage certificates will be given to all participants.

It’s going to be a three-day event packed with activities for dogs and their families. The theme for this year is “Tropical Pooch Paradise”. So, in keeping with the theme, there will be contests for dogs like Limbo competitions, Beach Comber Costume contests, and Surfer Races, to name a few.

You can shop to your heart’s content because there will be a lot of items for your dogs on display. Other activities would be dog rescues, dog diving, agility course, lure racing, fly ball demonstrations, training demonstrations, and presentations by pet experts. And trust me I know nothing of these. So, you have to actually be at the festival to check these out. Food and lodging for dog owners would be available at the spot.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your pet ready for all the action.

If you are at the festival, please comment on this blog so that I can invite you to write a guest blog post.

Is your dog fond of chewing? Has he ever damaged things in your home or personal items, like clothes, shoes and electronics? I am sure he has, because he loves to chew and it is his natural instinct.

But for some dog owners this is a real problem.

How often do we realize what our friends actually want? Since they cannot speak don’t you think it is entirely our responsibility to take care of all their needs? We have to understand that unless we give him his stuff to chew, he will be forced to satisfy his natural instincts by chewing the things around him and giving you those extra wrinkles. And trust me, he will find plenty of things that are pleasing for him to chew but not to you.

I know it is a difficult problem to handle, but there are a few things that can be kept in mind.

1.  Give your pet a good quality chew toy. Make sure he has enough toys so that he understands what he can chew and what he cannot.
2.  Rotate his toys from time to time so that he doesn’t get bored.
3.  Make sure there are no removable parts that can be easily broken off and eaten.
4.  Avoid toys that are small enough for your dog to swallow or too large for him to play with comfortably.
5.  When you first give your dog a new toy, supervise him to ensure that he plays with it properly.
6.  Choose toys that can be washed. Otherwise they might become breeding grounds for bacteria.

A good chew toy will satisfy your dog’s natural urge to chew, and also keep him chirpy and in good mood.

We all want love. We all want to give it and to receive it. With our pets, we find it unconditionally. And once they are gone, we feel that emptiness. And we suffer. We can want to have it back so badly, and that can hurt so very much. The finality of death is so very difficult for us. I wish it wasn’t, but it is a truth we all have to face.

I wonder if we could feel the ‘enough’, would it relieve our sorrow. If we could appreciate the year, five years, 16 years, we had with our beloved pets, is there a point where we can be grateful for that time more strongly than wanting more of it? If we could celebrate that joy, that love, that togetherness that we had as the be all and end all of everything?

It is a huge challenge, but what a great way to walk through life, feeling we have enough. To focus daily on being grateful for what we have, what we have had in our past. I want to take this on, joyful in the ‘enough’ of life. Grateful and appreciative more that needy and wanting.

It is very powerful. It is very beautiful. And it is what our angels want for us.

This blog is contributed by Alex in Welderland at www.custompeturns.com. His twitter contact is @CustomPetUrns

Organizations exist all across the country that train and place service dogs in homes where they are needed. These dogs go through a rigorous screening process and many, many months of training. It’s easy to find a home that needs one of these dogs. But what happens when it’s one of these dogs who is in need of a home? What happens to a dog that doesn’t make it through the screening process? That’s where people like Michael and Diane Levine come in.

Back in 1990, the Levines were living in Rhode Island and were looking for an addition to their family. They’d always loved dogs, but didn’t want to raise a puppy. That’s when they heard about Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a non-profit organization in New York that provides trained guide dogs for the visually impaired. They didn’t need a guide dog, but they were interested in adopting one of the program’s dropouts.

Dogs can be “released” from the program for many different reasons. According to the Guiding Eyes for the Blind website, the most common reason for a puppy to be released is that “the dog’s personality trait indicates a pup who seeks human support when under pressure.” Young adult dogs who have been through training may be released if they “show signs of worry in certain situations” or “appears to lack the fortitude for guide work.”

The Levines have welcomed three of these so-called “flunkies” into their home and couldn’t be happier. “I think raising a puppy is a lot of work,” says Levine. That’s why he thought this program was such a great idea. “They’re already trained,” he says, “They’re housebroken and they know basic commands.”

Taz was the first dog they adopted after being on a waiting list for about six months. Mandy was their next addition. She didn’t actually flunk out of the program, but rather, was released because of a medical condition. Although it was a minor problem, it is the policy of Guiding Eyes not to use guide dogs that have a health problem. A few years after they got Mandy, and after Taz had passed away, the Levines brought Jack into their home.

Levine says Jack flunked out of the program. “He was chasing squirrels or something like that,” he says with a grin. Levine says they would like to adopt another dog from a similar program eventually. The demand is so high for released dogs from Guiding Eyes that the anticipated wait for those who have already submitted applications is four years.

These released dogs make wonderful pets, and Mandy and Jack are proof of that. The adopted sister and brother are the best of friends, get to sleep on the bed and enjoy all the pleasures of being a dog. And Michael and Diane Levine get to enjoy all the pleasures that come with living with these two faithful companions. It is said that often the traits that make dogs unsuitable for “work” are the very traits that make them the perfect companion dogs.

Suzanne Jalot is a freelance writer and also the editor for Dog Living Magazine (www.doglivingmagazine.com). She can be contacted at editor@doglivingmagazine.com.

Our pets are among the most joyful things in our lives. They are family, they are friendship, they are unconditional love. We cherish them and spoil them and look forward to their heartfelt welcomes every time we see them. The last thing that we want to think about is when they will no longer be there to greet us, lick our faces, nuzzle their noses up against us.

After five years of talking to grieving pet owners every day, one of the most common things that I hear from people is “I wish that I would have prepared for this.” Just as devastating as losing any other family member, losing a pet can be paralyzing. I think this reference to “preparing” is both preparing emotionally, and logistically, i.e., what do you want to do with the body? One dear client of mine took a leave of absence from work and spent the last year of her dog’s life at home with her, not wanting to miss a moment of her last days. But never did she think of preparing for what she would do with her loved one’s (Coco) remains after she passed. Once Coco was gone, she realized that she didn’t believe in cremation and wanted to bury her dear pup but had no idea what kind of box or container to bury her in. She was so distraught over the loss that she couldn’t think clearly at all and wished that she had made all of these decisions before the dreaded time came – when she was able to think clearly.

While it is difficult, not fun and absolutely dreadful to think about, preparing for the loss of your animal companion(s) can prove to be the best thing that you ever do for yourself. You’ll thank yourself later because all of these difficult decisions will already be made and the logistics and motions that you have to go through will be just that – logistics and motions. You won’t be bogged down in a lot of difficult decisions that are made so much harder by your broken heart.

Decisions to give some thought to now:

1. Cremation or burial? This is a VERY personal choice. Do you believe in cremation? It’s a good question to make a decision about ahead of time.

2. If burial is the right choice for you, choose a pet cemetery now, find out the pricing and availability of plots.

3. What type of grave marker do you want to use

4. Do you want to have a ceremony? Large or small? Indoors or out?

5. Do you want to put anything else in the grave with your pet, i.e., toys, photos, pillow, blanket, a memento of yourself, etc?

On a bit of a lighter note you might want to consider making a list of all of the fun and indulgent things that you’re going to do with your furry friend in his or her last days. Now this is only useful if your pet is sick and you know the end is coming. Unfortunately, our friends sometimes suffer unexpected accidents that we don’t see coming, but if you know the end is near, spoil your pet rotten in their last days with you. Let them sleep on furniture they’re not supposed to, let them indulge in their treats (if it won’t harm them or cause them to be uncomfortable), take them for lots of car rides if they love that, take lots of walks and play all of those silly games that make them so happy.

Make every day meaningful for both you and your pet. Unfortunately they’re not with us forever, so we need to savor all of the love and friendship that they give us so generously.

Colleen Mihelich is the Founder of Peternity.com, a website dedicated to supporting the grieving pet owner. She is an expert author on the subject of Pet Loss. You can find her on her blog, Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Post a free memorial to your pet on Peternity.com

Did you ever think of adopting a senior dog as a form of recycling? It sure is, and it can help everyone involved!  If you bring a senior dog into your life through adoption, you help shelters by cutting down on the senior dog population that will, in many cases, be euthanized more quickly than younger dogs or puppies..  You help a senior dog get a new lease on life.  Best of all, you get a loving and grateful companion.

So why do so many people pick puppies? Puppies are cute, no matter what breed or size or color, and in most cases they get adopted quickly and easily.  Puppies are cute for a reason, so we put up with their antics and lack of brains until they become complete dogs.  Why not get the full package immediately?

Often, people are afraid to adopt an older dog because of the cost.  People assume that an older dog will automatically have health problems that will have to be dealt with by a vet and that means money out of pocket.  In reality, when you adopt a young puppy, you are putting money out for him or her as well.  There are shots, shots again, spaying and neutering, and yearly checkups.  Let’s not forget the ruined shoes, gallons of pet stain remover, and new furniture.

Another deterrent in adopting a senior dog is the dog’s history.  The fear of the unknown, it could be called.  No one wants to find out that the dog they adopted endured physical or mental abuse and now snaps at and cowers from tall men or women with glasses, or who knows what.   Granted, dogs can’t tell you what their stories are, but nothing is insurmountable.  Patience, training, and plain old-fashioned love can take care of lots of issues with dogs.  Plus, no one can assure you of your new puppy’s future either…unfortunately.

There are major benefits to adopting older dogs.

Older dogs tend to have calmer temperaments than their younger counterparts. Let’s face it, puppies are like kids….they have boundless amount of energy and go from 0 to 100 in mere seconds.  If you aren’t up to the challenge of a young dog, then an older dog is definitely for you!  While older dogs still need exercise, they love a long nap and a good chin scratch.

With an older dog, what you see is what you get. There are occasions when puppies grow up to look nothing like what anyone thought they were supposed to look like.  A puppy that looks like it’s going to stay small may grow up to be over 100 pounds! With a senior dog, you already know what you’ve got.

Many older dogs have already lived in a house environment and are housebroken. What a bonus…no housebreaking!  That also means no chewed up shoes, furniture or other important things.  Older dogs are long past the teething stage.

Senior dogs will let you get a good night’s sleep. Older dogs settle into a routine easily, and that includes bathroom visits and bedtimes.  They are accustomed to human schedules and don’t need feeding, comforting, or potty breaks at 2 a.m.  Their bladders are bigger too!

Older dogs listen better (hopefully) and mind better. Older dogs are more mellow and learn more easily.  If they’ve had any kind of human interaction, that means they have had some training, whether it be on purpose or even by accident.  Older dogs just “get it..”

So why not give a senior dog a great home for the twilight years of his life?  You will reap much more than you sow in love, gratitude and better health than you can imagine.  Your time with your senior dog may be shorter than with a puppy, but in many instances you have given an older dog a second chance at a loving, happy family and home.  Adopting a senior dog truly is the purest form of recycling!

“Old dogs, like old shoes, are comfortable - they may be a bit out of shape and worn around the edges, but they fit so well.” –Bonnie Wilcox, “Old Dogs, Old Friends”

Thanks to Roberta Beach, Silverwalk Hounds Dog Sanctuary, for her help with this article.  www.silverwalk.petfinder.com

submitted by Stacy L. Busch
www.buschpetproducts.com

According to Dr. Michael W. Fox’s 2007 book, Dog Body, Dog Mind, dogs and other animals posses a sensitivity to electromagnetic and geomagnetic fields. This allows for an internal compass and clock that allow animals to use the sun, moon and stars to have a sense of time in relation to the position of objects in space. In addition, dogs posses iron salt deposits in their brains (as do humans!) that can act as a magnetic compass. This accounts for a dog’s ability to preform ‘psychic’ acts in relation to finding a lost companion or finding ones way home over many miles, even in unknown environments.

But, what about the many accounts of dogs who predict emotional or health related events across time and space?

Accounts are commonplace in which dogs howl or having strong physical and vocal reactions to seemingly nothing, only for human companions to later find out that at the very moment their pet dog was howling at ‘nothing’, that a beloved family member in a distant place had passed on or sustained a serious injury.

Dr. Fox explains this psychic phenomenon by invoking Albert Einstein’s theory of a unified field, in which all things are interconnected and interdependant. Einstein failed to express this theory mathematically, however, Fox argues that the existence of this field is demonstrated by modern sciences such as ecology and quantum mechanics (Fox, 91).

Fox continues to assert that this interconnectedness, as often described in spiritual doctrines, connects every living being to one another as we are all psychophysically connected to the bodies in space and everything that ‘is’ via our senses and emotions. Given that we are emotional beings, it would be natural to assume that a companion animal forms a connection to his pack members (human and animal) and that connection can form a point in the space-time continuum, allowing him to re-orient himself toward the emotional field of his family (Fox, 91).

Fox refers to this phenomenon as the ‘empathosphere,’ to which the animal kingdom is still connected but we humans have been removed in the plight of Western, industrialized, contemporary life. The empathosphere is based on the notion that when animals feel an emotional connection, they can use the unified field of interconnectivity to “‘feel-see’ across time and space and sometimes sense another’s activities and emotional state,” (Fox, 92).

This was a guest blog written by Hilary Sloan Canine Aficionado www.caninebark.com

It has been recorded that dogs can sense when an earthquake or tsunami is coming. Heightened sensitivity to changes in barometric pressure, tremors and other animals may allow them to ‘predict’ a future event, offering a scientific explanation for this particular type of event.

But what about those dogs that save lives? Service dogs are utilized for their ability to predict epileptic seizures or low blood sugar in diabetics, alerting their companion in advance to avert an potentially life threatening episode. It’s not just service dogs who preform these phenomenal acts; accounts of dogs with no training alerting their companions before life threatening attacks are common. How is this possible?

There have been accounts of dogs predicting heart attacks and perhaps most interestingly, cancers. Perhaps the explanation for this behavior lies in our canine companion’s acute sensitivity to changes in odors or changes in behavior that are missed by humans. Rather then being ‘psychic,’ perhaps in addition to science, our dogs are so in tune with that from which we are blocked, they truly can assist us in connecting to that which we are removed from, due to the convoluted structures of modern life.

New studies do conclude that dogs can ’sniff’ out cancer. A major study on this topic was conducted by the Pine Street Foundation, a research organization in San Anselmo, California and more studies utilizing canines to detect cancer are underway.

As dogs can have the ability to smell chemical traces in the range of parts per trillion, dogs are able to discern the breath of lung and breast cancer patients from that of healthy people. Cancer cells emit different metabolic waste from normal cells and these particles can be detected by dogs, even in very early stages of the disease. Previous studies have confirmed the ability of trained dogs to detect skin-cancer melanomas by sniffing skin lesions. It is hoped that dogs will also be able to detect prostate and other cancers by sniffing urine samples. Early detection is vital to a good prognosis for cancer patients and it may be the super-sniffers of dogs that are able to detect disease before any human-made screening methods.

Accounts of untrained house pets repeatedly sniffing or pawing at an area on a family members body are common, only for the human to later find out they have a cancer in the very region that the dog was so focused on. Clearly, the science behind the dog’s abilities are tapping into the natural capabilities of the dog.

This was a guest blog written by Hilary Sloan Canine Aficionado www.caninebark.com