Cancer Awareness – Page 7 – for ingesting porpoises only

Sheba the Quad Dog and Tripawd Trouble

July 29, 2008 by betaman

I recently heard the most beautiful tribute songs about special needs dogs. These songs, about an incredible parapawlegic German Shepherd, were written and performed by an even more incredible dog lover.

Deborah Kazsimer has produced a video (featuring this music) designed to help owners better deal with the care and treatment of handicapped pets.

Titled, Caring for a Handicapped Pet: A Holistic Approach, the video includes a wide range of treatments including special nutrition diets, acupuncture, magnetic therapy, and infrared light. These holistic pet treatments were inspired by Kazsimer’s paralyzed German Shepherd dog Sheba.

Sheba suffered from the incurable spinal cord disease Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). The dog’s condition inspired Kazsimer to seek alternative medical solutions to her beloved pet’s distress. And the dog’s spirit inspired her to pen “Sheba You’re my Best Friend” and “Dear Mommy”.

Navigating the Pet Health Insurance Maze

July 26, 2008 by betaman

Nine years ago, when Mom and Dad took me to my first vet visit, Mom saw pet insurance brochures on the counter. She remembers thinking to herself; “Insurance, for dogs? You’ve gotta be kidding.” Being new to dog parenting, she didn’t give it a thought after that, for a while.

During the first several years of my life, my vet bills were never more than a couple hundred bucks a year. But then I got cancer.

And as they say, houndsight is 20/20. Mom now thinks differently about insurance. She feels that if health insurance is so important for her, and my Dad, why not for me? I’m a family member too!

Tripawds in the news again!

July 19, 2008 by betaman

Jerry is featured in the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper and on KHSU Alternative therapy radio program.

Only Natural Pet Opens First Retail Store!

July 12, 2008 by betaman

I’m so happy to hear that Only Natural Pet Store just opened their first retail store in Boulder, CO.

I’m glad because we’re spending the summer in Colorado and maybe I’ll get to visit this new super pet store that sells only natural dog and cat products. But I’m especially happy to hear this news, because society needs more stores like this. Hopefully it’s the first of many to come!

This news reminds me of how upset I get about the mass market crap pushed on unsuspecting pet owners by the leading pet store chains. One time we received a free gift from one of the major “pet marts” but I would have nothing to do with it. The list of ingredients on this “treat” reminded my people of the tainted pet food recall tragedy.

Three Cheers for Ugly Gus!!!

July 1, 2008 by betaman

Woof! Woof! Woof!

Here’s to Gus, the three-legged Chinese Crested for winning the 2008 Ugliest Dog Contest in Petaluma, CA during the recent Sonoma-Marin Fair!

He may not be a much to look at, with skin cancer, one eye and no hair, but with three legs how can you not love this little guy? Apparently his missing limb earned him a few extra points, but I think he looks better with three legs than any hairless dog I’ve ever seen … not that I’ve ever really seen any in person. Or in dog, rather

My Visit to the Animal Acupuncture Doctor In Colorado

June 16, 2008 by betaman

Many weeks ago, I hurt my knee somehow. Maybe I caught the frisbee one too many times, I don’t know. But now, my doctor thinks that I have a partial ACL tear, and she recommended acupuncture treatment to help me feel better. I know that I don’t like Tramadol, so I was willing to try anything, even getting pins stuck in my flesh.

Try Natural Flea Relief For Your Tripawd Dog

June 15, 2008 by betaman

When I first got cancer, my Mom kept putting Frontline on me, because we had ticks and fleas bad where we used to live. Even though she wondered if maybe that’s what caused my cancer in the first place, she was afraid that the diseases I could get from fleas would be far worse than the risk of getting sick from chemicals that are supposed to be “safe” for us.

But when my lung mets showed up, Mom had to know: Is flea medication safe? Can it make me sick?

She talked to my oncologist, a pet nutrition guru, about flea prevention. My oncologist believes that dogs with “compromised immune systems” shouldn’t have more chemicals in their bodies. Since my great diet keeps my body strong, she said that fleas shouldn’t be a problem for me. She recommended that we stick with natural flea solutions.

During our stay here in the Colorado high country, there are two natural flea killers that we are putting to the test this summer: Flee, Flea! All Natural Anti-Flea Spray for Dogs and Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth …

Some Hoppy News About Cancer Research

June 7, 2008 by betaman

Canine cancer research and news from Morris Animal Foundation.

Video Follow-up to My Cancer Care Checkup

May 28, 2008 by betaman

Here’s just a brief video follow-up to the post about my recent vet cancer checkup appointment.

This first video shows the positive results after two months on my metronomic protocol therapy for osteosarcoma lung metastasis …

Read on to see my video tour of the new Santa Fe Veterinary Cancer Care Clinic…

Buying Time on an Emotional Budget

May 19, 2008 by betaman

When it comes to cancer treatment, it’s not about what things cost. It’s about maximizing quality of life and preparing for the inevitable.

I have cancer.

I acknowledge the fact that it will take me someday. But this is by no means an excuse for complacency. And it is no reason to be sad. Au contraire, mon chien. It is a fact of life, and death. And it calls for celebration of every beautiful day.

As the alcoholics say, acknowledgement is the first step. But it is the most important one. Denial is not just a river in Egypt. It can wreck havoc on human emotions.

The recent discussion thread about when to say when in the Tripawd forums really got me thinking about how much people hurt when they lose their beloved furry friends.

It also showed me what great support people can have for others in need.