Understanding Cat Behavior May Be Easier Than You Think

              

                       When two veterinarians come together in marriage, there will never be a shortage of pets.  Such is the case at Welshire Farm, refuge for two working Border Collies, a spoiled Pembroke Welsh Corgi (my husband’s description), two “special needs” house cats, a slew of cherished barn cats, and now “Jobey,” a little male, tuxedo kitten with a big attitude.
 

                        Many are the times my husband has been sent on farm calls, only to return with a kitten in his coveralls.  I always know what has transpired when I hear the sound of his heavy feet thundering in the back door, followed by the slam of a cage gait as a tiny voice meows loudly in protest. With a roll of my eyes, I mutter to myself “say it isn’t so, Joe,” but I know it is.
 

                        I must say it has been a while since we have had a really young kitten in our household, but Jobey has reminded me of the importance of recognizing and acknowledging feline behaviors, good and bad.  Many negative cat behaviors are rooted in medical problems that only need identified and addressed to put an end to them.  More importantly, most bad feline behaviors are manifestations of undiagnosed pain or discomfort that the cat is experiencing.

 

                        The number one behavioral reason that cats lose their happy homes is inappropriate eliminations outside the litter pan. There’s no denying that this is an unacceptable behavior.  However, cats that urinate inappropriately are often feeling intense pain associated with inflammation, hemorrhage, crystals, or stones anywhere in their urinary tracts.

 

                       Geriatric cats are most likely to develop kidney stones or bacterial urinary tract infections secondary to kidney failure, while cats of any age living in crowded or perceived stressful conditions are likely to have FIC or Feline Interstitial Cystitis. FIC is defined as hemorrhage and inflammation of the urinary bladder with no known cause. Your veterinarian will conduct urine and blood tests, and use x-rays or ultrasound to diagnose the cause of and help you put a stop to your cat’s urinary mistakes.
 

                        Cats that defecate outside their litter pans may also be experiencing perceived environmental stress, but did you know that this behavior could also signify Inflammatory Bowel Disorder (IBD), food intolerance, or hyperthyroidism (excess thyroid hormone production)? Cats with IBD are no doubt uncomfortable and this may be the only way they can communicate just how lousy they feel, so please tell your veterinarian about this bad habit.

 

                        If your cat is normally a mellow fellow and suddenly becomes irritable and aggressive toward you or other pets in your home, you should consider this behavioral change a cry for help.  Cat aggression is often misunderstood, but it can actually be a manifestation of a painful disease like osteoarthritis, feline hyperesthesia, hyperthyroidism, or hypertension.  Even the intense hunger associate with diabetes can make your loving cat somewhat cranky.

 

                        Cats that have joint pain will be less likely to seek favorite high perches as they hover over heating vents or close to warm appliances.  Ask your veterinarian about a pain medication trial and glucosamine chondroitin supplementation, as they may make a significant improvement in your cat’s joint discomfort and behavior.

 

                        Feline hyperesthesia is defined as “sensitivity to touch” that provokes cats to sometimes hurt the ones they love most.  Cats with this syndrome will appear as though their skin is rolling as they twitch, then attack, when touched even very lightly during routine petting.  This syndrome is vaguely understood and the cause is unknown.  Some cats are so bothered by this disease that they will self-mutilate, spin or vocalize.  Your veterinarian may prescribe anti-anxiety or seizure medications after ruling out other causes for your cat’s “crawling skin.”

 

                        Like humans, cats can also suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure) associated with hyperthyroidism, diabetes, kidney, or heart disease. Left untreated, elevated blood pressure can cause damage to the retinas, brain, and blood vessels resulting in aggression, blindness, numbness, seizures, cognitive problems, and strokes. Cats can have their blood pressure measured and appropriate medications will be prescribed, but the true treatment may be as simple as identifying and treating an underlying metabolic disease such as hyperthyroidism or diabetes. Say “yes” to your veterinarian’s recommendation to do routine blood pressure screening for your pet to avoid this silent killer.

 

                        When your cat cries out to you for help through changes in behavior, please don’t ignore the call to action. See your veterinarian to unveil the source of your cat’s discomfort.

 

            Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones 

Peanut and Me

                        Saturday was a memorable day for Peanut and me.  She died, and I came to know what an important life she was.

                        Whether you believe in Adam and Eve, or the Cro-Magnon, animals have played an integral role in all of our lives since they were first domesticated thousands of years ago.  They have provided us with food, clothing and shelter, and most importantly, companionship and love.  Peanut was one of those animals.

                        We had only known Peanut for a few months. She was a very old Chihuahua who came to us exhibiting symptoms of advanced congestive heart failure.  At times she would become so congested with fluid in her airways, she would collapse from lack of oxygen.  This obviously created a great deal of anxiety for her family, but they loved her dearly and would do anything to make her more comfortable.

                        With medication and her family’s devoted care, Peanut won many battles against this disease, but it ultimately was a war that could not be won, and she surrendered her life on that Saturday afternoon, surrounded by her loved ones.

                        For those who have never known a Chihuahua, they are great dogs.  Chihuahuas are fiercely loyal and protective of their family and property.  Believe me, if Chihuahuas weighed eighty pounds, you never would have heard of Pitbulls.  Despite their small size, they give a lot of love.  And Peanut did.

                        Euthanasia has always been hard for me.  Not the act itself, or the reason for doing it, but the fact that I can’t help but think about all of the great dogs from my past whenever we perform one.  It makes me think about the Border Collies-the three Chrissies, and Jake, Jack and Bandi, and Minnie, the Chihuahua.  It gets really rough sometimes; it’s hard not to get emotionally sucked in. Impossible in some cases.  And so it was with Peanut.

                        As we prepared Peanut for the injection, her owner, Mrs. C., told us there was something we didn’t know about Peanut and her family.  Her husband died years ago when her two children were very young.  The kids had actually known Peanut longer than they did their dad.  Peanut had always been there for them, through good times and bad.  Now, they were all here for her, supporting Peanut in the final moments of her life.

                        Of course it is always sad when pets die, but that sadness is tempered somewhat when they die loved.  And Peanut was loved.

                        As Peanut’s life was leaving her, Mrs. C. said that she was now going to heaven to be with her dad.  With a lot of hard swallows and lip-biting, we helped her on her journey.

                        A few weeks ago, a wise and very religious lady asked me if I thought dogs went to heaven.  I remember how easy it was to confidently state, “I don’t think it would be much of a heaven without them.”  She seemed pleased by my answer and I think agreed.  I didn’t have a problem with

Peanut being in heaven with her dad. I didn’t know where else she would be.

                        We wrapped Peanut’s body in her blanket, and as the family started to leave the room, Mrs. C. paused and said, “You won’t be seeing me anymore.  I don’t ever want to go through this again.”

                        This is a common response we hear at this very difficult time, and I don’t blame people a bit for feeling this way.  It hurts to lose a pet, and the stronger the love for the pet, the more intense the pain.  But time does heal all wounds, even the really deep ones.

                        As her family walked down the hall, I slunk back into the room for a few minutes, alone with my old friends.

                        I got my first Border Collie, Chrissy, when I was six years old, and her great-granddaughter, Chrissy III, died when I was forty.  Chrissy I had a good life and died an old dog.  Sadly, her granddaughter, Chrissy II, and her puppies, Jake and Chrissy III, did not.  Their deaths were hard.  Chrissy II was a link to my parents.  Chrissy III was a link to virtually my entire life.

                        I really did feel like a part of my life was taken with each passing.  Our Welsh Corgi, Bunny, and Bandi, an old Border Collie we adopted, helped bring back some of that life, but there was still a definite void.

                        Then I met Robbie.  She was four weeks old and had come to our office with the rest of her family to be dewormed.  My wife actually went to her house two weeks earlier to deworm the litter for the first time.  She told me about the puppies, and how pretty some of them were marked.  But she also said there was a funny-looking puppy with freckles all over her face and legs.  I kind of hoped we wouldn’t get that one.

                        I wanted a female and had a choice of two.  I picked up the “pretty” puppy first, but she tried to pull away from me.  I set her down and grabbed the freckled pup.  I held her up to my face and she planted a big lick on my nose.  It was “love at first lick.”  

                        Although nearly three years had gone by since the death of Chrissy III, suddenly everything seemed right in the world.  I know eventually the day will come when I will be devastated once again.  But I would trade a few bad days for a few good years anytime.  The heart is a tough organ.  It can heal.  Sometimes all it takes is one lick.

                        The human-animal bond is a powerful force.  These are not just dumb animals.  They are our companions, our friends, our lives.  They deserve the best we can give them-the best nutrition, the best and most humane treatment, and the best veterinary care.  Make your veterinarian part of this bond.  Your veterinarian can be there through every stage of your pet’s life, even the final one.

                        Sure, there are some bad dogs, but most dogs are pretty good “people,” maybe even the best of us.  It’s okay to be sad and cry when you lose them, and its okay to cry when you remember them.  It means that you’ve had a great bond.

                        Oh, you’ll see us again, Mrs. C.  You’ll have to.  You have too much love left to give…and receive.  We’ll be waiting for you.

Author:  Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of pandpstock001 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Does Your Pet Have Any Lumps or Bumps?

                        Over time with more research and education, veterinarians and pet owners have become better at caring for pets. As a result, our four–legged family members are living longer.  However, as pet longevity increases, so does a pet’s risk for cancer.       With this in mind, I thought I would review the tumors veterinarians diagnose most frequently in pets of any age, and on a daily basis.

            

                       Let’s begin with skin cancers since skin is the largest organ of the body and easy to investigate.  The most common skin tumor has to be the sebaceous adenoma, a benign (good) growth originating from the skin’s oil or “sebaceous glands.”  These tumors typically are small (1/4 to ½ inch), raised, pink, and bumpy.  Many pet owners refer to them as “warts” although they are not warts at all.   

                        Sebaceous adenomas, more likely to occur on small dogs, will grow anywhere on the body.  Because they are raised and irregular, they occasionally get abraded during scratching or grooming, then begin to ulcerate and bleed.  I usually recommend surgical removal, which is curative, if these tumors are bothersome to the patient, unsightly, or in bad locations (e.g. on the feet where the pet may lick constantly, or on eyelids and earflaps). 

                        Similar to sebaceous adenomas, sebaceous “cysts” are the result of plugged oil glands that allow sebum, the skin’s oil, to accumulate in a pocket in the skin. Since these cysts are within the skin, they will be only slightly raised and feel smooth and firm. Sebaceous cysts may get over-filled and inflamed, and sometimes even infected and painful. At this point, the cyst may rupture and drain, and antibiotics may be necessary.  Surgical removal is also curative for sebaceous cysts.

                        Lipomas, or benign fatty tumors under the superficial skin layer, are extremely common. These growths are abnormal, well-defined, round, clumps of fat that may be singular or multiple.  They occur anywhere on the body with the majority growing on the chest or abdominal areas in dogs.  Lipomas are readily diagnosed with a simple needle aspirate (biopsy) by your veterinarian.  This tumor is benign, but it may also get very large in its location.  I do not recommend “watching” lipomas grow, because grow they will…the largest lipoma I have seen was the size of a volley ball.

                        Histiocytoma (HCT) is the name given to a benign skin tumor most commonly diagnosed in young dogs, even and including puppies.  HCT’s tend to appear as flat, raised, round, plaque-like, ulcerated growths on the skin.   This is one tumor type that may actually regress and disappear without treatment.  Because of this phenomenon, your veterinarian may give this tumor an observation period before recommending surgical removal.

                         In humans, melanoma is considered a dreaded malignancy, but for pets, this skin tumor is usually benign.  Because melanomas in pets are typically pigmented black, they may be readily diagnosed with a needle aspirate. Once again, surgical removal of skin melanomas is curative.  However, melanomas occurring in and around pets’ mouths are usually malignant and require aggressive surgery and additional therapies.

                        Veterinarians dread diagnosing yet another class of tumors called mast cell tumors (MCT).  This tumor class is graded 1 to 3 on microscopic examination based on its malignancy potential.  Surgical removal with wide and deep margins is recommended for MCT’s.  Depending on biopsy description and the grade given to each MCT, further surgery and/or chemotherapy may be recommended.  MCT’s are “great foolers” and can have a variety of appearances varying from very small, smooth and innocent to large, ulcerated and angry.

                        Another kind of tumor diagnosed frequently by veterinarians is the soft tissue sarcoma (STS) group.  There are several tumors, including hemangiopericytomas and fibrosarcomas, that make up this group of malignant tumors originating from cells under the skin.  STS cancers are malignant as they are extremely difficult to completely remove with surgery, in spite of what appear to be well-defined tumor margins. As a result, additional therapy beyond surgical removal is often recommended for this tumor class. 

                        A pet that presents with enlargement of multiple, external lymph nodes will likely be diagnosed with lymphosarcoma (LSA).  This cancer often involves enlargement of internal lymph nodes, and sometimes the liver and spleen.  LSA is a commonly diagnosed cancer that is treatable.  Multiple chemotherapy protocols for LSA exist that pets seem to tolerate quite well.  Frequent monitoring of blood work will be recommended for LSA patients treated with chemotherapeutics.

                        Cancers in pets can be numerous and varied.  These are just some of the frequently diagnosed tumors visible on a pet’s exterior body.  Several other cancers can occur inside the body cavities and on pets’ bones (osteosarcoma) as well.  If you notice a growth on your pet’s body, or if your pet isn’t acting quite right, don’t procrastinate in seeking your veterinarian’s advice. Peace of mind could be just a needle aspirate away.

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones
Image courtesy of jscreationzs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Does Your Pet Do the “Boot-Scootin’ Boogie?”

    

                The start of every veterinary examination should include a commitment to conduct a thorough “nose to tail” inspection of the patient.  This comprehensive approach prevents overlooking subtle problems besides the obvious current complaint.  The end point of every one of my examinations is literally the pet’s “endpoint,” the tail and butt area. (Yes, I really am going to teach you about your pet’s anal area!)
 

                        What prompts me to broach this subject is an up-tick in malignant tumors associated with the anal glands diagnosed by veterinarians today.   The greatest concern with these tumors is they are commonly overlooked by pet owners because they begin as inwardly growing tumors that are not apparent unless you know where to look for them.  Veterinarians are trained to visualize and palpate the area around the anus called the “perineum,” to identify multiple abnormalities, including, but not limited to tumors.

                        Veterinary medicine requires an understanding of normal anatomy before “abnormals” or disease may be diagnosed.  Pet owners, too, can become skilled at recognizing their pet’s “normals” by conducting a brief daily exam of their pets.  Once you are familiar with your pet’s body, recognizing a problem early, when it is more treatable, becomes an easier task.

 
                        Simply lift your pet’s tail daily and look for the following around the anus that may indicate a problem:  raised, fleshy or black skin growths; grey discoloration of the anus; red or blister-like lesions next to the bottom of the anus, inflamed cracks or “tracts” extending from the anus; fecal soiling; matted hair; and tapeworm segments (egg packets that look like rice or sesame seeds). See your veterinarian immediately if you note any of the above.
                                                                              
                        Next, use your fingers to press on your pet’s perianal skin to feel for soft or hard bumps representing tumors lurking under the skin.  While the majority of obvious perianal skin tumors diagnosed by sight are benign, malignant tumors usually require greater “hands-on” attention to detect them.  Ask your veterinarian to show you how to examine this area at your pet’s next visit.

                        By far, the most common perianal problem addressed by veterinarians is “full” anal glands that cause cats and dogs to do what I call “the boot-scootin’ boogie.”  You’ve seen it before…your pet sits his bottom squarely on your most valued flooring, then proceeds to drag or scoot it in a linear fashion.  Some pets will do a twirling routine followed by a quick lick or sniff of their butt afterward…YUCK!

                        Essentially, what your pet is doing is expressing anal gland secretions, a musky, foul-smelling liquid or paste that accumulates in the small glands inside the rectum at 5 o’clock and 7 o’clock positions.  Dogs and cats should “pump” their tails after bowel movements to express this material on to their stool.  It’s a personal “signature,” if you will, and their way of telling other pets that “Buffy” or “Tiger” was here.
 
                        When pets do not efficiently empty these glands, often because they are over-weight, small in stature, or have short or no tails, this substance accumulates in the glands.  Over time the build-up becomes irritating, prompting the “boot-scootin’ boogie.”  Heed your pet’s signal and see your veterinarian as soon at this butt dance begins to prevent the formation of a painful, anal gland abscess.

                        Another increasingly common anal problem is infection of the anal skin secondary to allergies, usually to the pet’s own food.  One might assume that the pet needs frequent anal gland expression associated with a persistent “butt itch,” when in reality Fido has a yeast skin infection of the anus that is really uncomfortable.  Your veterinarian will recommend a food trial, along with treatment of the infection, to eliminate repeat episodes.

                        The importance of regular examinations of your pet’s bottom cannot be over-emphasized.  Besides identifying tumors, full anal glands, and allergic disease, you could identify an intestinal parasite or diarrhea problem for your pet just by looking at the area daily.  Matted rectal hair and fecal soiling is not only unhygienic and unsightly, but also very uncomfortable for your pet.  By finding your pet’s perianal problem, especially tapeworms and infectious diarrheas promptly, you will protect your family members’ health as well.

                        You will never be the “butt” of any joke if you conduct a daily “nose to tail” examination of your pet.  Your health and that of your pet depend on it.

 

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones
Image courtesy of Gualberto107 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Kids at the Vet

It’s that time of year again. It’s that sun is shining, school is out, everybody seems happier time of year. It’s also a time of year that many businesses, including veterinary practices, experience an influx of often loud and energetic young visitors. Because the kids are not daily cooped up and getting an invaluable education at the schoolhouse — we at the veterinary hospital see many sun-kissed, flip-flopped youngsters who look like they just got out of the swimming pool to tag along with their parents or grandparents for Fido’s trip to the vet. Man, to be a kid again.

I, for one, am always excited to see kids at the clinic. I remember as a young girl taking our dogs to the vet with my mom and dad. These childhood clinical experiences, as well as an innate love of animals and people, powered my drive to become a veterinarian. You never know what may trigger a passion or even interest in a career in a young person. I love the idea that everyday experiences like taking the family dog to the vet can enhance knowledge and overall personal life experience.

I see a large variety of kiddos at the clinic. Many of them seem genuinely excited to be there, however, some of them are more shy and stand-offish. I have seen the out-going inquisitive type, asking me questions every step of the way who are eager to tell me about this pet and all of the other pets they have ever owned. As their accompanying adults sit back and beam with pride, many children are very helpful and clearly take an active role in the responsibility of owning a pet. They even help answer my questions regarding the patient’s eating habits, mobility concerns and strangely they are sometimes the ones who know the most detail about their pet’s bowel movements and urinary habits.

This is in stark contrast to the times I walk into an exam room full of juvenile-influenced chaos. I have seen red-faced tantrums, siblings pushing and punching, exam tables turned into active diaper changing tables, creative rearrangements of all of our retail products that live on the lowest (and most accessible shelf), kids slamming cabinet doors and discovering that, yes, the light switches do turn the room lights off and on no matter how fast you flip them. In these rooms often I find pets who are feeding off of the stress level. A trip to the veterinarian is at least to some degree very stressful for most pets, but when you add screeching and tumult in a tiny exam room with a bunch of little bodies, it increases the stress level for poor Fido and miserable Whiskers by ten-fold easily. Keeping the chaos to a minimum is a goal to be achieved with every child-accompanied vet visit.

Children are always most welcome to attend their pets’ appointments and I encourage it wholeheartedly. However, keeping each pet’s stress level in check is also very important for the mental health of the pet and for the safety of the veterinary team and owners alike. If Whiskers has been pushed to the breaking point by one too many shrieks in his ear and pinches while Timmy is manhandling him, then no one in the room is safe from Whiskers’ inevitable out-lash when being examined and vaccinated.

Teaching children proper pet respect is important for the child’s safety. Getting children to ask an unfamiliar dog’s owner for permission to pet a dog before approaching is basic safety and helps prevent many dog bites. Many children do not have an understanding of what a friendly versus a non-friendly pooch may look like. Just because their family dog appreciates their embraces, dogs in veterinary lobbies often have enough stress to deal with in their life and may not like hugs.

As a veterinarian, I get to hang out with kitties and puppies all day long. Getting to interact with the kids that come with them is just an added bonus to my job. As summer picks up full swing, the veterinary hospital becomes a little more lively and boisterous with the pitter patter of little feet visiting with their furry friends. While these visits can be enriching experiences in a young person’s life, keeping our pet patients stress-levels to a minimum helps keep the smallest of our clients safe and happy. When Timmy and Suzy are safe and happy, they will be able to look forward to future visits where they can regale me with stories of their dog’s pooping abilities. Perhaps memories of happy stress-free appointments will help Timmy or Suzy become the next generation of veterinarians.

Author:  Dr. Marisa Tong
Image courtesy of artur84 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

If I Could Do It, Anybody Can

“An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Sometimes, even a ton. As a veterinarian, I've essentially preached something similar to pet owners and farmers alike my entire career. “Heartworm test your dogs, vaccinate your cats, spay and neuter them all, and de-worm your sheep!” All of this was done with the intent to keep animals healthy and prevent the spread of disease in the population.

As a 53 year old, however, there was something I had been putting off for quite some time, something that was widely and highly recommended by the human medical profession — the dreaded colonoscopy.

Oh, I've had my old man prostate examined three times already, thank you, but there was something about this other procedure that seemed more, for lack of a better term, “invasive.” Plus, I had heard horror stories of hemorrhaging and perforations. The real reason, though, I'm ashamed to admit, had more to do with squeamish modesty and privacy concerns of having my “you know what” out there for all the world to see.

But this spring, in a rare mature moment, I decided that was stupid thinking and it was time to schedule an appointment. The young lady at the check-in desk mentioned that I looked familiar.

“You probably never forget a … face,” was blurted out nervously. I thought I was hilarious. My wife apologized.

Nonetheless, the girl was right. I was there two months prior for my wife's colonoscopy. Okay, so I made the mature “colonoscopic” decision if Bonnie went first. It was lambing season, after all, and I couldn't afford to be out of commission during the preparation. Besides, truth be told, she's braver about such things. Most women undoubtedly are. This was her first colonoscopy, too, however, and we are the same age. What was her excuse? I'm guessing it was me.

Thankfully, she did go first, because a valuable lesson was learned regarding the gowns which would have been the death of me. After giving the order “Everything off but the socks,” her nurse exited the cubicle, leaving my soon to be naked wife and I with what appeared to be a flat sheet, a couple of ties, and snaps that made no sense. With 14 years of college education between us, you'd think we could have figured it out. Nope. After what seemed an eternity, we called for help. The snaps, if properly aligned, were to form the arm holes — a lesson not forgotten.

When I received that same command two months later, the first thing checked were those darn snaps. My gown, fortunately, came pre-snapped, and within seconds I was up to code and safely tucked in the bed.

Not long after, the doctor entered the “room” to explain what was going to happen during the procedure. He went on to say that colon cancer is the most preventable cancer there is, and most colon cancers begin as a small out-pouching of tissue called a polyp, which over time can become malignant. If any were found, they would be removed and biopsied.

I really didn't think he'd find any, though, because I had no problems in that department, if you know what I mean, and fecal occult blood screenings after my yearly man exams were all negative. Still, my family physician had always cautioned me that a person can have colon cancer with no discernible blood.

In the procedure room, I asked the nurse how many colonoscopies they did per day. “About thirty-five,” she replied. It was then I felt myself begin to relax as I realized my “you know what” wasn't going to leave much of a lasting impression on them. After the sedation was administered, I bid the team “good luck,” and as far as I was concerned my first colonoscopy was over.

I awoke, what seemed like seconds later, to the sound of my wife and doctor talking. Guess who had a polyp? Apparently my own colon health assessment was not very accurate. Because I did have the polyp, the doctor wanted to see me back in five years. And you know what? If he had said five days, I would have complied.

We all die, and I know something will eventually get me, but that insignificant little piece of tissue will not be the thing that does. If you need to schedule your first colonoscopy or are overdue for a follow-up, do it now. The preparation part isn't much fun, but the procedure itself is not a big deal. The reason for it, however, is. It can save your life.

If you won't do this for your family or friends, then do it for your pets. Surely, they'll miss you.

Author:  Dr. John Jones
Image courtesy of jscreationzs at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Take a Bite Out of Cancer and 'Bark for Life'

 

Cancer is a word that I am certain everyone does not want to hear, especially with his own name in the same sentence. I would venture to say that all of us have been touched by this malevolent disease in some way, at some point in our lives. Perhaps it was through the loss of a loved one, through our own personal experience, or even through a beloved pet. Cancer, you see, does not discriminate based on age, gender, race, nor species.

Throughout my 29 years as a veterinarian, I have cherished the relationships I have formed with my clients and their pets. I have been blessed to observe the love and strength of the human-animal bond over and over again. I have had the privilege of watching my clients’ children grow into pet owners, and, sadly, I also have experienced the loss of clients of all ages to cancer.

Veterinarians are unique in the respect that we are honored to form relationships with people as well as their pets, while simultaneously observing the powerful bond between them. Pets provide purpose, companionship, security, unconditional love, and joy, without judgment, and always with unquestioned forgiveness.

So when one of my patients is diagnosed with cancer, it becomes a “double jeopardy” of sorts for me. Naturally, I know I must provide the very best care and compassion that I can for my four-legged patient. At the same time, my heart aches for the pet owner who is experiencing the inevitable heartbreak of losing a pet to a dreaded disease. I celebrate the human-animal bond at the same time that I grieve its loss.

Currently, I have the responsibility and privilege to care for three canine cancer patients, all of whom have loving and passionate caregivers, and all of whom are thriving throughout their treatments without illness. I am reminded that these patients are experiencing prolonged quality and quantity of life, not only because of the love and dedication of their human caregivers, but because of research, both veterinary and human.

Yes, pets do benefit from human cancer research. Because pets get some of the same cancers as people, pets and people are in cancer trials together. Pet cancer treatments and medications are often born out of the results of human research.

Due to the alluring power of the human-animal bond and my fondness for animals, I have a personal vendetta against cancer. My mission, and the mission of so many others, is to fight cancer by educating others about early detection and by being a cancer research fundraiser. Coincidentally, I was introduced to the American Cancer Society mini-relay called “Bark for Life” last year through the Delphos Relay for Life. This unique and novel fundraiser for the ACS honors the life-long contribution of “canine caregivers.”

Bark for Life is a dog walk fundraiser that pairs people with their canine companions and, cancer survivors with their “canine caregivers.” BFL walkers seek financial sponsors, with all funds collected being donated to the ACS to continue their mission to advocate, create awareness, educate, and fund cancer research. This mini-relay gives people an opportunity to be empowered through their canine companion partnerships and to contribute to cancer cures through the mission of the American Cancer Society.

In short, Bark for Life gives everyone who has been close to a cancer experience, and has a dog in their life, a chance to fight cancer in a very unique way. Celebrate the human-animal bond, while remembering loved ones and “barking back” at cancer.

On behalf of canine cancer survivors “Olivia” Friedhoff (chronic lymphocytic leukemia), “Jack” Frost (Multiple Myeloma), and “Petey” Ladd (B-Cell Lymphoma), I am personally inviting you to gather your sponsors and attend the second Delphos Bark for Life being held from 2 to 5 p.m. June 21 at Leisure Park on Ridge Road in Delphos. This event was highly successful in 2013, netting more than $7,500 for the American Cancer Society.

As I like to point out, who among us has NOT been touched by cancer? This is our opportunity to “take a bite out of cancer” while celebrating the human-animal bond, which just might be the best medicine of all! Will I see you at the Delphos Bark for Life?

Author:  Dr. Bonnie Jones