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Grooming and housebreaking
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| IT'S ONLY A DOG! |
For some of us, there's no question and no hesitation. For others there are considerations, such as financial constraints that make expensive veterinary care difficult or impossible. Religious/moral tenets may prohibit medical treatment. And then there's the big question: What is a dog's life worth? What is a cat's life worth?
The bookstores are flooded with books by contemporary writers who specialize in writing about pets. Some writers put forth their personal edicts that pets should not be treated for diseases such as cancer. Where should we draw the line? Should we not set a broken leg? Should we not treat heartworm disease? Should we not bother to provide vaccines? These writers fail to recognize the strength and beauty of the human-animal bond.
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One Friday, when Bullet was in his last days, our vet sadly expressed that it was "time." I said that if there was no improvement in his kidney function by Monday, I would consider helping Bullet to the bridge. The vet said, "Laurie, it's all for you now. It's not for Bullet anymore."
I said, "Bruce, it's always been for me! Bullet wouldn't care if he died 4 years ago when he was diagnosed with lymphoma, or 4 years from now. They don't know or fear death as we do... It's always been for me!" Bullet had some nasty side effects from chemotherapy, and I could have decided to end treatment at any of those times. But he always rebounded and continued to be a very happy dog. I never thought that Bullet had a great desire to stay alive (although he certainly loved being alive). I, on the other hand, did have a great desire for him to stay alive. I saw no reason to end it as long as he was not in pain or suffering and as long as there was a good chance that he would recover. He deserved to be given that chance. The philosophical psychological question of who it's for seems to me to be moot. |
You are very lucky indeed if you have friends and family who support your efforts to help your dog or cat fight a serious disease. Most caretakers say that their quest is criticized or ridiculed by those around them - those who comprise their support group and who in other situations have provided support and compassion.
Desperately trying to find their way through medical explanations, diagnoses and prognoses, they feel very alone and unsupported, yet they refuse to give up the fight; they cannot let cancer take their beloved pet from them without a fight.
If your friends and family are unsupportive, you can defend your decision to help your pet survive or you can find support elsewhere - support that will serve you better in your battle to save your pet's life.
Support Groups
Your veterinarian may be able to connect you with another client who is helping their dog fight cancer. I haven't found any physical support groups for this purpose but there are many online. In these groups, members share medical information and talk of diet and supplements. They help each other with information that they have gathered from research or from personal experience. This type of support can be given only by someone who is going through the same ordeal. The emotional support given in these groups is essential.
What is a pet's life worth?
Only you know what your pet's life is worth to you.
