Posts Tagged ‘cancer’

Max the Golden is Gone

Friday, June 19th, 2009

Dear Tracie and Kate:

Max’s battle with cancer ended at 7 p.m. this evening. Unfortunately, cancer won and took my Max from me. He fought with every ounce of strength he had in his very tired body. He wanted to stay with me. But he just couldn’t fight anymore, and I had to give him the peace he deserved. I will love and honor him forever.

Upon returning home, I found the little girl, Heather, who comes to play with my dogs, sitting on my doorstep crying. She had in her hand a paper she said she wrote this morning before leaving for school. Nothing I can write here now can honor the memory of Max more than what this amazing little girl wrote about him. I share it here with you:

Max is one of a kind. Max is now a three-legged dog that makes him even more special. Also, that Max has a long nose makes him special. You could play tug of war with Max, and if you threw the ball he would go and not leave it until he had that ball in his mouth. Max is that dog that is so friendly to anyone even if you don’t know him. When he hears something, he perks his ears up and listens. Max is that dog that you could look down at and say what a dog. You could say so many things about him but it wouldn’t be enough. Max would be so good if he wanted something like a treat or a toy he would just sit there and watch until you would give it to him. Max went through a lot of things, and that is also why he is so special.

Max is 10 years old like me. We had a birthday party for him and Gabriel and the rest of the crew came over to Pam’s house. I made Max a t-shirt that said he was the best dog in the world and I wrote to him on the back. I made him his cake, and Max got the first piece. Max’s birthday is February 8th. He was getting old. I found out on the 8th of June something I didn’t want to hear. Have you ever read the book Marley and Me? Well, Marley did everything different. Marley would jump on people. Max would stand in front of you wagging his tail waiting for you to pet him. There is only one thing that happens the same. If you read the book you will probably cry because I did, and just beware because it is sad. I wrote this all in memory of Max in every Good Amazing way (because there was nothing bad about Max). You would not want to forget Max, the one of a kind dog, because he will remember you forever, too. I also wrote this to remember his birthday, and to say that you could NEVER in history replace HIM in the WORLD. So MAX, THE BEST DOG IN THE WORLD will ALWAYS be here with us FOREVER.

Love Heather

Out of the devastation of losing my Max, some extraordinary beauty has come into my life. This essay from Heather is just one beautiful example.

I am going to sleep now. It will be the first night I will sleep in my own bed in a very long time. In the morning I will try to figure out how to live without Max. It will take awhile, but I know my boy will show me the way.

Goodnight, Max, my Love, my Heart. Sleep peacefully, my Angel.

I am going to sleep now. Tomorrow I will wake up and try to figure out how to live my life without Max.

Max the Golden

Max the Golden

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Posted in Dogs, General, Grief, Health, Insurance | 2 Comments »

Dr. Alice’s Book On Cancer

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

As many of you know, I have been following the saga of Max’s Mom Pam as she guides him through cancer diagnosis, surgery, treatment and then more of the same. She worries about knowing whether he is willing to go through all this — or how to know when he is ready to cross the Rainbow Bridge. So I wrote this letter to her:

Dear Pam — Although I know the last thing you need to do now is BUY something, I am going to suggest that you do purchase a book written by the Official Oncologist of both my shows, Alice Villalobos, who is one of the most spiritual and caring people you could ever meet. It is a textbook for veterinary colleges but easily understood by us — and why I think you need it is because she has an entire section on “Pawspice” (like hospice) for how to manage the time after all treatments are done — how to maximize the comfort and pleasure of that time. She also has devised a scale on how to evaluate your pet’s condition so you can feel on top of knowing what “downhill” really means for your individual.

Go to my website where there is a page for Dr Alice under “Experts” and her book is linked there with her authors discount. It’s expensive but worth every penny- you can give it to your own vet or another friend later to pass on the wisdom and support and whole idea of Pawspice care. I know it will help because you dread making a decision or knowing how to know — and this will be invaluable.

So I was utterly amazed when Pam replied:

Dear Tracie:

You are so right about this book being invaluable. I bought it — on YOUR recommendation — months ago. I have been reading the chapter on PAWSPICE ever since I got the biopsy results. I was especially interested in Dr. Alice’s view that vets suggest euthanasia much too early and do not respect the parent’s feelings. She writes at length about this and I felt like she was talking to me. Remember what the ER doctor did to us: he said that we “knew what to do” and should have Max put to sleep rather than attempt surgery for the liver cancer? Well, Dr. Villalobos would have been appalled.

This book is only one of many things you suggested to me these past few months that have been invaluable. Your support has been “invaluable.”

Thanks again. Max and Max’s Mom, Pam

So the story spun out even more amazingly when I forwarded the emails above to Kate of Wrapped in Kindness, who privately raises funds to offset the medical costs of pets who need it — which she has been doing for Max ever since she and I met just a few months ago (Kate herself is a cancer survivor, going through chemotherapy at the same time as Max). Kate wrote:

I actually have the book and recommend it to all pet parents confronting cancer. I learned about it from the oncologist who did Maddie’s cancer surgery, Chuck Kuntz — which was the time I was inspired to create Wrapped in Kindness..

So I sent all the correspondence to Dr. Alice, figuring she needed to know how far and wide her book has traveled and made a big difference to pet parents facing cancer. She replied:

Thank you for sharing these wonderful and invigorating comments! It makes the labor of love that it was to write this book worth the sacrifice. Writing is very difficult for me but it is worth the stress and strain to know that my sacrifice (and it was labor of love) is helping pet lovers during the emotional and difficult days of caring for a pet who is at the end of life. It is heartwarming for me to know that my Blackwell book is helping pet owners and their veterinarians as they go down that bumpy road with a pet that is on cancer’s fatal agenda.

Luv-in-pets,
Dr. Alice
Alice Villalobos, DVM, DPNAP
www.pawspice.com

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Posted in Cats, Dogs, General, Medical | No Comments »

Questions About A Lab With Lymphoma

Monday, May 11th, 2009

I got this question from some folks facing a hard diagnosis and was pleased that they had stumbled on my website for help:

I saw your website and thought I’d email. Our 12 yr old lab was diagnosed w/stage IV or V lymphoma this week. We haven’t decided for sure, but are thinking the price and toll of chemo is too great for the limited benefits (our vet said 6 – 9 months) in return. Still waiting on the details, hopefully tomorrow. We have used SmartPak for our horses for years and are well aware of the power of supplements. Do you have any suggestions for a dog with cancer? I have seen several of the cancer diets for dogs on the internet and plan on implementing those and I know about fish oil (we use Wellpride for the horses). What about other “Smartpak” options for a daily supplement to help her fight this? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

I passed along your question to the staff vet at Smartpak, Dr. Lydia Gray, who kindly put together quite a comprehensive answer. I have some comments to add afterwards but must say I think it is admirable that the Smartpak staff vet would take this time to be helpful in your hour of need:

First of all, while chemotherapy can be expensive, it generally takes less of a toll on animals than it does in people. For example, hair loss is common in people but uncommon in animals. So if the side effects of chemotherapy are a sticking point for making the decision to treat, this should relieve some of their anxiety. If they still do not want to pursue chemotherapy, they should not completely stop veterinary care but seek medical attention from a holistic veterinarian who will recommend complementary and alternative therapies. These may not be as effective as conventional treatment, but they may improve quality of life and gain some time. In the meantime, here are my suggestions for diet and supplements:

DIET - Every form of cancer in people and animals is different and has its own chemistry, rate of growing, tissue preference, etc. Fortunately the form of cancer their dog has, lymphoma, has been extensively studied. Research has shown that a diet high in protein, high in fat, and low in carbohydrates “starves” the cancer but feeds the body.

SUPPLEMENTS - Glutamine is another amino acid that is beneficial for dogs with cancer. They already know to feed omega-3 fatty acids, preferably from a fish or algae source that contains DHA and EPA. They should introduce fat to the diet gradually, however, to avoid GI disturbances such as vomiting and diarrhea.

If they decide to try chemotherapy, they may want to provide additional support to their dog with ginger, peppermint or other ingredient for nausea and vomiting. Pre- and probiotics are also good choices to maintain a healthy GI tract. Milk thistle and SAMe support the liver (which is doing the bulk of the chemical detoxifying) while CoQ10 supports other tissues. B-vitamins will encourage the dog to continue eating. All of these supplements are very safe.

There is controversy over the use of antioxidants such as Vitamin E, Se, Vitamin C, alpha lipoic acid and others. When dogs are undergoing chemotherapy, some experts feel these ingredients protect the cancer cells from being killed. So it’s probably okay to supplement during times when the dog is NOT being treated.

I’ve heard that people are also trying garlic, curcumin (turmeric), green tea, aloe vera, mushrooms and many other substances but there’s very little safety or efficacy research on these particular ingredients and are best used only on the advice of a veterinarian knowledgeable in this field.

Lydia F. Gray, DVM, MA
Medical Director/Staff Veterinarian, Smartpak

So Gena – The first thing I would urge you to do is to get a second opinion by contacting the Official Oncologist of my radio shows, Dr Alice Villalobos, who has a whole page on my website. She is in California and if you or your vet arranges with Dr. Alice’s assistant Ronnie to see all your dog’s lab tests, she can help you decide what sort of extended or quality of life you might expect from chemotherapy. That may help you make a more informed decision. As for Dr. Lydia Gray’s advice, I think it is excellent but want to emphasize that a home-cooked high protein (from quality sources) diet is really important. If you insist on giving any dry food I urge you to use Spot’s Stew which has a 33% protein content derived entirely from meat that is “fit for human consumption” along with their canned food which has equally “clean” ingredients. When your dog is fighting cancer he cannot tolerate the highly processed poor ingredients in most commercial foods. As for the omega-3 fatty acids, I recommend to everyone to stick with Nordic Naturals which is a 100% pure fish oil from Norway which is pure and fresh so you will get the most reliable anti-inflammatory effects.

Tracie

The Dog Bible

The Dog Bible

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May Day for Max – Looking for a Miracle

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

The wonderful brave Golden retriever Max, and his Mom Pam and her daughter Julie, have just been dealt a real setback in his recovery from the amputation they did just a few months ago to stop the cancer that was found in his front leg bone. He’s been doing well with the chemotherapy (although it was ruinous financially since the VPI insurance Pam had so dutifully been paying for all four of her Goldens didn’t cover but a fraction of the charges, unlike the Pets Best Insurance I urge everyone to get, especially when hearing of a story like this). Here’s the update:

Max the Golden

Max the Golden

Tracie -This has been another emotionally exhausting day. We had been playing ball with Max out in the yard and stopped throwing the ball when we realized the heat had gotten to him. But when trying to cool him off with ice packs to the armpit and groin didn’t seem to help, we took Max to the emergency vet clinic near us in West Islip. His blood pressure was very low, his white blood count over 40,000 and he had a moderately high temp. They had to bring him in on a stretcher, he was so weak. They put him on IV fluids and antibiotics and kept him overnight. They also did a chest x-ray which was normal so they took cancer out of the equation for the time being and treated him for dehydration. They wanted to stabilize him. I went home and stared at the ceiling all night.

Next morning I saw a different doctor. He said based on Max’s history we should do further tests to make sure the cancer had not come back. But first he wanted to bring Max in to see me to see how he would respond. Well, Tracie, Max came round the corner and practically pulled the doctor down trying to get to me. I threw myself down on the floor and my handsome 75-lb lap dog sat on my lap like he always does. We all laughed and remarked what a difference the supportive care had made. Max was excited and lively. The doctor still wanted to take x-rays of Max’s belly and repeat the blood work, even though he thought that Max had probably just succumbed to the extreme heat and had indeed been dehydrated. The doctor said it was just a precaution and I really wasn’t worried.

X-rays showed his intestines pushed back in his stomach. The doctor said this could be normal for Max but we should ultrasound it to make sure there wasn’t something there. I started to get a little worried but, for some reason, I was still optimistic. I went outside to call Julie at work to let her know what was going on. The doctor came out with the ultrasound picture in his hand.There was a mass. The size of a softball. And it was black which meant it was bleeding. Probably hemangiosarcoma, he said. It was between the liver and spleen and he wanted to do additional views to zero in on the exact location. If it was on the spleen, we could do a spleenectomy and Max would probably be fine. On the liver — that was a different story with not a happy ending.

I waited and chanted inside my head: spleen, spleen, spleen… please… please… please…

But, it’s on the liver.

This morning the ER doctor called to tell me the follow-up CBC showed Max is very anemic. This means the mass is bleeding into his belly. He faxed everything to Animal Medical Center in the city and had a telephone consultation with one of Max’s oncologists. I think Julie and I are going to AMC in the morning for them to do another ultrasound and possibly an MRI or CAT SCAN. I say “I think” because I have been lying with Max all day and he has become very weak again and I’m not sure I want to put him through anything else. If AMC feels that the tumor is operable, Max would have to undergo major abdominal surgery with extreme risks. This is not like the amputation and AMC is not sugarcoating it. Under the best circumstances, he may only get 4 – 6 months. Under the worst, he could die during the surgery and that is a very real possibility. If we do nothing, he will bleed internally until he can’t breathe and then he will go into shock. This could be tonight, in a few days, not more than a few weeks. Of course, there is always the “other” choice.

I go back and forth between sadness and anger. IT IS ONLY 3 l/2 MONTHS! We were supposed to get the summer. Max was supposed to run on the beach and swim after tennis balls and sticks. I sound like a 5-year old when I scream “IT’S NOT FAIR!!!” I sat in the chemo waiting room every other Saturday and listened to stories of cats and dogs who defied the odds and outlived their diagnoses. Max was supposed to be one of them.

But then I know that Max is 10. And we have had a 10-year relationship like none I have ever had with any human. We have had a wonderful, full life together. He has thanked me every day since the day I adopted him through LIGRR (Long Island Golden Retriever Rescue), and I have been privileged to have him by my side. I want to hold him until his last breath. He IS my breath. He IS my bones. He IS my heart.

I wanted to let you and your listeners know about Max because of the tremendous support I received through your talk show and your wonderful audience. I don’t know what tomorrow will bring. If you know of a miracle, please send it our way. I’ll update you when I’m able.

Max’s Mom, Pam

I wrote to Pam & Julie:

Oh dear me. What a setback and blow to your dreams. In making the decision, just do your best to see it from Max’s point of view. You already know that. But being in your arms is what he wants, he showed you that at the vet’s. My thoughts are with you, as always.

Pam gave me an update:

We took Max to AMC. They took additional views on ultrasound. Three oncologist surgeons reviewed the pictures and felt it was a single liver lobe that could be removed. All 3 agreed it is definitely operable. And it COULD give him another 6 months to a year. Max is scheduled for surgery this Tuesday May 5th. There are horrible risks. If they get into his belly and find that it is much worse than can be seen on ultrasound they will tell us, and Julie and I have decided, in that case, we will not let them wake Max up. Even if all is well, Max could die during surgery or from complications after. But he can’t live with this thing growing inside him, so we have to give him this chance.

It is expensive. Another $4,000. I have to call Care Credit today and hope to God I get the additional credit. I will beg and plead. Max HAS to get this chance.

Julie and I are going to make this the most wonderful weekend for Max. I wish the weather was better because we would carry him down to the beach. We are going to take lots of pictures and movies. I’m praying for a miracle but we have to be realistic and know that this could be Max’s last weekend. I am going to try not to cry any more in front of him. The doctors are hopeful. Julie and I will be hopeful. Max is a dog FULL of love and hope and happiness. So that’s the motto for this very special weekend – love, hope and happiness.

I’ll write you after surgery. Wish us luck.

Max’s Mom, Pam

I honestly don’t know how you and Julie have the strength to go through this. I am going to post our correspondence and then put it on Twitter so more people can be praying and sending good vibes and karma your way for Tuesday’s operation. I admire your emotional strength and faith in Max’s will to live and thrive. You are a stronger woman than I am and an inspiration to all of us who call our pets family. I couldn’t even trust myself to talk about this on DOG TALK® yesterday — I was just going to lose it on the air, I know that.  So instead am going to send this turn in Max’s story out by internet and maybe get even more people pulling for him

Blessings on all of you.

Tracie

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Posted in Dogs, Insurance, Medical | 11 Comments »

Kitty Acne or Cancer? Pet Insurance Would Make This Easy

Saturday, February 21st, 2009

This situation is a perfect case in point about why none of us can afford NOT to have pet insurance. There are no rational excuses for not getting it – you might say “I cannot afford it” but I will promise you that you cannot afford NOT to have it. What do you do when one day your cat or dog wakes up with a lump or an ache that requires expensive interventions to diagnose it – and maybe to save her life? For the difference of  dollars a month, Aime could have afforded thousands of dollars of veterinary care. Without pet insurance, where does this leave her?

I was listening to you this morning on Living Today and heard the woman that called in who said she feeds her animals off of paper plates and changes them with each new feeding because of bacteria. This instantly made me think of a visit to the vet just a few months ago with my cat. She 14 years old has a black bump on her chin that the vet said was cat acne. She tried to pop it, but it was hard so she said it should be removed. The quote they gave us for the surgery was over $1000 and we just don’t have that money to do that and also cost of the antibiotics and the follow-up visits. My husband and I feel like terrible cat parents every time we look at it on her chin because we didn’t opt to have the surgery. Plus she is so old and I fear she would not do well with surgery. The vet didn’t tell us not to use ceramic bowls so I will make that change tonight. But is there anything else I can do for her? Something I can put on it? The vet didn’t offer any other options besides the surgery so I thought that was the only thing to do for her. I am attaching photos of the bump. Thank you in advance for any suggestions you might have.
Aime

Dr John Gordon was kind enough to take the time to both review the photo Aime send and to give this well-explained explanation about why this does NOT seem to be a blackhead or acne, but instead could be a cancerous tumor and only a biopsy will confirm that.

The photo suggests a focal comedone (blackhead). It is in a typical location and color. It is atypical because it is a single lesion with minimal surrounding hair loss. Comedones on the chin of cats usually develop in association with an allergy. Not a contact allergy like a plastic food bowl. If this were the cause, the inflammation would surround the muzzle and additional lesions would be noted (in addition to itching). The allergy for this age patient would be a food allergy. Many food allergic cats also have excessive wax in their ears as noted by a shiny appearance inside the ear canal. If older cats develop food allergies they have usually been consuming the same diet for many years before the allergy symptoms develop. Some older cats will develop the occasional comedone on their chin without an obvious cause and the lesion then resolves weeks later. We assume these cats can not groom their chin area and so they are predisposed to develop plugged follicles.

The age of the cat, the single lesion, the firmness and lack of surrounding inflammation suggest an alternative cause. A primary differential is a localized squamous cell carcinoma or other skin tumor. The biopsy would diagnose and possible resolve this condition that otherwise will not resolve. They may consider a second opinion both in a diagnosis and for the cost of the biopsy procedure. I hope this information has been beneficial.

So I told Aime: From what Dr. John says, it certainly seems that some vet has to remove this lump under anesthesia to biopsy the tissue and see whether it is cancerous. Complete surgical removal of the lump might be all the medical care required and could save her life – but only by going in there surgically to remove it can anybody know. If you love this kitty and have kept her in good health all these years, she has many more good years ahead of her. The question to ask is whether you would go through this procedure if you did have an insurance like Pets Best – which pays 80% of 100% of any bill associated with a medical problem. If the answer is yes, then have your vet (or another vet if you want to get another opinion or someone who can do this less expensively) hook you up with CARE Credit. If you get approved (right over the phone in the vet’s office) by CARE you get an interest-free line of credit and they pay the vet directly – who pays some interest on it. It might be benign, and even if it is cancer if the doctor makes a wide enough margin around it that may be the end of it. I’m sorry to give you this feedback but it seems like your own vet did not make clear what this lump might be – and why it is necessary to get it off and under a microscope. Where do you live? If there is a veterinary college nearby they might do this procedure for free or at a reduced cost for the education of the students.

Tracie
The Cat Bible by Tracie Hotchner

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Posted in Cats, Health, Medical | 2 Comments »

Golden Max has Cancer – What Now?

Monday, January 19th, 2009

I am humbled when a loyal listener like Pam turns to me as her guide in a difficult time. I wish I could give her a rosier outlook, but having lived through bone cancer with my darling Rottweiler Yogibear at only 6 years old, I know how bleak and heart breaking the situation is.

Dear Tracie,

I listen to you every Saturday. I’ve even spoken to you once or twice. But now I’ve got a huge problem. My ten year old Golden was diagnosed yesterday with Osteosarcoma after bringing him to the vet because he was limping for a few days. We thought he had slipped on the ice. Can you tell me where I can find information on your website abut how to get treatment and how to decide what treatment to get? My vet is Pam Mox in Manorville but she is not a cancer specialist. Do you know of any? Please help. As you can see from my email address, Max is my boy. I want to do what is best for him and it looks like we have to do something quickly. He is limping badly.

I trust your judgment and all the guests you have on your show. Is there anyone that can help me and Max? Thank you.

Sincerely, Pam

I replied to Pam immediately:

I am so sorry to hear about Max – what devastating news. I’m putting your email ahead of all the others I have to answer so you can get right on top of deciding how to treat his illness. Dr. Gerry Post is a really excellent oncologist and compassionate – he was in Westchester but now seems to be at a very caring specialty hospital in Westbury, which is lucky geographically for you. The number is 516-420-000 and they are open 7 days, 24 hours. Tell Dr. Post that I sent you. I’m afraid that you will find that the only treatment for Max’s bone cancer is amputation – which Gerry has done successfully on many dogs and gained them a longer life with quality – but it depends on how far advanced Max’s cancer is, which leg is affected (if a front leg, which is the usual, then amputation is often really well tolerated if the dog is not overweight and is fit).

These are hard decisions to make and if you don’t have pet insurance, maybe not affordable.

No matter what you decide to do, a good investment is Dr Alice Villalobos’ book linked on her page on my website – it helps you understand all the medical terminology, the options, and how to give Max the best possible care from now until the end. “Canine and Feline Geriatric Oncology” sounds like the textbook it is, but it is of tremendous help to the average person suffering through this difficult time.

My heart goes out to your family and Max – feel free to get back in touch by email or on the air next Saturday if you need help deciding or deciphering what to do next.

Tracie

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Cancer of the Mouth or a Bad Case of Kitty Crack?

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Hi Tracie:

I’ve heard wonderful things about you through the years. I checked out some of your work and you are amazing! I’m writing because I’m conflicted over my little cat, Cesar.

I found him as a feral 5 years ago. He had his shots and he is totally indoors. He’s very sweet and grooms his adoptive cat siblings. Recently,he developed severe gingivitis and I took him  to the vet who gave him a look and said “wow” — there’s cancer tissue in his mouth now. It’s very red. He gave me antibiotics for him which he finished 3 days ago and prednisone which he is still taking. His mouth isn’t as red but it’s still not normal looking. I’m on a limited income. Taking him to the vet is very traumatic as his feral instincts kick in and he screams and moans and chews at the wire caging. Is there any homeopathic procedure I can do or homeopathic medication I can administer? He’s started to drool again. Someone recommended having  his teeth pulled. That seems extreme. Also, expensive. I want to give him the best shot possible to get him better, as do all pet owners. Can you offer any directives, please?

I turned this one over to Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, the Official vet of Cat Chat® because when I saw cancer I thought the worst and wondered whether maybe humane euthanasia was a possibility. But Dr. Elizabeth is not only a vet but a lawyer and she immediately saw what I had missed: cancer cannot be diagnosed visually. So her learned opinion is that a vet who would look at a cat’s mouth and declare cancer without talking a biopsy is a QUACK! She also said harsher things than that and I don’t blame her. She also asked since it is an ex-feral, whether the cat is FIV positive? But first and foremost she wanted to know what is the cat eating?  If you haven’t listened to CAT CHAT® or seen my website, or gotten The Cat Bible or Dr. Hodgkins book Your Cat then you had better do all those things immediately.

Actually, before you do anything else, ditch the kitty crack (the dry cat food you’re inevitably feeding) and get some decent canned food right away. Our books and my website and shows will explain why. Poor kitty.

Tracie

The Cat Bible by Tracie Hotchner

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Dangers of Routine Cat Vaccinations

Thursday, September 18th, 2008

I was recently interviewing a vet on my show CAT CHAT about the dangers of routine vaccinations for cats, and the need instead to do blood tests to see what the cat is already immune to because of earlier vaccinations or exposure. After the show I got this really nice note. I think the warning is important enough for everyone to sit up and take notice.

First and foremost I have to say that I love the show! You have definitely made a positive difference in those cats (and their owners) lives whose diet has been changed to wet food.

I wanted to contact you as one more piece of data against over-vaccination. My beautiful 15 year old Maine Coone (Baby) passed away three weeks ago after a long battle with a squamous cell carcinoma on his thigh. The veterinary hospital where he was treated noted that it was odd that the tumor was located in the vaccination area, but no final conclusions were drawn.

This week we discovered a small bump in the same location on my 8 year old Maine Coone mix. The early discovery may have saved her life, or at least bought us more precious time together. (The surgery was postponed due to the storm, but we plan to have it removed as soon as possible.)

I always thought I was doing the right thing when I made the decision to vaccinate my babies. As a more informed pet parent I will question whether vaccines are required in the future.

Thank you!

The Cat Bible by Tracie Hotchner

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