Episodes

There are thousands of published scientific articles about cannabis and its constituents. There are 50 states with 50 different sets of law about its legality. It’s still banned on the federal level. Yet, dog lovers are using it to help their dogs, and expecting their veterinarians to understand and advise them. Cannabis in Veterinary Medicine a Critical Review, a brand-new publication, helps professionals sort fact from fiction.

In a quick but very helpful lesson, Dr. Demian Dressler discusses some of the common signs and symptoms that he sees in dogs that have cancer. Beginning with the tip of your dog's nose to the ends of their toes and every one of your dog’s body organs in-between, Dr. Dressler explains the many signs that you should be on the lookout for if your dog may have cancer.

Targeted therapy works by directly inhibiting the growth and replication of the cancer cells in certain types of tumors, and because of its targeted action it has shown high rates of tumor responsiveness in people. So, what happens when you take this science and apply it to dogs?

In this week’s episode of Dog Cancer Answers, Dr. Nancy Reese discusses plasmacytoma tumors.

With interviews from historians, a marketing expert, and dog lovers, this episode will have you taking another loop around the block to hear it all! So, leash up your pup and join the pack at Dog Edition.

Dr. Judy Morgan discusses how pet parents can build stronger relationships with their dog’s medical care team, how to find a great vet if you need one, how to communicate your needs as a client, and everything else that goes into finding and keeping an exceptional team of medical professionals at every stage of your dog’s life!

This week we are celebrating a decade (10 years) of Dog Cancer Answers. To ring in this milestone, we are revisiting the episode that started it all in 2011.

Has your dog been diagnosed with a perianal or an anal sac tumor? Has it left you feeling overwhelmed with unanswered questions? If this sounds like you, you’re in luck because this week’s episode features Dr. Demian Dressler and Dr. Sue Ettinger, as they share their experience and expert knowledge behind the causes of rectal tumors, how to diagnose them, as well as how your veterinarian or veterinary oncologist will help you devise a plan to best attack them. This week’s episode features the a...

This week’s episode of Dog Cancer Answers features returning guest, Dr. Nancy Reese. Dr. Nancy addresses a listener line question about amputation for a dog with a non-metastatic synovial cell sarcoma. She gives listeners a quick lesson on this type of cancer, talks about the tissue damage and bony destruction it can cause, and covers some of the other types of cancers that are known to develop in the bones and joints of affected dogs.

Do you have a dog with a bleeding mass, such as a hemangiosarcoma tumor? This week we interviewed world renowned veterinarian and author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, Dr. Demian Dressler. Dr. Dressler shares his expertise and recommendations for the usage of a Chinese herb called Yunnan Baiyao. Yunnan Baiyao has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) since the early 1900’s as a hemostatic agent (to slow or stop active bleeding).

No one wants their dog to lose their cancer battle, but the truth is that cancer can be unpredictable in its response rate to treatment and in survivorship. Which is why we interviewed this week’s special guest, Wendy Van de Poll, a grief loss coach, and expert. Wendy is a best-selling author who has made it her life mission to help other dog lovers like herself, learn how to hope for the best, while also planning for the worst-- in case that dreaded day comes sooner than you or your veterinarian anticipate. According to Wendy, preparing for loss can not only help you cope, but it can also help exchange feelings of guilt with feelings of a peaceful departure. One where both you and your dog can deeply connect and embrace all the feelings of love and shared special moments, even long after they make their journey over the rainbow bridge.

I think we can all agree that fleas and ticks are a problem. Especially considering the risk factors of the types of diseases that ticks can carry, as well as the risks of anemia associated with an infestation of fleas. This week we featured one of our returning guests and expert veterinarians, Dr. Nancy Reese. In addition to being a practicing DVM, Dr. Nancy also earned a master’s degree in Preventative Veterinary Medicine, and a PhD in Epidemiology.

Holistic veterinarian, Dr. Judy Morgan, joined us this week to talk about making balanced and nutritious homecooked meals that are easily digestible, taste delicious and are enticing to your dog. Best of all, she explains how anyone can make them with little to no cooking experience. She talks about cancer fighting foods, quality proteins, cooking and preparation methods… And, she even shares a little bit about her own personal journey of having a dog that had cancer, named Myra. Myra taught Dr. Morgan how to enjoy each moment and that she should always take the opportunity to stop and smell the roses every chance she gets.

With so many mixed signals about the benefits of giving fresh garlic to dogs with cancer, it’s no secret that this topic has become such a controversial one. To clear up some of the controversy, we brought in lead author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide, Dr. Demian Dressler. He advises listeners on why he recommends it in his book and as part of the Dog Cancer Diet.

Have you ever wondered why you can take your dog to the vet to get vaccines to help protect them from diseases like parvo, rabies, and kennel cough? Yet, there hasn’t been a vaccine developed that would help protect them from getting cancer. This week's episode sheds light on the complex topic of cancer prevention and vaccines.

Holistic Veterinarian, Dr. Nick Thompson discusses a wide range of topics in this week’s episode of Dog Cancer Answers. Educating our listeners on everything from the microbiome, the science behind epigenetics and cancer gene expression, your dog’s immune system. And how you can help keep your dog flea, tick, and worm free without using all the harsh chemicals in traditional over the counter or prescription antiparasitic medications.

Dogs love the taste and smell of peanut butter (PB), but the real question is, should we be giving it to them? In this quick but informative episode, Dr. Dressler gives his advice on if peanut butter is good or bad for dogs, and particularly dogs with cancer. He also makes mention of a few other health factors that must be considered before making the conscious decision to share your PB with your hairy best friend.

When fifteen-year-old Trina Hazzah got a part-time job cleaning animal cages, she had no idea she would become a veterinary oncologist, much less co-found the Veterinary Cannabis Society. Two advanced degrees, a journey through Chinese Herbal Medicine, and a nonprofit later, she now has a waiting list of new patients.

An old-school vet with an exclusively holistic practice, Dr. Cynthia Lankenau rolls with the punches. She will tell you that Traditional Chinese Medicine is only the tip of an older, more impressive iceberg called Classical Chinese Medicine—and that it’s only one modality she’s used to replace conventional medicine. She has seen Nixon open China, the rise of GMO’s, the death of family farms, and the rise of regulatory boards. More importantly, she has noted how these events’ effects trickle down to our beloved pets. But even as cancer rates rise and small animals experience heightened stress levels, she remains optimistic and continues to learn voraciously.

For many of us, our dog’s cancer diagnosis can be scary, frustrating, and it can leave us feeling a little helpless. Especially, if your traditional veterinarian does not give you any options or is skeptical about the effectiveness of using holistic treatments to treat dog cancer. Holistic veterinarian, Dr. Katie Woodley, sees this often with her clients. Her number one goal besides treating the patient is to remind their pet parents that there is hope in alternative therapies. In this episode, Dr. Woodley explains why there is a divide between the two disciplines and how she infuses her traditional veterinary background with Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture in her holistic practice, The Natural Pet Doctor.

How do you keep breathing? And should you get an oncologist on board? And how do I cope with my guilt? Members of the Facebook group Dog Cancer Support offer their hard-won wisdom.

Melanomas in dogs are very common, but not all melanomas are the same. So, when should you be worried about finding a melanoma tumor on your dog? Dr. Dressler answers these questions and discusses the most common locations that aggressive and non-aggressive melanoma tumors develop. He examines why hesitating to get a suspected malignant melanoma treated on your dog, could result in a worst-case scenario. This episode will teach you why early diagnosis is key to improving the success rate of your dog's melanoma treatment plan.

In this episode, Dr. Dressler joins us to discuss the causes of perianal and anal sac tumors. Learn what causes this cancer, what increases your dog's risk for a malignant tumor, and how regular check-ups could help find them sooner. To find out more about what your dog's vet visit will entail, and what diagnostic tests your dog should get, make sure not to miss this episode.

Brain tumors in dogs are not very common. While your dog is less likely to be diagnosed with a brain tumor, early diagnosis can still be challenge because the symptoms present like a seizure disorder. For some dog owner’s it can be hard to recognize when their dog is having a seizure. In this episode, Dr. Dressler provides insight on the symptoms of brain tumors, factors that can make early detection complicated and what to consider when determining your dog’s treatment options.