A Dog Overcoming Cancer

Rocket appears to be a Cairn's Terrier, and he is about twelve years old. He is a quiet, dignified little dog who is absolutetly irresistable to everyone, speaking generally. However, he is solely dedicated to his mistress, Tasha. Years ago she rescued him and a bigger dog, a collie-mix, from a couple. The husband was a troubled soul who claimed he saw dead people and had fits of rage during which he had picked up Rocket who was inside his cage and thrown him out the front door of the house.
Tasha was able to take the two dogs and eventually discovered that Rocket had Cushing's Disease. At great expense she treated it and got in under control. Then she learned that Rocket had Lymphoma, and he began cancer treatment at the University of Florida's small animal clinic which has just moved to a beautiful building. From what I can gather, a course of chemotherapy can cost $2,ooo to $4,ooo.
Rocket's chemotherapy went smoothly, and he is now in remisssion. But that doesn't always happen. An acquaintance has a dog who alerts her to her enviroment because she is totally deaf was treated for Lymphoma at the same time as Rocket. However, in the course of chemotherapy, it was found that the cancer had spread to the dog's liver. The last I heard the dog was still alive. The only time this dog wagged her tail at me was during her chemotherapy. Her mistress always referred to her lack of energy and enthusiasm as being "tired," but now we know it was cancer.
When Rocket was getting his last treatment, the doctor called Tasha to say that he had detected a heart murmur. This was almost too much for Tasha. She had tackled and paid for the treatment of Cushing's Disease and cancer. Now she was being told that Rocket had heart problems! She had no more money, and she had to tell the Vet not to
investigate the heart murmur. The Vet totally understood. Rocket's two week check-up revealed that his cancer was still in remission, and the Vet could not hear a heart murmur.
As pets become increasingly dear to humans, their health problems are going to become more obvious as they have such short life spans compared to us humans. That means humans must take into account the cost of health care when they buy an animal.
It is only realistic of a prospective dog raiser to ask himself is he is willing to give up a considerable chunk of his materialistic narcissism and self-indulgence to take care of his canine best friend. If you ever get into a position that you can not afford to treat your animal, take him to your Vet and tell him. If the choice is only to put him to sleep, it is far better than letting your pal suffer. Don't feel alone; there are plenty of people who go to the vet with the same problem. It's a very tough possiblity, but it's best you know about it. Your dog will give you a love and faithfulness that you will not find with a human, but remember that he is helpless and relies upon you to take care of him. Never let him suffer.