Pet Health Hub

Here you will find the most accurate and recent information on pet cancer Prevention, Types & Symptoms, and Treatment & Support.
Prevention
Prevention
Types and Symptoms
Types & Symptoms
Treatment Support
Treatment & Support
Loss
Loss
  • Overcoming Challenges of a Cancer Diagnosis: Supporting Both Pet and Guardian

    A cancer diagnosis can create sadness and stress for the pet Guardian.  Pets can feel our emotions and distress. Staying as positive as possible and spending more time with the pet doing things you both enjoy can benefit the pet and Pet Guardian significantly. Pets having difficulty getting up from resting and moving about the […]

    August 20, 2023

  • End-of-Life Care and Hospice for my Dog or Cat

    Dr. Al Townshend Every pet Guardian is aware that there are three stages in the life of our cherished pets; puppy/kitten, adult, and senior. There is another phase in every life that we often fail to realize until it is upon us: the “end-of-life” phase. For some, the end-of-life is the point a pet dies, […]

    April 22, 2022

  • Benefits of Milk Thistle and Pet Cancer

    Benefits of Milk Thistle and Pet Cancer What is Milk Thistle? Milk Thistle is a perennial herb of the Aster family that has been shown to have medicinal properties. The seeds contain silymarin which is a group of compounds have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. And is often used as a complementary component to cancer therapy. […]

    March 16, 2022

  • Benefits of Marine Phytoplankton and Pet Cancer

    Marine Phytoplankton are microscopic, single-celled marine organisms that remove CO2 from our atmosphere. The world’s surface is covered 71% by water, and phytoplankton produces 50% of the atmosphere’s breathable oxygen. They are the basis of the entire food chain of the marine environment. Marine Phytoplankton are whole food meaning that all nutrients are directly absorbed […]

    March 11, 2022

  • Mushrooms and Pet Cancer

    Chaga and Turkey Tail Mushrooms are a very good food to consider giving to pets that have a cancer diagnosis or for Cancer prevention. Why? These mushrooms are packed with antioxidants to protect cells in the body from damage. Turkey Tail Mushrooms help to balance the immune system and so will support auto-immune conditions such […]

    October 14, 2021

  • Mast Cell Treatment Options

    Recent Advances in Treatment Options Dr. Al Townshend If you are not familiar with Canine Mast Cell Tumors, I recommend reading the Kali’s Wish website article on Canine Mast Cell Tumours. Cancer research is a hot topic, with new advancements occurring almost daily. Both human and animal cancers are so similar that the research in […]

    August 26, 2021

  • Immunotherapy

    Immunotherapy is Providing New and Exciting Cancer Treatments for Pets Dr. Al Townshend A pet’s immune system is in place to detect invaders, including cancer cells, and destroy them. When the immune system does not recognize a cell as a foreign invader (such as some cancer cells), the cells can increase quickly and become a […]

    July 1, 2021

  • What to feed your pet with cancer?

    Building a diet for animals with cancer If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, paying attention to their diet is very important. However, building out new recipes or purchasing new food is not so simple. Depending on your pet, its history, and the type of cancer, the recommended diet will look different. The article “The […]

    March 24, 2021

  • COVID-19 Pet Health

    A message from our Dr. Al According to the Public Health Agency of Canada, “There is currently no evidence to suggest that any animal native to Canada (wild, livestock or pets) harbours the virus that causes COVID-19. It is possible that some types of animals can be infected with COVID-19 but there is no evidence […]

    March 26, 2020

  • Pet Cancer Diagnosis – What do I do now?

    By: Dr. Al Townshend  Sit Down and Take a Deep Breath  Cancer is the last thing a Guardian wants to hear from their veterinarian. It is an all-too-common diagnosis that, in the past, has been considered a death sentence for their beloved pet. Today, the light is brighter, and there is a future for many […]

    January 13, 2020

  • Pet Cancer Guide for those facing the disease with their pet

    If you are facing pet cancer, here is a resource guide that could be helpful. *Kali’s Wish has no relationship with the authors of this book. We do not benefit in any way from sales of the book. We are sharing it as a potential resource, but are relying on the guardian to review and […]

    December 17, 2019

  • Pet Cancer – Complementary Therapies

    From mushrooms to Chinese herbs, melatonin and many more … There are a number of other options to support and treat pets with cancer, which can be used in conjunction with the conventional methods, or which be employed on their own. The goals are to slow or stop the progression of cancer. Also, to provide […]

    March 19, 2019

  • Modified Citrus Pectin, Dogs, and Cancer

    We came across this interesting article on Modified Citrus Pectin and got one of our veterinary experts, Dr. Al Townsend, to share his thoughts before we linked to it. Dr. Al says: This is a great article from two highly respected veterinary oncologists. Together, they wrote the book on cancer “Dog Cancer Survival Guide”. Modified […]

    December 11, 2018

  • Cannabis and Your Pets

    Is Cannabis right for you and your pets?? Our friends at Montgomery Village Veterinary Clinic put this great informational video together for those considering using cannabis for their pets.

    October 9, 2018

  • Emma’s Story

    Emma was a rambunctious and spirited little Boston Terrier, loved by Chelsie B. who had wanted a dog forever. Five days before Chelsie’s eighteenth birthday, her parents got Emma and brought her home as a present for their daughter. We asked if Emma was a good girl, “No!” Chelsie laughed, “She was terrible! She was […]

    May 8, 2018

  • Doggy Blood Donations & Treating Cancer

    In part 2 of the Kali’s Wish series on dog blood donations, we look at how donated dog blood helps with cancer treatment: (Check out part 1: Doggy Blood Donations: It’s in Them to Give) Blood transfusions ease the stress of chemotherapy for dogs: “[The] best thing is that blood can be a bridge to […]

    March 14, 2018

  • Doggy Blood Donations: It’s in Them to Give

    Welcome to Part 1 of the Kali’s Wish series on dog blood donations: (Check out part 2, Doggy Blood Donations & Treating Cancer) Have you heard of the Canadian Animal Blood Bank (CABB)? They provide animals with much needed blood – very similar to humans! In the first part of our two part series on […]

    February 15, 2018

  • Pet Insurance 101

    Pet insurance is just like any other form of insurance; it helps you prepare for the unexpected. If you decide your pet needs insurance, think about what you want it to cover. Like with most insurance, one size does not fit all. Make sure you do your research and see what’s included (and excluded) in […]

    February 7, 2018

  • Disco’s Story

    My story is about Disco, a three-pawed chihuahua. Back in 2011, he found himself at one of the highest kill shelters in southern California. When he arrived he was immediately listed to be euthanized after a 4 day hold, because the person in charge decided that no one would want to adopt a dog who […]

    January 26, 2018

  • Loki’s Story

    We want to share a message of support for our friend Jesse, a resident of Alberta, and his best friend, Loki. He reached out to us looking for support from our vet experts when he found out Loki, a pitbull mastiff mix, was diagnosed with fibrosarcoma of the nose. Loki, who is almost five, wasn’t […]

    January 12, 2018

  • Bio Detection & Pet Cancer Screening

    Currently, pet owners have limited options when it comes to cancer screenings for their furry companions. All too often, we find out too late that our pets are sick. Liz Dick, head trainer with Bio Detection Dogs Canada, is hoping to change that. We sat down with her to discuss her latest ongoing project – […]

    December 20, 2017

  • Zini’s Story

    Zini, our beloved piebald husky, was born in July 2001 in California before coming to Canada as a sled dog in 2003. After retiring from the races in 2005, this sweet, mischievous, and witty husky was ready for a new home. After travelling to meet Zini, we locked eyes and that began our beautiful relationship. […]

    December 11, 2017

  • Conventional vs. Complementary Cancer Treatments

    What comes after your pet’s fateful cancer diagnosis begins with many questions, further diagnostics, and then decisions need to be made on how to proceed. One of the main items of concern is deciding on the best course of treatment. There are generally two types of treatments: Conventional and Complementary. Conventional cancer treatments directly treat […]

    November 9, 2017

  • Reducing Veterinary Clinic Stress for Pets

    It’s no secret that most pets would prefer to stay in the comfort of their own home, rather than visit a veterinary clinic. Fortunately, there are a number of things that can help make the visit a little easier, reducing the stress for both pets and the humans who love them. According to Dr. Dirk […]

    October 18, 2017

  • Who is Dr. Dirk Dekens?

    Dr. Dekens is one of the vet who sits on Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation’s panel of experts. He got his doctoral degree in veterinary medicine in 1986 in Ghent, Belgium. After immigrating to Canada in 1989, Dr. Dekens worked as an emergency vet at Calgary Animal Emergency Clinic and as the first full-time vet at […]

    May 24, 2017

  • Golden Retriever Lifetime Study hopes to help find cure for cancer

    Dogs are diagnosed with many of the same cancers as humans, with a presentation, clinical pathology, and treatment response very much like that observed in humans. We also share 85% of our DNA with our canine companions. With this in mind, researchers hypothesize that similar genetic mechanisms cause human and canine cancers, and that genetic studies of […]

    May 17, 2017

  • Meet Dr. Vockeroth

    Who is Dr. Wanda Vockeroth? She is a very respected Vet, who is also on our Kali’s Wish Cancer Foundation’s Panel of Experts. Dr. Wanda is well-known for her merging of conventional and holistic veterinary medicine. She became interested in doing acupuncture in animals early in her career, and became certified in Veterinary Acupuncture in […]

    May 11, 2017

  • Prevention and better treatment options are still key to fighting animal cancer

    Some may wonder if the statistic “1 in 4 dogs will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime” is still true. Here at Kali’s Wish, we wondered about that too. We dug into the research and found out that little has changed with respect to animal cancer statistics. Cancer continues to be very common in […]

    May 3, 2017

  • Put your records on… for your dog

    Music has long been an emotional outlet and source of catharsis for humans, and we now know that it can potentially help our dogs deal with stress as well. According to a new study from the Scottish SPCA and researchers from the University of Glasgow, playing music has a positive effect on a dog’s behavior. […]

    February 8, 2017

  • Surgery

    What are the goals of cancer surgery? For most pet cancers, surgery is the primary form of treatment. Surgery is used to remove or reduce the size of a tumour and make any subsequent treatments with chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy, more effective. In some cases, chemotherapy or radiation therapy is used before surgery to shrink […]

    December 20, 2016

  • Veterinary Acupuncture

    What is veterinary acupuncture? Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese healing method used to prevent and treat many different health conditions by inserting fine needles into specific “acupuncture” points on the body. Your pet’s body has thousands of acupuncture points but only about 200 are used on a regular basis in veterinary acupuncture. These points, which […]

    December 20, 2016

  • Rehabilitation Therapy

    What is rehabilitation therapy? Although it’s been around a long time in the human world, rehabilitation therapy is just picking up speed in the veterinary community. In fact, in 2010, veterinary sports medicine and rehabilitation was officially recognized as a specialty by the American Board of Veterinary Specialities. Rehabilitation therapy can be used effectively to […]

    December 20, 2016

  • Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)

    What is Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine? Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) is a system of medicine that’s been used in China for thousands of years to treat myriad ailments in pets. TCVM is based on the philosophical principles of “Qi” (pronounced Chee), Yin and Yang and the five elements: wood, fire, earth, metal and water. […]

    December 20, 2016

  • Veterinary Homeopathy

    Homeopathy is a type of naturopathic medicine first developed by German physician, Samuel Hahnemann about two hundred years ago. It is based on the principles that the body has the ability to repair itself and “like cures like” — a substance that can make you ill in large doses can make you well in small […]

    December 20, 2016

  • Chemotherapy

    What is chemotherapy? Chemotherapy is the use of one or a combination of drugs to treat cancer. This form of treatment can be used alone but is often used in conjunction with surgery and/or radiation therapy to help: achieve cancer remission decrease the risk of tumour reoccurrence decrease the risk of metastasis (cancer spreading to […]

    December 19, 2016

  • Radiation Therapy

    What is radiation therapy? Recent advances in veterinary medicine allow vets to more accurately diagnose the type and location of tumours in our pets. And that, when combined with cutting-edge equipment, means today’s radiation therapy is more accurate and effective than ever before with fewer side effects and damage to normal cells. In a nutshell, […]

    December 19, 2016

  • Animal Chiropractic

    What is animal chiropractic? Animal chiropractic is based on the paradigm that the body has the innate power to heal itself and that innate power is controlled by the nervous system. Nerves control everything that happens in your pet’s body. And the brain and spinal cord, which are protected by the spine, control the messages […]

    December 19, 2016