Momentum Women™: Caring for a real dog named Tiki

Caring for a real dog named Tiki
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julia on 16 April, 2010 11:21:00

Author and pet advocate Julia Szabo's real life canine battle with Cancer.
Again. She shares the alternative treatment that worked in Tiki's case.

Not every male with the name Tiki is a dog around women. OK, my beloved K9 Tiki,
a Chow-Rottweiler cross that I adopted from an animal shelter 11 years ago,
happens to be an actual dog, but he's also a real mensch: a kind, loving, and -
yes - loyal companion. (This may well be due to the fact that he's neutered.)
Because this animal brings me nothing but comfort and joy, and because I adore
him and want to ensure that his time with me is the longest and happiest it can
possibly be, I recently went to battle with an old enemy - cancer - on Tiki's
behalf. Years ago, my dog Sam was diagnosed with cancer, but he bravely fought
it and lived to the ripe old age of 16+.
Tiki is only 12, but just a few months ago, the right side of his snout appeared
swollen, then quickly became seriously distended, as if something were wedged
high up in his gum. A visit to the vet confirmed that there was indeed an
abnormal growth in there - and oral cancer happens to be one of the most
aggressive forms of this deadly disease.
I decided to bypass conventional cancer-fighting methods - traditional
chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery - and opted instead to fight this fierce
opponent with the most powerful weapon I know: the alternative cancer treatment
Neoplasene. Formulated from alkaloids in the bloodroot plant (Sanguinaria
canadensis), Neoplasene is the brilliant invention of Dr. Terence Fox of Buck
Mountain Botanicals in Montana.
It's an alternative form of chemotherapy that's highly effective, and much less
expensive than traditional chemo. Unlike traditional chemo, which attacks all of
the body's cells (healthy as well as cancerous), Neoplasene targets only the
cancerous cells and leaves healthy tissue unharmed. This stuff really works;
it's what kept Sam, my other dog, healthy and happy for years. To locate a vet
in your area that uses Neoplasene, contact Buck Mountain Botanicals.
I'm thrilled to report that after three injections of Neoplasene, administered
under anesthesia at the Humane Society of New York's [ www.humanesocietyny.org ]
excellent clinic, Tiki's face began showing dramatic signs of healing. The
cancerous cells literally got pushed out of his mouth, then exited through his
snout, leaving behind a hole, like a special effect in a horror movie! Once
Neoplasene was done eradicating the cancerous tissue, an inch-wide crater of
clean, healthy tissue was visible on Tiki's snout. Thanks to frequent daily
applications of Buck Mountain Wound Balm, that crater has since healed up
beautifully.
Thanks to Neoplasene, my beloved Tiki is out of cancer's clutches - for now. But
with cancer, you can't pause to rest even for an instant. To prevent a
recurrence, Tiki will be taking twice-daily doses of oral Neoplasene with his
food for the rest of his life. The miracle medicine comes in liquid form and it
tastes quite bitter, so I always serve it mixed in with Tiki's favorite canned
food: Wellness Simple Food Solutions Duck & Rice Formula.
Tiki: 1, Cancer: 0. That's the kind of score I like to keep.
Julia Szabo produced and wrote the Sunday New York Post's hugely popular "Pets"
column for 11 years and is a frequent contributor to Pajamas Media. The author
of six lifestyle books, including Pretty Pet-Friendly: Easy Ways to Keep Spot's
Digs Stylish and Spotless (Howell Book House), she blogs for LifeonCrypton.com,
MomentumWomen.com and answers callers' questions live on Martha Stewart Radio's
"Morning Living." Julia's writings on pets have been published in The New York
Times "T" Magazine, The New Yorker, Town & Country, Traditional Home, Country
Living, Departures, Travel + Leisure, Interview, The Bark, Fido Friendly, and
The American Dog. A Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Vassar College, she's honored to
be a member of American Humane Association's Animal Protection Advisory
Committee and the National Advisory Board of North Shore Animal League America,
and also sits on the board of Ecuador Animal Shelter.  She was honored with the
Momentum Women Award in 2009.
pet photo credit: Lev Gorn