12 Tips For Living With  Cancer in Your Animal Companion.

Sandy Murphy, a member of Love on a Leash a pet therapy organization, has written the definitive article for those of us who have received the dreaded cancer diagnosis for our beloved fur friends.

If you or a friend are dealing with cancer in your pet, this article gives you tips and strategies for not only surviving this tough time but also for maximizing the quality of life for your pet and strengthening bond between you. With cancer all too common in our pets, this article is a must read for all of us sharing our lives with companion animals.

Here are some excerpts:

Assemble a good team of veterinarians. Ask for recommendations. Make sure the doctors respect the choices you want to make for your dog or cat.

Keep each day as normal as possible.

Don’t cry in front of your animal. Remove yourself from the situation for a while each day. Work out, stop for coffee, meet friends, or go to a movie. You’ll come back refreshed and able to carry on.

Make new memories. Take lots of pictures, or start a scrapbook. Encourage your partner or kids to share their favorite stories about the animal. This helps you celebrate his life and the time you’ve had together, and not just focus on his illness.

And perhaps, most important of all:

Keep in mind that not every cancer diagnosis is a death sentence.

The article appears in June/July issue of Animal Wellness Magazine (http://www.animalwellnessmagazine.com) on page 45. The magazine is available in Barnes and Noble as well as some lesser known outlets. An online, e-mail subscription is available.

This is Izzie, therapy dog extraordinaire and the inspiration for Sandy's article.