• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Practice positive: 3 lessons from pets for a happier life

April 2, 2014
Adam Oliver

Everything I need to know I learned from my dog when he was diagnosed with cancer.

Next >

“But we took him in just to get his teeth cleaned,” I said to my coworkers after taking my dog, Louie, to the veterinarian. Before I knew it the doctors were using words such as, “cancer” and “tumor” in the same sentence as him. I couldn’t believe it. He was showing no symptoms and wasn't having any problems. We biopsied the supposed worrisome area and waited for the biopsy results. At first I was convinced it was nothing, but then started thinking, “What if it is … ?” Up and down went my emotions until the biopsy results came back late on a Friday afternoon and those dreadful words appeared: squamous cell carcinoma, gingival. I couldn't believe it.

Photos of Louie courtesy of Adam Oliver

Click next to read more.

< Back  |  Next >

Right at work I had a complete meltdown. How was I going to tell my wife, my family, our friends? I didn’t know. As I drove home I planned an organized, well-developed speech. “Keep calm,” I told myself. “Let’s not freak out until we need to.”

When I walked in the door of my house I lost it. I could barely get the words cancer out to my wife. We talked about it and realized that we shouldn't totally lose it until we got all of the information from the planned CT scan on Monday.

Advertisement

 

< Back  |  Next >

Throughout the weekend my wife and I broke the news to our families and friends that Louie had cancer, but we told them and ourselves to keep calm until we knew all of the information. We convinced ourselves that everything would go smoothly on Monday. The day came for the CT scan and we proceeded with it without a hiccup. Afterwards I met with the oncologists and they informed me it wasn't in fact surgical and our options were either radiation or chemotherapy. Radiation, which would have likely cured him, wasn't without its risks and financial commitment. Chemotherapy alone had both positives and negatives as well. After much debate and discussion my wife and I decided to do chemotherapy alone.

 

< Back  |  Next >

We began the chemo in the middle of February. The night after Louie received it, my wife and I stared at him saying, "Does he look nauseous? Does he look miserable? What can we do?" We stared so much at Louie I’m pretty sure he thought we had lost our minds. As the weeks progressed Louie continued to thrive without much of a problem. Chemotherapy treatment two came and went, and then three and four. Before we knew it we were up to the 12th treatment. Louie received his last chemotherapy (his 12th treatment) on December 11th, 2013.

 

< Back  |  Start >

Throughout 2013 he felt better than he ever did, he was less itchy and he never stopped wagging his tail. Louie taught both my wife and I so many things.

1. No problem is ever big enough to stop being happy. Louie went through chemotherapy and was poked by needles every week and he didn't bat an eye.

2. Never stop wagging your tail.

3. If you show kindness to others, you get kindness back. Louie loved everyone and in turn everyone loved him.

Adam Oliver is a technician at Veterinary Specialty Care in Mt. Pleasant, S.C. He lives with his wife Tabitha, his dog Romeo and his cat Hamlet.

 

Related Content:

Practice ManagerRoles
Brief overview of acid-base interpretation
Brief overview of acid-base interpretation
Increasing efficiency and productivity in uncertain times
Increasing efficiency and productivity in uncertain times
AAVMC awards almost $100,000 in diversity scholarships
AAVMC awards almost $100,000 in diversity scholarships

Advertisement

Latest News

Communicating the importance of genetic screening

Purina announces its 2023 Pet Care Innovation Prize winners

AmeriVet Veterinary Partners deemed a 2022 Business of the Year

This week on dvm360.com: The Vet Blast Podcast kicks off National Pet Dental Health Month

View More Latest News
Advertisement