Disposing of Pets in Durham, NC

Sorry folks, but this post is a bit morbid. OK, really morbid, but I think it’s important to share. I live in Durham, NC. Here are the most important rules for burying pets in North Carolina (from the North Carolina general statutes):

• bury 300 feet from any flowing stream or body of water.
• bury at least three feet beneath the surface of the ground within 24 hours after death.

This information is available on the North Carolina General Assembly website.

With almost any problem, my first coping mechanism is gathering data. It gives me a sense of control. False control, in this case, but at least I’ll be prepared when Star’s life is indeed over. And focusing on the facts is an effective buffer against otherwise painful emotions. That’s my story for now, and it’s working. I’ll get to the painful emotions later.

Day one of chemo

Star had her first chemo treatment a few days ago. Elspar and Vincristine. And she’s on the requisite Prednisone. No side effects so far. In fact, she’s been her ole perky self, as perky as a basset hound can be. It’s as if life rewound a few months.

I know I’m being hopeful. I just can’t accept or want to deal with the fact that she might die in the next year. As I told a coworker this week, I’m better at distancing my feelings from the situation than some pet owners I know are. Had lots of practice over the years.

Anyway, Star’s getting plenty of attention these days–more walks and playtime, delicious canned food (versus the old Iams chunks) , sleeping in the bed. We’re making her last year extra special.

Nutrition for dogs with cancer

Paraphrased from Holistic Guide for a Health Dog, by Wendy Volhard and Kerry Brown, D.V.M.:

Combine conventional chemotherapy with a high fat, high protein diet. Tumors need carbohydrates to grow, so a diet high in fat and protein can starve the tumors. Noted vet cancer specialist Gregory Ogilvie of Colorado State University recommends a diet consisting of the following:

• 37% animal protein
• 32% fat–mostly from animal sources
• 21.6% carbs
• 3.5% Omega-3 fatty acids
• 2.5% DHA (another fatty acid)
• 3.4% arginine (amino acid)

From Complete Care for Your Aging Dog, by Amy D. Shojai:

• Dr. Ogilvie’s group along with Hill’s Pet Foods has developed Prescription Diet n/d, a diet specifically for cancer patients. It’s low in carbs and contains DHA, which is thought to prevent the growth and spread of tumors.
• Holistic vets say dogs eating homemade diets enjoy a better quality of life. It’s important to work with your vet on the recipe, however, to avoid making your dog sicker. Petdiets.com is run by vet nutritionists to help you and your vet design a diet.
• Dr. Susan Wynn, D.V.M., holistic vet and executive director of the Georgia Holistic Veterinary Medical Association and of the Veterinary Botanical Medicine Association, recommends a diet consisting of 50% poultry or fish, 50% veggies, and appropriate vitamins and minerals, such as Omega-3 fatty acids for their antioxidant properties and turmeric, which inhibits tumor spread and growth, reduces chemo side effects, and increases the efficacy of some chemo agents.

I plan to run these options by our oncologist.

When Star began having gastro problems and then was diagnosed with lymphoma, we fed her Hill’s Prescription Diet i/d (which I think is for gastrointestinal problems). She ate 1/4 can about 4 times/day, gradually increasing to 1 can 2 times/day.  She love love LOVES it and has gained 5 much-need pounds.  It’s a little expensive though — about $1.60/can from the vet. Now she’s eating Hill’s Science Diet for the Mature Adult, which costs $.30/can less, and she likes it just as well as the i/d. Neither products are on the list of recalled pet foods (http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/petfoodrecall/).

Pet Rest Cemetery

Bill and I finally found the local pet cemetery in Durham, NC. Pet Rest Cemetery was originally located off Highway 70 in Raleigh near what is now Brier Creek. With the development of Brier Creek, the cemetery (with more than 300 pets) was forced to move.

If you’re looking for Pet Rest Cemetery, don’t rely on Google Maps, at least as of April 29, 2007. The map led us to an upscale neighborhood off Strickland Road in Raleigh. Definitely no animals buried there! A Triangle Business Journal article dated October 14, 2005 led us to the vicinity of Glenwood and Alexander near Avera Place Apartments. Here’s the Google map.

As you enter the apartments, the cemetery is on the left. You’ll see the gazebo and a large tombstone bearing the name Pet Rest Cemetery. A gravel driveway leads you to a small parking area. The place is bleak. Clumps of weeds dot the red earth. Small gravestones and markers are arranged in circles around the white gazebo. Many were covered by dirt, so you can only see the outlines of the gravestone. At the back of the field, 30 or 40 gravestones appeared to mark a mass grave. I wondered if the owners couldn’t be contacted when the cemetery was relocated.

Based on the state of the cemetery, we won’t bury Star there when she dies. I don’t know what we’ll do yet. Other options include:

• taxidermy (or freeze drying): Way too creepy!!!! Just look at the photos. The pets can be arranged as if they were casually napping on the couch. Who could live with that constant reminder?!?!! Fido staring at you through those glass eyes from beside the fireplace. Poopsie curled up in a permanent nap. I’m not THAT detached from my emotions! In terms of cost, freezing Star would cost over $3000, $340 more for a raised head.
• cremation: Cherry urn, $100. Cremation approx $130 for Star (based on rates at PetGuardian.com) Extra fees for transporting body from vet to crematorium.
• home burial: Casket costs $30 to $200 or more depending on materials — biodegradable plastic, non-biodegradable plastic, styrofoam, wood. Stone marker $30 to $110 and up. (based on products at http://www.perfectmemorials.com/pet-memorials-c-396.html)
• disposal by vet. Something like $50.
• conversion to a diamond: I’m not kidding. A 1/4 carat colorless diamond starts at around $3500. Blue, red, yellow, and green diamonds can also be purchased. The diamond is created from a lock of hair though originally cremated remains were used. At first, this sounded bizarre, but if it weren’t so expensive, I’d go for it. The final product has no resemblance to the pet, thereby decreasing the creepiness factor. It’s simply a visual reminder of the special relationship you had with the pet. Creepy would be wearing a ring on each finger for all of your dead pets or even worse — carbonizing Grandma!

Here are some helpful links for handling (practically and emotionally) the death of a pet:

• Advice on a variety of issues (dealing with emotions, determining quality of life, deciding on euthanasia, cloning, etc.): http://www.pet-loss.net/index.html
• A guide to euthanasia: http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/timetoletgo.htm
• Death after-care options: http://dogs.about.com/od/griefandloss/p/death_aftercare.htm
• Pet cremation providers by state and province: http://www.cremation.com/petcremation/index.asp (enable pop-ups in your browser)
• Pet burial and funeral options: http://www.thefuneraldirectory.com/optionsfaq.html
• Pros and cons of after-death options: http://www.ourpals.com/support/care.htm
• Jewelry memorials: http://www.perfectmemorials.com/jewelry-memorials-c-395.html

Deciding on Chemotherapy

Bill and I waited several days after Star’s diagnosis to even get to the chemo discussion. It was simply too painful to think about let alone discuss. I had so many reservations.

– At 12, Star only has a few more years to live anyway. The chemo typically extends a dog’s life a year to 18 months in the case of lymphoma. But I’ve read of dogs living 3, even 5 years more after chemo.

– She already has degenerative disk disease, which flares up every 6 months or so. A short-term dose of Rimadyl or Zubrin treats it well, and she’s back to normal again. I do worry about the condition worsening until she has to be carried around in a sling.

– Are we considering chemo for her welfare or for our own? Are we doing it for her or us? I can’t help but think practically on this one, but I’m not really sure.

– Emotionally, the chemo seems to be the equivalent of slapping on a bandaid and slowly ripping it off. Will Bill and I be able in perpetual mourning during this last year, or will we be able to enjoy Star while it lasts? Why delay the inevitable?

– Am I completely detached from my emotions and would rather take the easy way out — euthanasia?

So after a painfully honest discussion of these issues and more, Bill and I decided to go through with the chemo. Overall, Star’s been in good health, except for the occasional back problem. During treatment, if her health deteriorates for whatever reason, we’d have no choice but to have her put to sleep. I dread that day. Here’s to hoping it never comes.

Next Tuesday…day one of chemo.

Star’s diagnosis

My 12-year old basset hound named Star was diagnosed with lymphoma a few weeks ago. She had stopped eating and become extremely lethargic. What little she did eat came up right back up. Star has always been a trim basset hound, but she soon looked anorexic. Imagine…you’ll be happier. An anorexic basset hound. A lethargic, anorexic basset hound. She was truly pathetic.

After spending hundreds of dollars on tests, we were told that a segment of Star’s small intestine had thickened and very little food could get through. They had to do surgery. Surgery led to biopsy, biopsy led to diagnosis of lymphoma, a slow-dividing lymphoma.

I’m honestly still in shock. This isn’t happening to me! I’ve had Star since she was a puppy, and she’s really the third member of the family. She’s just like a person with her own language, moods, expressions, and routine. I’ve never thought much about her not being in our lives. Life without her is unfathomable.

So the next steps…decisions about chemotherapy and care. More about that later.