Jan Schwartz chronicles her last year with Oscar, a beloved
9-year-old Golden Retriever, who is diagnosed with cancer. Because of the amount
of cancer, the typical surgery/chemotherapy/radiation treatment is not
necessarily a viable option. So, Jan and her husband look to homeopathic
treatment with food, herbs, and Slippery Elm leaves that Oscar “sniffs out” on
their walks.
This chronicle is written in journal form, with dates, and
details about Oscar – from his physical state to the changes in his diet. The commitment and determination of Schwartz
lead her to provide Oscar with cooked meals and take-out sandwiches. This diet combined with herbal supplements
gave Oscar additional sustenance to be comfortable, to continue on their daily
walks, and a chance to slow the progress of the cancer.
Some of the finite detail about meals and daily activities was a little too much for this reader. However, it’s easy to come to like Oscar, and his littermate, Winston, and feel compassion for them during the roller-coaster ride of dealing with Oscar’s cancer. Learning more about the homeopathic treatment was more informative, and could be for anyone who has a dog, and would be interested to diversify or change its diet. Readers who have had a dog can relate easily to the emotional turmoil during Oscar’s last days, his final visit to the vet, and the time left with Winston, as he is now on his own and at a loss for Oscar.
Description and detail about the homeopathic supplements is provided in the Appendix.
