What Pet Parents Should Know About The Dog Cancer Survival Guide

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The Dog Cancer Survival Guide is a book for people whose dogs have cancer. Veterinarian Dr. Demian Dressler wrote it with veterinary oncologist Dr. Susan "Sue" Ettinger. The print second edition came out in 2011 and runs 477 pages (Dressler & Ettinger, 2011). Its big idea is Full Spectrum care, which pairs standard cancer treatment with diet, supplements, and other complementary options (Mighty Ape, n.d.).

The Drake Dog Cancer Foundation highly recommends it. Reviewers have praised it since it came out, and readers on Goodreads give it 4.40 out of 5 across 277 ratings (Goodreads, n.d.). Two things are worth knowing before you dig in. The book predates several cancer drugs approved since 2020 (Johannes, 2022). And Dr. Dressler also created the supplement Apocaps, which the book discusses (Tripawds Nutrition, 2013). Read it alongside your vet team, which is exactly what the authors advise (Hess, 2012). You can buy The Dog Cancer Survival Guide on Amazon.

Key Points

• Dr. Demian Dressler, DVM, wrote the book with Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology) (Dressler & Ettinger, 2011).
• It's the second edition from Maui Media, published in 2011, at 477 pages (Dressler & Ettinger, 2011). An e-book version was around by 2009 (Tripawds, 2009).
• The Drake Dog Cancer Foundation highly recommends it for owners who want one in-depth reference.
• Library Journal said owners "will welcome this guide, which will help them calm down, think clearly" (Eagan, 2011, as quoted in Dog Cancer Survival Guide, n.d.).
• Goodreads readers rate it 4.40 out of 5 from 277 ratings (Goodreads, n.d.).
• Its core idea, Full Spectrum care, means looking objectively at every available tool, conventional and complementary (Tripawds Downloads, 2013).
• Dr. Dressler created Apocaps, and the book gives it several pages (Tripawds Nutrition, 2013).
• Stelfonta (2020), Tanovea (2021), and Laverdia (2021) all came after the book (Johannes, 2022).
• The authors say it doesn't replace your veterinarian (Hess, 2012).

Detailed Explanation

What is The Dog Cancer Survival Guide?

Its full title is The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog's Life Quality and Longevity. It's written for pet parents, not vets. The publisher says it covers surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, along with supplements, nutrition, and mind-body approaches. It also shows owners how to build a plan around their dog's cancer type and age and their own situation (Mighty Ape, n.d.).

Here are the basics.

Sources for this table: Dressler and Ettinger (2011) and Tripawds Downloads (n.d.). Some retailers list a slightly different page count (Mighty Ape, n.d.).

Who wrote it?

Dr. Demian Dressler is a veterinarian on Maui. Back in 2009 he practiced at South Shore Veterinary Care and was building a following with his dog cancer blog (Tripawds, 2009).

Dr. Sue Ettinger is a board-certified veterinary oncologist with more than 20 years in the field. She practices at Guardian Veterinary Specialists in New York, and many owners know her as Dr. Sue Cancer Vet. She started the early detection campaign "See Something, Do Something, Why Wait? Aspirate," and the Western Veterinary Conference named her its 2019 Small Animal Continuing Educator of the Year (New York Vet, 2026). Her rule of thumb is easy to remember: if a lump is about the size of a pea and has been there a month, get it sampled (Ettinger, 2017). Our guide to FNA vs. biopsy in dogs explains how that works.

What's in the book?

According to one reviewer, it's split into five parts (Hess, 2012):

1. My Dog Has Cancer, Now What?
2. What You Should Know About Dog Cancer
3. Full Spectrum Cancer Care
4. Making Confident Choices
5. From the Oncologist

That reviewer liked the plain writing and the sidebars that explain key ideas. She also called it "certainly not light reading," both for the subject and the sheer size (Hess, 2012). Fair enough. At close to 500 pages, most people will dip in where they need to.

What do reviewers say about The Dog Cancer Survival Guide?

The reviews are strong. They've also held up for more than a decade, which is no small thing for a book about a field that changes this fast.

Sources for this table: Dog Cancer Survival Guide (n.d.), Goodreads (n.d.), and Hess (2012). The magazine and Costco quotes are as reprinted on the publisher's media page.

Independent bloggers have been positive too. One reviewer liked that the sidebars show where the two authors disagree, a reminder that medicine isn't always black and white. That reviewer also felt Dr. Dressler wasn't pushy about his own supplement and encouraged readers to talk it over with their oncologist (A Farmgirl's Finds, n.d.).

Not every reader loved everything. A few Goodreads reviewers felt the book promoted the author's supplement too much, and some found it long. One suggested not reading it cover to cover (Goodreads, n.d.). That's useful advice. Treat it as a reference you come back to.

What does "Full Spectrum" cancer care mean?

It's the heart of the book. In the authors' words, "We need to look very, very objectively at all of the available tools we have" (Dressler & Ettinger, as cited in Tripawds Downloads, 2013). So you weigh conventional medicine and complementary options, like acupuncture, without writing either side off out of habit (Tripawds Downloads, 2013).

That message still rings true. Plenty of owners feel pushed into one camp, whether it's "chemo or nothing" or "natural only." There's a middle path. Start with the treatments that have the strongest proof, then add supportive care that's safe for your dog. Our overview of treatment options for dog cancer lays out the main choices, and breaking down dog cancer treatments shows how they compare.

Proof matters here. "Complementary" covers a lot of ground. Some therapies have good research behind them, and some products have none. Before you add anything, ask your vet what the research shows and whether it could get in the way of treatment. Our guide to fish oil for dogs with cancer walks through that kind of check for one supplement.

Does the book recommend Apocaps?

It discusses it at some length. Dr. Dressler created Apocaps CX, a supplement sold for dogs with cancer, and the book spends several pages on it, including when to give it (Tripawds Nutrition, 2013). The same article notes that Dr. Dressler says more than once that Apocaps may not be right for every dog (Tripawds Nutrition, 2013).

A vet developing a product isn't a problem in itself. Still, you should know about the link and weigh the supplement advice with that in mind. We looked at the evidence for this product on its own. We couldn't find a peer-reviewed clinical trial of Apocaps in dogs, and most of the research on its ingredients comes from lab studies (Drake Dog Cancer Foundation, 2026). Our full review, Apocaps for dogs and apoptosis, goes through what's known.

Check with your oncologist before giving any supplement, and especially during chemotherapy or radiation, since some can interact with treatment. Our article on what chemotherapy is explains why your team needs to know everything your dog takes.

Is The Dog Cancer Survival Guide still up to date?

Mostly, though not entirely. Dog cancer care has moved on since 2011, and a few treatments arrived after the book did (Johannes, 2022):

• Stelfonta, approved in 2020 for certain mast cell tumors in the skin.
• Tanovea, which got full approval for lymphoma in 2021.
• Laverdia-CA1, another lymphoma drug, which got conditional approval in 2021.

Our articles on Laverdia for dog lymphoma and immunotherapy for dogs with cancer cover some of these newer options. Guidelines have changed as well. The American Animal Hospital Association put out new oncology guidelines for dogs and cats in 2026 (American Animal Hospital Association [AAHA], 2026).

None of that takes away from what the book does well. Its advice on staying organized, asking good questions, and looking at all your options still holds. Just treat any specific drug, survival number, or supplement tip as something to run past your vet.

Is The Dog Cancer Survival Guide worth reading?

Yes. The Drake Dog Cancer Foundation highly recommends it. It's one of the most thorough books written for dog owners facing cancer, and it has an oncologist's voice built into it.

It's a great fit for deep readers who want one big reference. If you're curious about complementary care and how it can sit next to standard treatment, you'll get a lot out of it.

In the first rough days after a diagnosis, though, you may need quick answers more than a 477-page book. That's when a short, current resource and a talk with your vet help most. Our page for owners whose dog was just diagnosed and our dog cancer roadmap are built for that stretch. Then pick up the book once things settle.

Where can you buy The Dog Cancer Survival Guide?

You can get it in paperback or as a Kindle e-book (Tripawds Downloads, n.d.). Our Amazon link for The Dog Cancer Survival Guide takes you straight to it. Many public libraries carry it as well, so it's worth checking your local catalog (Dressler & Ettinger, 2011).

You may see "free PDF" downloads of the book online. Those are usually unauthorized copies. Buying it or borrowing it from a library supports the authors and gets you the real thing.

How should you use the book with your vet?

Keep a pen handy. When something sounds promising, jot it down as a question, not a plan, and bring the list to your next appointment. Our list of questions to ask your vet can help you build it out.

If your dog's case is complicated, ask about seeing a veterinary oncologist. Unsure about the plan you've been given? A second opinion is always reasonable, and a clinical trial may give your dog access to newer treatments.

The book puts a lot of weight on quality of life, and it's worth carrying that into every decision. Tracking how your dog's doing makes those conversations easier. Our quality of life scale and the Dog Cancer Tracker give you something concrete to bring along. For food questions, see our guide to feeding your dog with cancer. And look after yourself, too. Our guide to self-care for caregivers is there when it all feels heavy.

When to Contact a Veterinarian

A book can help you prepare. It can't examine your dog. Contact your veterinarian:

• Before you start any supplement, diet change, or complementary therapy you read about, and especially during chemotherapy or radiation.
• Before you stop or delay a recommended treatment because of something you read.
• If your dog has a new lump, or one that's growing. Don't wait and watch.
• If your dog stops eating, has vomiting or diarrhea, seems weak, or has trouble breathing.

Head to an emergency vet right away for collapse, trouble breathing, pale gums, or bleeding that won't stop.

Questions to Ask Your Veterinarian

• I read about this treatment or supplement in a book. Is there good evidence for it in dogs?
• Could it interact with my dog's chemotherapy, radiation, or other medications?
• Are there newer treatments for my dog's cancer that weren't around in 2011?
• What does current research say about my dog's outlook?
• Would a veterinary oncologist or a clinical trial make sense for us?
• Which parts of a Full Spectrum approach fit my dog?
• How should we track my dog's quality of life?
• Is there a diet you'd recommend during treatment?

Sources

A Farmgirl's Finds. (n.d.). Book review: The dog cancer survival guide. https://www.afarmgirlsfinds.com/book-review-the-dog-cancer-survival-guide/

American Animal Hospital Association. (2026). Table 3.3: Overview of cytologic versus histopathologic examination. In 2026 AAHA oncology guidelines for dogs and cats. https://pages.aaha.org/hubfs/Guidelines%20PDFs/2025oncology/OncologyGL_Table3.3.pdf

Dog Cancer Survival Guide. (n.d.). In the news [Publisher media page]. https://dogcancerbook.com/media-room/in-the-news/

Drake Dog Cancer Foundation. (2026). Apocaps for dogs: What the evidence says about apoptosis. https://www.dogcancerfoundation.org/blog/apocaps-for-dogs-apoptosis 

Dressler, D., & Ettinger, S. (2011). The dog cancer survival guide: Full spectrum treatments to optimize your dog's life quality and longevity (2nd ed.). Maui Media.

Eagan, R. (2011, August 25). [Review of the book The dog cancer survival guide, by D. Dressler & S. Ettinger]. Library Journal.

Ettinger, S. (2017, June 9). Veterinary oncology: What to do with lumps and bumps on dogs and cats. Today's Veterinary Practice. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/oncology/tumor-detection-dogs-cats/

Goodreads. (n.d.). The dog cancer survival guide [Kindle edition ratings and reviews]. Retrieved October 30, 2026, from https://goodreads.com/book/show/19185270

Hess, R. (2012, January 31). Book review: Dog cancer survival guide. BlogPaws. https://blogpaws.com/book-review-dog-cancer-survival-guide/

Johannes, C. M. (2022). What you need to know about new cancer treatments for dogs. Today's Veterinary Practice. https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/pharmacology/new-cancer-treatments-for-dogs/

Mighty Ape. (n.d.). The dog cancer survival guide [Product listing with publisher description]. https://www.mightyape.co.nz/product/the-dog-cancer-survival-guide/18454843

New York Vet. (2026). Sue Ettinger [Speaker biography]. https://newyork.vetshow.com/speakers/sue-ettinger

Tripawds. (2009, July 15). Cancer survivors check out Dr. Dressler's dog cancer blog. https://tripawds.com/2009/07/15/cancer-survivors-check-out-dr-dresslers-dog-cancer-blog/

Tripawds Downloads. (2013, September 16). Why you should consider all types of vet cancer care treatments. https://downloads.tripawds.com/2013/09/16/why-you-should-consider-all-types-of-vet-cancer-care-treatments

Tripawds Downloads. (n.d.). The dog cancer survival guide Kindle edition. https://downloads.tripawds.com/product/dog-cancer-survival-guide/

Tripawds Nutrition. (2013, February 1). What is Apocaps apoptogen formula for dogs? https://nutrition.tripawds.com/2013/02/01/what-is-apocaps-apoptogen-formula-for-dogs/