BUCYRUS — Christie Auck has had a special bond with her dog, Cocoa, for more than a decade.
Cocoa came to live with her when the dog was just nine weeks old. She is now 11.
“On Aug. 18, Cocoa was diagnosed with bone cancer that had already metastasized to her lungs,” Auck said from her Bucyrus home this week.
Auck was devastated when she was told Cocoa only had four to five months to live.
“I was told she was not a candidate for chemo or radiation,” Auck said.
Auck would not give up on her beloved pet and was determined to find care for her that will prolong her life.
“I met a veterinarian in Tiffin that has new cancer treatment modalities and I recently found out her X-rays show that her cancer is actually disappearing. I actually compared her old X-rays myself,” Auck said.
She said there are fewer metastatic spots in her lungs and her bone is actually showing new calcification.
“It is healing itself,” Auck said. “Her coat is soft and shiny, and she runs to chase squirrels and cats again. She acts more energetic than before.”
A trip Auck made to her chiropractor led to the new type of therapy to save her dog’s life.
“It was definitely a God-thing of how I happened,” Auck said. “The doctor told me about Transfer Factor in immunotherapy supplement that has worked on people and dogs and gave me contact information for a nearby vet that offers it.”
Auck immediately made an appointment with the recommended vet for Cocoa and now credits the all-natural integrated cancer care Cocoa is receiving at Tiffin Animal Hospital from Dr. Bob McClung.
McClung, who became a veterinarian 43 years ago, said he is using immunotherapy on Cocoa along with high doses of Vitamin C intravenously and ozone therapy. He is currently doing research for Ramaekers Nutrition who is a leader in the developing of all-natural products for all types of animals.
“I also opted for basically anything he had to offer, such as advice on vitamins, CBD oil, a special yogurt I could make that produces the enzyme GCMAF that attacks the wall of cancer cells and even a special treatment that involves heating the main tumor on her leg to help kill cancer cells, without any negative affect on normal cells,” Auck said. “Sounds like a lot, but basically she got immunotherapy to engage her own cells to attack the bad ones.”
Auck said Cocoa has not had any side effects from this type of treatment.
“I just can’t believe it,” Auck added. “The key component is transfer factor and I’ve heard it has been used on people as well, although most people have never heard of it. All I know is that I have had three other dogs die from cancer. One underwent chemo but even then, I was told usually you just buy a little more time as treatment rarely eliminates the cancer. That was so true and expensive too.”
McClung said Cocoa’s treatment will cost around $900 compared to the nearly $11,000 Auck has shelled out in the past for chemotherapy and radiation.
“I’m not selling anything opposed from all these ‘advertisements’ of products to increase your animal’s quality of life, but I believe from what people tell me,” Auck said. “They are very interested and want to know how she progresses as they have never heard of this type of therapy.”
She hopes that Cocoa’s story will help others in similar situations with their pets.
“They may want to pursue this kind of treatment,” Auck said. “It is certainly working for my Cocoa.”