In the past fifteen years, four of our five animals -- three cats and one dog -- have died of cancer or a related illness. Annie, sweet calico who adored lying in the bathroom sink, died of feline leukemia; Misty, a cat with an injured eye I found in a field, died of mammary cancer. Our yellow lab-mix, Bauhaus, died of a mast cell tumor, and Puck, eight-year-old calico, died of a vaccine-induced fibrosarcoma.

Three of them had multiple surgeries. We changed their diets, but we didn't take them for chemotherapy or radiation primarily because of the cost and the distance to an appropriate veterinary hospital. At the time of their deaths, we were not aware of all the alternative treatments now available for cancer in animals. We didn't carry pet insurance, which was just then just becoming available in this country. 

These illnesses were wrenching to experience. Our dog's and cats' eyes became dull, their appetites waned. They no longer wanted to play. It was especially painful to see the ugly growths become larger and larger, something that we seldom witness in humans. 

As our animals continued to get sick, we had a tap water test done to check for lead and radon; it came back negative. We don't smoke or use pesticides. We made dietary changes for them. We scrutinized all labels; we only purchased the highest quality "natural" foods at specialty pet supply stores. 

Of course, I realize animals die in a much shorter time period than we would wish. Yet, even though I know this and despite our heart-breaking experiences, I wouldn't be without them. Two years ago, our dog, Wanda the Bearded Lady, helped ease me through my father's final weeks at his home. My animal companions teach me so much. 

When I began talking to other animal lovers, although not many had so many losses in such rapid succession, I discovered that we were not alone. I spoke with friends, relatives, neighbors, colleagues, and animal care professionals and was stunned to discover the number of cancer stories. In one day, I heard of two dogs with bone cancer -- one at eight years, the other, only three. They both will undergo an amputation and chemotherapy. The procedures are expensive, painful, and traumatic. In one year, a colleague's dog and cat both died of cancer, even though he drove 200 miles once a week and spent large amounts of money so they could undergo radiation treatments. 

As I became increasingly determined to better understand the causes of what I now consider an epidemic, I learned that the incidence of cancer has risen dramatically in domestic animals in the past several years, especially in dogs and cats. Some 70 types of cancers have been identified; one reputable source indicates that 47 percent of dogs now die of cancer. 

No one cause has been attributed to this rise. However, several factors have been implicated. These include increasing longevity; poor diet; poor quality drinking water; environmental causes such as pesticides and herbicides; high levels of stress; some vaccines; and genetic causes. Commercial pet food is especially worrisome. The ingredients in most are shocking -- '4-D' (dead, diseased, dying and disabled) animals (including dogs and cats), road kill (all the above are labeled "meat byproducts") and more. They contain BHA, BHT and EQ, all dangerous. By contrast, high-end premium foods now include items like brown rice, turkey and carrots. 

Pesticides and herbicides on lawns, parks and golf courses can kill people and animals. . Even some pet toys and cat litters are suspect. There are no simple answers, but preventive measures and early detection are the best possible solutions. 

I also discovered, after more than a year of intensive investigation, that many alternatives, holistic treatments are now being used on animals with cancer. These often ease their pain and lengthen their lives. They include homeopathic remedies; a variety of herbs; Bach flower remedies; vitamin and mineral supplements; acupuncture; chiropractic; some touch therapies; and others. Right now, for example, I know of two dogs who have cancer. When their human companions discovered their dogs' conditions, they changed their diets to homemade ones and stopped vaccinating them. The dogs have both lived much longer than expected. 

Five years after these devastating deaths, we continue to make lifestyle changes for our current companion animals. Three-year-old Wanda and two-year-old brother and sister Maine coon cats, Bruno and Stella, all benefit from the traumatic losses of our other dog and cats. We give them only filtered water and feed them only healthy snacks. We prepare more than half their food and add high quality vitamin and mineral supplements; our cats stay inside; they all receive fewer vaccines; and I gladly take them for acupuncture or homeopathic treatments. I play with the cats more and take Wanda for more walks. 

We humans can do much more to prevent many animal cancers. We can feed our animals a more nutritious and balanced natural diet. We can be more judicious about using vaccines and flea and other commercial health care products. We need to find veterinarians willing to listen to us and to our animals, ones who are open to nutritional changes and alternative treatments. We can lower our companion animals' stress level; we can listen more clearly to what they have to tell us. 

Too often, cancer means that death is inevitable in the near future -- but not always. And even if death is imminent, we can help ensure that the remainders of our animals' lives are more healthy and productive. And they can teach us, along the way, how to deal better with grieving and with dying.

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Deborah Straw is author of Why is Cancer Killing Our Pets? How You Can Protect and Treat Your Animal Companion, published by Healing Arts Press in November 2000.For more information, see www.InnerTraditions.com.