REPLAY: When a Dog Is Diagnosed with Cancer: Guidance, Support & Hard-Won Wisdom with Peter Ciancarelli

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In this episode of The Alternative Dog Moms, Erin and Kimberly sit down with Peter Ciancarelli to talk about one of the most difficult journeys a pet parent can face: a canine cancer diagnosis. Peter has supported countless dog owners through the shock, fear, grief, and overwhelming decisions that come with hearing the words “your dog has cancer.”

We explore how he guides families through options, emotions, hope, and the search for quality of life. Peter shares what he’s learned from working alongside both dogs and their humans — the resilience, the honesty, the intuition dogs bring, and the powerful lessons they leave behind.

In this heartfelt and deeply informative conversation, Peter discusses:
 • How to emotionally navigate a canine cancer diagnosis
 • What pet parents often struggle with most (and how to get support)
 • How to communicate with your veterinary team
 • The importance of celebrating small wins and good days
 • The lessons dogs teach us about presence, trust, and letting go

Whether you’re currently supporting a dog with cancer or simply want to understand this journey more deeply, this episode offers comfort, clarity, and a reminder that we’re never alone in loving our dogs through every chapter of their lives.

CHAPTERS:

• Peter's background and how his dog, Allie, changed his life (1:42)
• Keeping the Allie's Crew Facebook Group a positive place for pet parents and some of the negative experiences in other Facebook Groups (2:38)
• Some of the health and behavioral challenges Peter faced with Allie (7:39)
• After losing Allie, how is Peter finding balance and navigating life with his new dog, Tucker? (9:45)
• Information overwhelm and how Peter's life has changed since losing Allie (15:55)
• Peter's work with Pet Parents, self-care, and boundaries (18:28)
• The importance of building a network of supportive Pet Parents on social media and/or IRL (22:47)
• How Peter started working with Dr. Margo Roman, the microbiome and poop (33:10)
• Gut health and diversifying our dog's diets and supplements (40:22)
• Kibble, budget constraints, and meeting Pet Parents where they're at (47:22)
• Continually learning and navigating our own emotions when our dog gets a cancer diagnosis (58:34)

LINKS DISCUSSED:

• Allie's Crew on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/724785157871642)
• AHVMA to find a holistic vet (https://www.ahvma.org/)
• King Harvest (https://kingharvest.org/)
• Dr. Margo Roman's Microbiome Restorative Therapy (https://microbiomerestorativetherapy.com/)
• Peter on the Believe in Dog Podcast
  (https://believeindogpodcast.com/episodes-1/episode-23-peter-ciancarelli-of-allies-canine-crew)

SOCIAL MEDIA:

• Instagram.com/Erin_The_Dog_Mom
• Instagram.com/RawFeederLife

Thanks for listening to our podcast. You can learn more about Erin Scott's first podcast at BelieveInDogPodcast.com. And you can learn more about raw feeding, raising dogs naturally, and Kimberly's dogs at KeepTheTailWagging.com. And don't forget to subscribe to The Alternative Dog Moms.