This is a surprisingly chatty and quick-paced read about a Canadian veterinarian's frustrating experiences with the Canadian Health Care system. Dr. Sarah Boston, a veterinary oncologist-surgeon, essentially diagnosed her own thyroid cancer but had one heck of a time getting specialists to do the same. The book covers Boston's cancer journey, comparing and contrasting it with the experiences of the companion-animal cancer patients she sees, treats, and operates on. In general, companion animals--at least those whose owners have the financial wherewithal--fare better. Boston's book is also a reflection on mortality--her own and pets'.

While I can usually read about the medical challenges of humans without becoming too upset, any suffering of animals mostly makes me want to look away. Boston's light exuberant tone helped me get through the parts of the text that discuss the health challenges of dogs and cats.

Boston's book also provides some interesting information for pet owners. A number of cancers in our canine and feline friends actually are treatable through surgery and chemotherapy. Cancer, she indicates, is not always a death sentence.

Included in Lucky Dog are some general comparisons of the Canadian and American medical systems, as Dr. Boston is now working in Florida, having left the University of Guelph.

This is an interesting hybrid--part cancer journey memoir, part collection of anecdotes about pets and their cancer journeys.

It's worth reading. ( )