Chaser sometimes shuffled along like an old lady, but mention the C word (cookie) and she's magically transformed into a spry puppy. Of course, you'd have to holler "cookie" or Chaser wouldn't hear you. Still, for a 14-year-old Brittany, she seemed to be doing well.

There was absolutely no compelling reason to visit the veterinarian anytime soon, except that I'd been preaching the gospel of twice-annual vet visits in my print columns, on my radio shows and in TV appearances. Still, I wasn't worried about anything being wrong with Chaser. After all, if anyone should be able to pick up on subtle signs of illness in pets — it's me, right?

A few days before our scheduled vet visit, I noticed a growth on Chaser's back end. Now, I was worried. My veterinarian confirmed my concerns. Dr. Sheldon Rubin, of Chicago, identified the growth as mast cell cancer. Of all the words in the dictionary, cancer may be the one we least want to hear. But, Rubin, renowned for his skills as a surgeon, assured me, "We caught this early, and that could save your dog's life."

Still, I couldn't help but picture what all pet owners do at these times. A little movie played in my head, while my eyes welled with tears. The mini-documentary of Chaser's life began with my wife, Robin, and I rescuing her from the country when she was about 7 months old. Unfortunately, everything in the big city terrified her. Chaser was afraid of strange people, other dogs, even fire hydrants. Whenever she was in public, Chaser looked so pitiful that even Chicago's finest questioned us, thinking she was stolen or abused.

I recalled Chaser's separation anxiety. Whenever I closed the door of my bathroom to do my business, she did her business on the other side. She also piddled whenever we left the house.

My wife became a desperate dog housewife. She blew up a picture of me, draped an old T-shirt around it, and played a recording of my voice. She figured that if Chaser could see, smell and hear me, she wouldn't be so upset by my departure. It didn't work. This creative approach pre-dated the use of anti-anxiety medications in pets and veterinary behaviorists, who today could offer help.

I hung in there, and over time Chaser underwent a Pygmalion transformation into my fair, confident canine.

Can you believe, I thought about all of this while Rubin simply added, "I'll do the surgery in a few days."

He did. Due to the location of the tumor (which was removed and further analyzed), and Chaser's advanced age, there was no advantage of continued treatment (such as chemotherapy or radiation). Veterinary oncologist Dr. Barbara Kitchell, of Michigan State University College of Veterinary Medicine, East Lansing, said, "If Chaser can make it a year (without recurrence after surgery), you'll probably be in the clear."

Well, it's now been well over a year. The surgery was in April 2005.

Sure, at times, Chaser would appreciate if someone invented a walker for dogs, and a hearing aid would be helpful, but all in all, she's doing fine. Say, or better, holler the C word, and there's still bounce in her step.

Rubin says, "If you had waited just six more months (before the veterinary check-up) — which might on the surface sound reasonable, a year between (veterinary) visits — the cancer would have spread or the tumor would have grown to be inoperable. "

Kitchell is more blunt: "You simply wouldn't have Chaser anymore if you hadn't made that six-month appointment."

The American Veterinary Medical Association and Fort Dodge Animal Health (they make pharmaceuticals for pets) are supporting a campaign to encourage twice-annual routine wellness exams for all pets.

Of course, people may jump to the conclusion that vets are eager for the extra visit to make the extra bucks. But, as it turns out, that extra visit may save you money. Dr. Rene Carlson is a private practicing vet in Chetek, WI, and vice president of the American Veterinary Medical Association. "Sure, if the checkup turns out to be perfect, which is what we all hope for, you've invested some money for an exam," she explains. "But what if we do find something? Just as in people, an early diagnosis may mean a better prognosis, less suffering for the pet and less money spent by the client since the treatment may not be as prolonged. It's all about prevention."

Dogs and cats age about five to eight times as quickly as people. So seeing a vet annually is like you seeing a doctor or dentist once ever five to eight years. In fact, a pet's health can change so quickly that even bi-annual wellness exams aren't a perfect solution. It's helpful if you pay careful attention to subtle signs of sickness.

Dr. James Richards, board member of the American Association of Feline Practitioners and director of the Cornell Feline Health Center at Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, N.Y., is cheerleading for a Healthy Cats for Life campaign to educate cat owners about these subtle signs of sickness. He laughs and says, "It's as if cats are too dignified to raise their paw and say, 'Hey, I'm not feeling well.' "

Even though there are 20 percent more pet cats than dogs in America, cats visit the vet only about half as often. "It might be we're just better at reading what dogs are trying to tell us," Richards comments. "Or maybe, somehow people feel cats, since they are so independent, can manage on their own without medical care. Of course, if something is wrong, they require veterinary care just as dogs do."

Richards adds, "Pay attention to seemingly insignificant changes in behavior, like the cat that typically greets you at the door who doesn't for a few days; or a usually quiet kitty that now just won't shut up, or a change in litter box habits. These are all potentially signs that something is wrong."

In the wild, a cat showing signs of illness is at risk from predators, and that's even truer for birds and reptiles. "These are animals who may only be a few generations from the wild," says Dr. Byron de la Navarre of Chicago, past president of the Association of Reptile and Amphibian Veterinarians. "If a bird or a lizard acts sick out in the real world, that animal becomes dinner. It's a matter of survival to pretend that all is well no matter how poorly the animal feels."

Dr. Peter Sakas, an avian veterinarian in Niles, IL, and author of "Avian Medicine: A Guide for Practitioner" adds, "It's heart-wrenching; by the time a client notices signs of illness in birds, the bird is usually too far gone for us to help. Noticing illness early saves lives."

Learn more about subtle signs of illness in cats at www.catwellness.org, and about the advantages of twice annual exams at www.apwm.com. See Chaser's gallery at www.stevedalepetworld.com.