Chemotherapy and your Pet

Chemotherapy in dogs

The treatment of cancer in pets has improved over the last few decades to parallel treatment in humans.

In humans, many cancers are cured, and cancer survivors may enjoy many decades of comfortable life. For Pets therapies are directed at preserving quality of life, tumor control, or remission.

The goal of veterinary cancer therapy is to achieve a”complete clinical remission” or to make the pet as normal as possible with no outward evidence of cancer. Often the treatment starts with surgery.

Charlie Came to us with some concerning Sores and lumps under her skin. Her Owner had noticed them growing rapidly an quickly sought our help.

After a quick admission for surgery the lumps were tested and found to be a particularly aggressive Cancer, with a pretty bleak outcome for charlie if not treated, and not treated soon.

After some correspondence with a Veterinary Specialist Charlie underwent a careful chemotherapy treatment in a hospital ward set up exclusively for her comfort here at Sugarland Animal Hospital.

It is important to recognize that although your pet’s cancer may not be curable, your pet can enjoy a high quality of life during chemotherapy. All anticancer drugs have the potential to produce adverse side effects. However, the side effects that can occur in pets are usually not as severe as those which occur in humans due to the lower doses used.

Chemotherapy is tailored to the individual. We also often use other medications such as antibiotics and antinausea medications along with chemotherapy to further reduce the risk of side effects.

Usually dogs will not lose their fur, but clipped areas may be slow to grow in, and breeds that have hair that needs regular trimming (such as poodles, many terriers) may have some thinning. Any lost hair will grow back within a few months after chemotherapy is finished, although rarely there may be a color or texture change.

Charlie had some rough days after her chemo but is soldiering through it like a real trooper!