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One of the ways to treat canine cancer is through chemotherapy. Luckily dogs receive smaller doses of the drugs than people do, so they tend to display fewer side effects from the treatments.
Here are some of the things you can expect if your dog should need chemotherapy.
What is Canine Cancer?
Canine cancer happens when a cell, or a group of cells, in your dog’s body start to mutate. These mutated cells, called cancer cells, continually reproduce with no way to stop. As they continue to mutate, they start to clump together and form a tumor.
At this stage the tumor is benign.
According to vet.info.com, “If a benign tumor mutates even more, it may start to grow root-like tendrils of cancer tissue that penetrate further into the dog’s body. These tendrils can break off and form new tumors in different parts of the body. Cancer in this condition is called malignant.”
What is Chemotherapy for Dogs?
When your dog is diagnosed with canine cancer, he is given drugs to fight and kill the cancer cells in his body. This is called chemotherapy. These drugs are usually given intravenously, but some drugs may be available in pill form. The extent of your dog’s cancer will determine how long he needs chemotherapy.
“The goal of chemotherapy is to control the cancer in your pet and to prolong survival while maintaining a good quality of life for the pet. In some cases, chemotherapy may result in a cure, but in most cases, it ‘buys’ time,” writes petcancercenter.org. “It is critical that pet owners understand the difference between remission (resolution) and cure. For example, dogs diagnosed with lymphoma experience a rapid remission after initiating chemotherapy. Many pet owners might consider this initial response a cure, however, the effect is not long term and many dogs will inevitably experience recurring cancer.”
What are the Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy treatment is milder and much safer for dogs than it is for people.
Caninecancer.com says, “After the pet has a treatment, one should expect one to two days of lethargy and nausea. This is often substantially palliated with medications like Zofran (a strong anti-nauseal commonly used in chemotherapy patients). These side effects are worse if a combination of drugs is used, but your dog is typically back to normal by the third day after treatment. Effectively, you are trading eight days of sickness for six to 12 months of quality life.”
According to caninelymphoma.net, these are some of the side effects:
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Hair Loss
The most common side effect of chemotherapy, in both dogs and humans, is hair loss. The chemotherapy drugs are designed to destroy fast-growing cells, like cancer cells. The cells in your dog’s hair follicles are fast-growing, meaning they will suffer and your dog will lose some of his fur as a result.
The areas most affected by hair loss are the whiskers, around the face, paws and in areas near the malignant tumor(s).
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Clik here to view. Increased Chance of Infections
Chemotherapy could lower your dog’s white blood cell count, which can weaken your dog’s immune system and make it harder for him to fight off infections. This happens because the chemotherapy drugs suppress the bone marrow’s ability to reproduce new white blood cells.
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Clik here to view. Anemia
Anemia is a lack of hemoglobin, or healthy red cells, in your dog’s system. Chemotherapy drugs are poisonous to red bloods and could cause a dramatic drop in your dog’s red blood cell count.
There are several treatments for anemia including a red blood cell transfusion and drugs to boost red cell production.
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Clik here to view. Weight Fluctuation
Your dog will either lose or gain weight, and that depends on a few factors.
Weight loss could be a result of the stress your dog’s body is under. Dogs suffering from anemia are prone to weight loss, as well as losing their appetites.
On the flip side, if your dog is being treated with hormones or steroids, his appetite could increase. Also, because the chemotherapy drugs are destroying your dog’s healthy cells, his body could react, causing an increase in his appetite as a way to replace lost nutrients.
One of the ways you can minimize the effects of chemotherapy on your dog is to give him a supplement containing reishi mushroom like i Love Dogs Reishi with Green Tea.
Research has shown reishi mushroom to be effective in reducing the side effects of chemotherapy like infection, fatigue, loss of appetite and hair loss. This supplement has also been shown to stimulate the production of potent natural anti-cancer substances, may inhibit the growth of tumors and could cause existing tumors to regress.Image may be NSFW.
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What are the Costs of Chemotherapy?
Three key components are taken into consideration when determining the type of chemotherapy your dog needs. They are the type of cancer your dog has, the type of drugs used to treat the cancer and the size of your dog. The price will also vary from state to state.
“A typical chemotherapy session involving a visit, diagnosis, discussion over the prognosis as well as the treatment plan can cost a total of $200 or upwards. This is usually dependent on the cancer’s location. The usual chemotherapy cost can be anywhere from $200 to $2,000 and even upwards. This cost is applicable to a treatment that lasts for a total of three to six months,” states vetinfo.com.
Vetinfo.com also provides the following breakdown:
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Clik here to view. If the canine chemotherapy is done along with radiation or surgical treatment, the average cost can increase by $600, with total costs ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.
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Clik here to view. Treatment for lymphoma, the most common canine cancer, usually costs around $450 to $500, and should only require chemotherapy.
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Clik here to view. If the tumor is located deep inside your dog’s body, major surgery to remove the tumor is required, as well as reconstruction surgery and chemotherapy. The cost for major surgery will vary, and the chemotherapy treatment usually starts at $1,500.
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Clik here to view. There will be additional costs for pain medication, which runs from $25 to $50 a month, as well as antibiotics and other medicines. These could cost $30 to $50.
Find A Vet HOW TO articles are intended for informational purposes only. You should always consult with your veterinarian about any health issues affecting your dog.
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