Is chemo safe for dogs

The first question many people ask about canine chemotherapy is whether the dogs lose their hair. One of the little known facts about veterinary medicine is that chemotherapy does not cure cancer in dogs with few exceptions except transmissible venereal tumor or the very rare lympho or something.

There is also the financial consideration which can make decisions even more difficult as cost of chemo drugs is not cheap.

Is chemo safe for dogs. One discomforting fact about chemotherapy for dogs is that your pet wouldnt be able to show or express if it is benefiting from chemotherapy or is in increasing discomfort. It is quite possible that the dog would be reacting negatively to chemo and it may not even know or show any signs to that effect. In the process you may continue with chemo without actually helping your dog.

My primary safety concern is for people who are mixing and handling chemotherapy agents. For those of you who are bringing your dog home after a chemotherapy session in the hospital there is less risk because you are handling the urine and feces. Sounds gross I know but the metabolites in chemotherapy drugs have been broken down by the patients body by the time they reach the urine and feces.

These metabolites are far less active than the original drug was. So its a safer. As in humans with cancer chemotherapy is used as a treatment for cancer in dogs.

Dogs often receive lower doses of chemo than humans though some side effects are still experienced. Chemotherapy pills should not be split or crushed capsules should not be opened and swallowing of medications by the pet should be confirmed. Compounding of chemotherapy into liquid medications is discouraged because of the potential for environmental contamination during administration.

The first question many people ask about canine chemotherapy is whether the dogs lose their hair. Most breeds have fur not hair and it grows and sheds in a cycle not continuously. However some curly-coated breeds with hair such as Poodles may experience hair loss.

For dogs they are unlikely to understand why they are being made so ill even if it is for their benefit. For guardians of dogs this can raise certain questions over the best course of treatment in terms of quality of life. There is also the financial consideration which can make decisions even more difficult as cost of chemo drugs is not cheap.

Under the skilled guidance of the cancer professional your helpless dog is poisoned by chemotherapy. Andor burnt by radiotherapy until death ensues. A slow death where your dog.

With his immune system destroyed and all will to live taken away by. Chemotherapy is applied to dogs in the following cases. When it is impossible to operate on the dog because the cancer has spread.

When there is risk of metastasis leading to cancer in the organs around the tumor. When the tumors cannot be eliminated completely by surgery. In this case it is common to begin treatment with chemotherapy after extracting as much of the tumor as possible through.

One of the little known facts about veterinary medicine is that chemotherapy does not cure cancer in dogs with few exceptions except transmissible venereal tumor or the very rare lympho or something. I believe that many people are unaware of this fact. So we are left with a treatment modality that has a goal of improving two things.

Many chemotherapeutic agents impair the bone marrows ability to produce cells. As a result neutropenia may occur seven to ten days after chemotherapy. Neutropenia alone is not a danger to your dog.

However your dog to fight off infection is impaired by neutropenia. These are the dogs and cats whose chemotherapeutic treatment options are denied. It happens for lots of reasons but the most commonly uttered rationale is some permutation of this simple phrase.

I dont want to put her through it Which in case youre wondering I can totally get behind. Side Effects of Chemo in Dogs. Generally dogs undergoing chemotherapy will enjoy a good quality of life with minimal if any side effects.

Some dogs will experience mild side effects that usually resolve within 24 48 hours. The most common side effects include gastrointestinal upsets such as vomiting diarrhea and a lack of interest in food. Getting a new pet during cancer treatment isnt usually recommended.

But if a family chooses to adopt a pet a healthy older dog or cat would probably pose less risk than those under a year old. The animal should be checked by a veterinarian before its brought home. Chemotherapy treatment for humans is known for its unpleasant side effects such as loss of appetite nausea fatigue hair loss and more.

Many dog parents worry that. If dog chemo is as horrible as human chemo I think the decision will be straightforward. Wed choose not to make her suffer through the treatment instead making sure shes as comfortable as we can make her.

But we have heard that chemo is not as horrifying for dogs so that makes things more complicated. My question is this. In your experience what is chemo like for a dog in day-to-day.

Infections Caused by Reptiles Amphibians and Fish. While careful handling can prevent many pet-borne infections reptiles and amphibians appear to be the exception. Some oncologists in fact recommend that pets such as iguanas snakes lizards frogs and salamanders be completely avoided during chemotherapy.

Dog chemotherapy is similar to the treatment used for people. In dogs unlike in humans however chemo tends to be less taxing. In fact only about 25 of dogs treated with chemo will exhibit negative side effects from it.

A common misconception is that chemotherapy will.