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Chemotherapy for Dogs?
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Just before Xmas our dog aged 11 years was diagnosed with lymphoma. We really had no choice but to go ahead and just give her one crack at a course of chemo. She has reacted really favourably and is having chemo once a week, tomorrow will be her fifth and then she has just three more to go. She is also on steroids which make her really ravenous and is drinking more, these seem to be the only side effects.
My question is, has anyone else been through this with their pet and if so how did they get on. I'm just worried what might happen when the chemo stops!
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Hi, really sorry that no one has replied to your question so far. I don't have first hand knowledge of cancer in dogs, but a friend of mine treated her dog on and off for years. All I know is that she [the dog] had a good quality of life and passed on last summer at the age of 12. I wish you and your dog all the luck in the world and I hope that you find answers to your questions.
Lisa x
Lisa x
Hi Spazvas - sorry to hear about your dog. We went through this with our whippet cross - she was about 11 actually. Found a lump on her tummy and the vets said it was a hernia - sadly it was not and when it was removed she developed another one and it turned out it was a mammary tumour and she was diagnosed with lymphoma. The vets that screwed up in the first place said that they could give her steroids that would only be effective for a few months. We were all distraught and sought a second opinion - thank god we did. The second vets were absolutely great - she had a biopsy done and the other lump removed and we started her on a course of chemo. At first she had it every week - then every 2 weeks, etc and then it went fully into remission for about 2 years - but she had more chemo than 8 treatments - you need to keep it up until the vets are sure it is in remission. We always knew when she was ready for her chemo as she was 'like new' after she had it - weird that it works in the opposite way to humans!! It was absolutely great - please don't worry - your dog will hopefully, I have everything crossed for you and your dog, go into remission and be fine. The only sad thing that I can tell you - which I don't really want to - but feel I must - is that when the cancer kicked off again it came back with a vengeance and we had to have her put to sleep within 3 days. But ending on a cheerful note - she had another 3 years with her usual good quality of life - as opposed to 3 months that the first set of muppet vets gave her. Good luck and please keep me posted and I will help all I can if there is anything you need ; 0 )
Thanks for your reply Foxyflugel and it was great to hear that your dog had three more good years!
Sadie became ill, just before Xmas and it seemed to happen more or less within a few days. I noticed the glands in her neck were enlarged and then it just spread all over her body. The vet even prior to taking a biopsy of her lymphglands said he was 99% sure she had lyphoma and suggested we started chemo immediately. I hated the thought of putting her through too much, as the poor little thing had a bad start in life (she had parvo virus as a puppy and it was a struggle getting her over that) so I really hoped she would be spared a rough end!
We decided to give her a chance and try to weigh up "quality of life versus the chemo treatment". Within a week of the first chemo all her glands had gone down and she seems really happy in herself. The only downside is because of the steroids she has to take she now has a massive appetite (and I mean ravenous!!)
Next week will be her 6th chemo (I really hate taking her to the vet, she knows as soon as we get there and tries to get to me as I leave, but it must be worth it to have her a little longer with the quality of life she has at the moment.) Would you say that the dog is in remission when all the glands are back to normal? You said you could always tell when your dog was ready for chemo, can I ask what the signs were? When the cancer really kicked off was there no prior warning, did it appear to come back almost overnight? (Sorry for all these questions, but to be honest our vet actually said he had not seen that many cases of this, (probably you are able to answer me better!)
I suppose we must just be guided by our vet and of course every case is different, but if Sadie had another few years it would be great!!
I really appreciate your reply, thank-you Spazvas
Sadie became ill, just before Xmas and it seemed to happen more or less within a few days. I noticed the glands in her neck were enlarged and then it just spread all over her body. The vet even prior to taking a biopsy of her lymphglands said he was 99% sure she had lyphoma and suggested we started chemo immediately. I hated the thought of putting her through too much, as the poor little thing had a bad start in life (she had parvo virus as a puppy and it was a struggle getting her over that) so I really hoped she would be spared a rough end!
We decided to give her a chance and try to weigh up "quality of life versus the chemo treatment". Within a week of the first chemo all her glands had gone down and she seems really happy in herself. The only downside is because of the steroids she has to take she now has a massive appetite (and I mean ravenous!!)
Next week will be her 6th chemo (I really hate taking her to the vet, she knows as soon as we get there and tries to get to me as I leave, but it must be worth it to have her a little longer with the quality of life she has at the moment.) Would you say that the dog is in remission when all the glands are back to normal? You said you could always tell when your dog was ready for chemo, can I ask what the signs were? When the cancer really kicked off was there no prior warning, did it appear to come back almost overnight? (Sorry for all these questions, but to be honest our vet actually said he had not seen that many cases of this, (probably you are able to answer me better!)
I suppose we must just be guided by our vet and of course every case is different, but if Sadie had another few years it would be great!!
I really appreciate your reply, thank-you Spazvas
Hi again Spazvas - glad Sadie is still getting on alright. Sorry for the delay in replying but I am a litttle new to this site and didn't get the subscribe to thread bit!!
Firstly, please don't let your vet put you off keeping up the chemo - the first vets that screwed up with Kelly - bless her - tried to put us off having chemo as hey said it was distressing for the dog - really expensive etc etc - basically any excuse because they could not be bothered/didn't really care.
When Kelly was ready for her chemo she was not her 'normal' self - but I am only talking - maybe- a few days before it was due - usually she was always on the go - dropping bits of sticks on your feet etc for you to throw for her - can't really describe accurately cos you know your dog better than anyone and will know her normal behaviour - I suppose they look/act like us when we are tired/overworked - that kind of thing. Also, when Kelly's lymphoma went into remission the lumps in her neck/throat did reduce in size - but not sure if this is a definite sign of remission - as I advised previously - keep up the chemo for a while longer - Kelly was also on tablets as well as her injection. But after she had her injection she was always lively as a cricket again. When the cancer started again and we lost her - it literally did come back within a few days - and - even if we had been able to start chemo again it had already taken a real hold of her - she lost weight, her sight was affected and there was nothing we could do. Please don't get me wrong as I don't want the great feeling of the wonders of chemo to be blighted by what might happen - she was not in pain or laid dying - it wasn't quick - quick - if you know what I mean. It gave us time to say goodbye and take her to the vets. Kelly was also the same as Sadie with the appetite and she used to drink more as well - I think this is a side effect of the chemo - but hey - at least she is!!
Firstly, please don't let your vet put you off keeping up the chemo - the first vets that screwed up with Kelly - bless her - tried to put us off having chemo as hey said it was distressing for the dog - really expensive etc etc - basically any excuse because they could not be bothered/didn't really care.
When Kelly was ready for her chemo she was not her 'normal' self - but I am only talking - maybe- a few days before it was due - usually she was always on the go - dropping bits of sticks on your feet etc for you to throw for her - can't really describe accurately cos you know your dog better than anyone and will know her normal behaviour - I suppose they look/act like us when we are tired/overworked - that kind of thing. Also, when Kelly's lymphoma went into remission the lumps in her neck/throat did reduce in size - but not sure if this is a definite sign of remission - as I advised previously - keep up the chemo for a while longer - Kelly was also on tablets as well as her injection. But after she had her injection she was always lively as a cricket again. When the cancer started again and we lost her - it literally did come back within a few days - and - even if we had been able to start chemo again it had already taken a real hold of her - she lost weight, her sight was affected and there was nothing we could do. Please don't get me wrong as I don't want the great feeling of the wonders of chemo to be blighted by what might happen - she was not in pain or laid dying - it wasn't quick - quick - if you know what I mean. It gave us time to say goodbye and take her to the vets. Kelly was also the same as Sadie with the appetite and she used to drink more as well - I think this is a side effect of the chemo - but hey - at least she is!!
I think I have answered all your questions - but don't forget to keep up the chemo and then eventually she will not need it any more as she will - fingers crossed - go into remmission . Good luck and please feel free to ask any more questions that pop into your head. I am by no means an expert on this but I can advise on what we went through. It may also be worth looking on the net about lymphoma in dogs - but you have probably already done this - as I did.
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Hello again Foxyflugel and thanks once again for replying. Things seem to be going well for Sadie at the moment, next week will be her seventh lot of chemo and so far the vet is really pleased with her. (She is also taking other pills as well, steroids which are making her so hungry.)
We are just taking one day at a time and thinking positive. I believe that the plan is after the 8th dose the vet will then assess how she is and hopefully she will be able to go every other week.
Thanks so much for your encouragement.
Val
We are just taking one day at a time and thinking positive. I believe that the plan is after the 8th dose the vet will then assess how she is and hopefully she will be able to go every other week.
Thanks so much for your encouragement.
Val
Hi Val - that would be great if she has to then only go every other week. Sorry I misunderstood I thought that the vet was planning on stopping the chemo altogether. That is what we did with Kelly - she had it every week then every fortnight then every three weeks etc until it went totally into remission and her chemo was stopped. Keep me posted and I wish you and Sadie all the best in this battle - but I am sure you will be triumphant - Pen ; 0 )
Hello Foxyflugel,
It was kind of you to think of us and to enquire after Sadie. Sadly we had to have her put to sleep 6 weeks ago. After the eighth chemo her little body just seemed to give up. It came back rapidly as you said it might and it was the kindest thing to let her go to sleep.
We miss her terribly, but we had eleven good years together for which I am grateful.
Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement, I do appreciate it.
Take care Val
It was kind of you to think of us and to enquire after Sadie. Sadly we had to have her put to sleep 6 weeks ago. After the eighth chemo her little body just seemed to give up. It came back rapidly as you said it might and it was the kindest thing to let her go to sleep.
We miss her terribly, but we had eleven good years together for which I am grateful.
Thank you so much for all your help and encouragement, I do appreciate it.
Take care Val
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