Chemotherapy is often a recommended treatment for pets that have been diagnosed with cancer. It helps prolong survival and maintain a good quality of life.
Chemotherapy works by damaging cells that multiply rapidly, aiming to stop the growth and spread of cancer. There are different types of chemotherapy medications that are given depending on the type and stage of the cancer being treated. An individual plan is put together by your vet and an oncologist who work closely together to ensure the best possible care is given.
Chemotherapy is well tolerated in dogs and cats. Side effects that occur are usually mild and recovery is quick.
Potential side effects are nausea and we will usually give anti-nausea medications to try to pre-empt this, and bone marrow toxicity, which causes low cell counts in the pet’s blood, so we do a lot of extra blood tests, sometimes even weekly, when a pet is treated with chemotherapy to catch this before it causes an issue.
Hair loss does not tend to occur in pets because they mostly do not have hair that grows continuously. Exceptions are breeds like the poodle.
Most chemotherapy is given via intravenous injection. It is very important that these medications do not go outside of the vein and are therefore given via an intravenous catheter. Less commonly there are chemotherapy medications that are given via an injection under the skin or into the muscle, some are even given orally. The pet has to stay at the clinic for a few hours for the treatment but then is fine to go home afterwards. Sedation is not normally needed.
It is amazing how far we have come in the options we can offer and treat out pets with to help them live long happy lives.
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