Chemotherapy For Dogs

If your furry friend has cancer, you will certainly want to use all possible options to recover and suffer as little as possible from the symptoms of the disease. Chemotherapy for dogs is an option that the vet indicates in some cases and which is usually less aggressive than that applied to humans. We talk about it in detail.

The most common types of tumors in dogs

Lymphosarcoma and mast cell tumors are the most common cancers among dogs and also those that are usually treated with chemotherapy.

The first, also called lymphoma, consists of a neoplasm of malignant lymphocytes that originates in solid organs. Eg:

• Lymph nodes.
• Liver.
• Spleen.
• Other organs with lymphoid tissue.

This pathology has nothing to do with lymphoid leukemias, which develop from the bone marrow.

On the other hand, mast cell tumor is the most common skin cancer in dogs, but it can extend to internal organs. In most cases it is possible to combine surgical and pharmacological treatment and guarantee a good quality of life to the sick animal.

Chemotherapy for dogs: an option to treat the tumor

Chemotherapy for dogs, although it causes the destruction of cancer cells, can rarely cure the animal if it is the only tool that is used for that purpose.

The treatment is most effective when the tumors are small or when they have a high proliferation capacity, as they have a higher number of rapidly dividing cells, precisely those that are destroyed by chemotherapy.

If the tumor has grown too much, the cancer cells are at rest, which is why chemotherapy is less effective.

Issues to consider before giving your dog chemotherapy

In the presence of a diagnosis of cancer, the professional will consider the possible treatments available for the animal.

In this way, if chemotherapy is among the options, the general health of the dog must be thoroughly assessed before proceeding with the application.

Eg,

it is not recommended to resort to chemotherapy in the case of animals with advanced cancer, with metastases and with deterioration of vital organs (kidneys, liver, etc.)

. In this case, it is very likely that these practices, instead of improving the quality of life of the dog, worsen it further.

Use chemotherapy based on the type of cancer your dog has

Based on the type of cancer your dog is suffering from, your vet will evaluate the best way to administer chemotherapy.

In tumors of the lymphatic system, the only option is usually chemotherapy, as it is no longer possible to operate tumors that extend to the animal’s entire body.

When tumors are localized, there are several alternatives: 

• If they generate metastases: first the tumor is operated on and then chemotherapy is used to obtain a delay in the appearance of malignant cells in other organs.

• If it is not possible to completely eliminate the metastases through surgery: chemotherapy is used to destroy the malignant cells that remain in the body.

• If due to the large size of the tumor it is not possible to remove it through surgery: we intervene with chemotherapy to try to block the growth of the tumor and, as far as possible, to reduce its size.

Side effects of chemotherapy in dogs

According to statistics, less than 5% of dogs receiving this treatment suffer from severe side effects. 

In most animals, if any contraindication occurs, it is mild and transient. Eg:

• Lack of appetite.
• Nausea.
• He retched.
• Diarrhea.
• Lowering of the immune defenses.

However, the veterinarian has several tools to prevent or curb these side effects that can arise following chemotherapy treatment.