Before we discuss whether chemotherapy is even suitable for your dog you need to know the importance of speaking to a veterinarian.
Chemo for dogs side effects.
These signs are the same potential consequences of oral medications as well.
Doxorubicin is given as an injection in the vein at the vet hospital.
Changes in appetite diarrhea lethargy allergic reactions and other side effects are common.
The typical side effects of injectable chemotherapy include adverse gastrointestinal signs including vomiting diarrhea and or poor appetite and a temporary lowering of the recipient s white blood cell counts.
This will kill cancer cells but it will also kill all other cells so it can be very harmful and cause many side effects.
Dogs often receive lower doses of chemo than humans though some side effects are still experienced.
Although smaller doses of chemotherapy are given to pets that doesn t mean that your pet will not have side effects from the treatment.
Freeman has to hospitalize each year are just a handful out of maybe 500 to 1 000 patients that she treats each year.
In fact 75 to 80 percent of dogs have no side effects she said.
There are also many options to help lessen the side effects for your pet while he or she is under going treatment.
The number of patients that dr.
Approximately 80 of dogs do not have side effects at all and about 15 20 will have mild to moderate side effects.
It also has corresponding side effects that from time to time are heavy duty and should be taken into account.
I have had family members get chemo and we have all seen it on tv but happily it s not like that for dogs.
Today we will discuss how you can help identify and manage gi related side effects after chemotherapy treatment.
Veterinarians will often tell you that dogs experience fewer side effects than people but this claim is slightly misleading.
While more significant side effects are possible only a very small percentage of dogs require hospitalization for the side effects of there conventional chemotherapy care.
In this animalwised article on chemotherapy for dogs we look at the side effects and medications involved in this type of cancer treatment.
The most common side effects of chemotherapy in dogs are mild vomiting and diarrhea decreased appetite and decreased activity levels.
Cancer affects each dog differently so canine chemo plans are often individualized.
This is not a mickey mouse drug.