Chemotherapy For Dogs

Canine lymphomas and nhl are nearly indistinguishable when examined microscopically and both tumor types exhibit similar responses to chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy for dogs.

You might be wondering whether dog chemotherapy is worth it what are the side effects the efficacy and the cost. As with any medical treatment chemotherapy cost can vary widely depending on the frequency and duration of the treatment the drug s used the medical facility and geographic location. Chemotherapy is the general name for conventional drug treatments that seek to poison the rapidly growing malignant cancer cells while at the same time causing the least amount of harm to the other healthy cells in the patient s body. As cancer is defined by an uncontrollable cell growth chemotherapy is designed to attack and eliminate tumor cells.

In 2010 nhl was diagnosed in approximately 65 000 people in the united states and claimed approximately 20 000 lives making it the 7th most common cancer overall and the 6th most common cause. The drugs used for canine chemotherapy treatment are going to mainly act on the cells which are undergoing division. 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 chemotherapy for dogs will put. But within 24 to 48 hours the pet is back to his or her normal self until the cycle continues with the next dose of drug.

Part of the complication of chemotherapy treatment for dogs is that this attack is not selective. At tufts a standard chemotherapy protocol for lymphoma is likely to cost 3 500 to 4 500. Generally dogs and cats that receive chemotherapy feel normal the day they are given the drug. Cancer affects each dog differently so canine chemo plans are often individualized.

Because of the systemic nature of canine lymphoma with cancer cells generally spread throughout the patient s. Chemotherapy for the specific treatment of cancer involves infusing the dog s system or a specific place in the dog s body with cytotoxic chemicals in an attempt to destroy the cancer cells while hopefully doing as little damage as possible to normal healthy cells. Cancer is a common canine concern affecting an estimated 25 of all dogs and 30 over the age of 7 years. The topic of chemotherapy for dogs is tinged with sadness no dog owners wants to hear that their pet has cancer.