What Is Chemo Like For Dogs?

[Isabel964]

My beautiful Westie Jindi has just yesterday (6pm) been diagnosed with a tumour in her neck, which is pushing against her spinal cord. I noticed she was limping, the vet couldn't see it and over 7-8 weeks its gotten very bad - diagnosis = arthritis. That felt wrong to me, so I went to a specialist and ended up finding the tumour.

See http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/265547-my-beautiful-westie-diagnosed-tonight-with-a-tumour-in-or-near-spinal-cord/page__gopid__6780599#entry6780599

I'm waiting for a call today from the vet once they know more about this tumour.

If it is not in the spinal cord itself, they may be able to operate to remove as much of the tumour as they can and they said chemo or radiotherapy was an option.

My primary concern now is for Jindi's quality of life for whatever time she has left.

Can anyone tell me what chemo is like for dogs?

I may have a decision around surgery plus chemo vs pain management for as long as possible.

[Podengo]

I can't answer for everyone, but from what I've seen in the vet clinic where I work it's not too hard on them at all.

Depending on the sort of chemo they have, they usually get dropped off in the morning, have bloods taken and run by our clinical pathologist, have a catheter placed and are on fluids for a few hours before the chemo, then have the chemo done if bloods looks ok and spend a few hours on fluids afterwards. They tend to go home at the end of the night. We don't generally see much nausea, have seen some hair thinning around the face in a couple of animals... Usually the dogs we see for chemo are really lovely, happy dogs that don't mind coming and spending the day in the clinic which makes it easy. They have protocols lasting a few weeks to a couple of months (your vet will know/talk about that) so be prepared for a lot of trips to the vet. Sometimes the bloods don't come back looking that great so the animal goes home and comes back in a week or two.

If you or anyone in your household is pregnant or immune compromised it's something worth having a good chat with the vet about as you need to be careful about a chemo dog's waste.

[Isabel964]

Thanks Podengo.

We won't being going down that route - the surgery required is too major.

Vet called. The tumour seems to be outside the spinal cord but has invaded the spinal cord. They feel they could get most of it out but then would need chemotherapy.

They think it is a meningioma type tumour but don't know exactly without surgery and a biopsy. To get it out they drill a hole into the bone of the spine to create a window they can operate in. It's major surgery.

Most take 3 weeks to start walking again after this surgery. Some dogs never walk again after this surgery. Recovery once they start walking again is slow.

Chemo therapy has to follow and can only be done in Brisbane, she would be hospitalised for three weeks, and get several bursts of chemo. She will be radioactive during this time so has to stay in the hospital.

Then there is recovery time.

If we do everything the vet thinks she has 6-8 months. We may have three months or so with her if we just manage the pain. But she will be at home living a normal life.

She will get worse in time and when she can't walk anymore because the leg keeps collapsing that's when we have to let her go.

We want her to have quality of life. We are getting an additional pain relief for her. That way she has anti inflammatory pain relief and nerve pain relief. The nerve one needs to be compounded and that's being organized today/tomorrow.