Chemotherapy: Caring for Your Pet
Chemotherapy is a word that creates an instant emotional response in almost everyone. Chances are that you or someone you know has experienced chemotherapy for the treatment of cancer. The reality of chemotherapy for pets is generally different from that for human cancer patients. Most people are pleasantly surprised at how well their pet seems to feel while undergoing chemotherapy.
Most of the drugs are administered by the veterinary health care team by injection (vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, L-asparaginase) or by mouth (prednisone and sometimes cyclophosphamide). If therapy is to be adminstered by injection, the patient lies quietly on a padded table during administration and rarely needs any form of sedation.
Practically all anticancer drugs have side effects. Although serious adverse effects can occur with any chemotherapy, there is less than a 5% chance that your pet will be hospitalized with side effects and less then a 1% chance of fatality. The possible side effects of chemotherapy are listed below. Please contact your pet's doctor with any questions you may have about chemotherapy.
Hair Loss (Alopecia)
When a person loses hair as a result of chemotherapy, it can be devastating. However, pets rarely lose their hair, and if they do, they are not bothered by it as much as people are. In most pets, hair does not grow continually throughout their lives like it does in people; therefore, hair loss in pets is not common unless your pet is a breed that has constantly growing hair. In general, if your pet needs to visit a groomer periodically to be clipped, then it may experience some degree of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. All pets may, however, lose all or most of their whiskers. Please ask your pet’s doctor about the possibility of hair loss in your pet.
Reduction in the number of white blood cells (Neutropenia)
There are various types of cells in the blood. A decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells is known as neutropenia. Many chemotherapeutic agents impair the bone marrow’s ability to produce cells. As a result, neutropenia may occur 7 to 10 days after chemotherapy. Neutropenia alone is not a danger to your pet. However, your pet’s ability to fight off infection is impaired by neutropenia. Before each drug treatment, your pet will be given a complete physical examination, and a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) will be performed. If your pet has a significant reduction in the number of white blood cells, your veterinarian may wish to perform periodic blood tests, prescribe antibiotics to protect your pet from infection, or both.
Tissue Damage
If the chemotherapy is accidentally given outside the vein, severe tissue reactions can result. Therefore, drugs such as doxorubicin, vincristine, and vinblastine are handled with the utmost care and are only administered by highly trained professionals. If irritation of the injection site develops in the form of pain or redness, apply ice packs for 15 minutes every 3 hours. Call your veterinary health care team if you have concerns or if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to chemotherapeutic agents are very rare and generally not a problem you will have to treat at home. If your pet has an allergic reaction to any drug, the reaction would develop upon administration, and your veterinarian and the hospital staff are trained to treat patients for allergic reactions.
When a person loses hair as a result of chemotherapy, it can be devastating. However, pets rarely lose their hair, and if they do, they are not bothered by it as much as people are. In most pets, hair does not grow continually throughout their lives like it does in people; therefore, hair loss in pets is not common unless your pet is a breed that has constantly growing hair. In general, if your pet needs to visit a groomer periodically to be clipped, then it may experience some degree of hair loss as a result of chemotherapy. All pets may, however, lose all or most of their whiskers. Please ask your pet’s doctor about the possibility of hair loss in your pet.
Reduction in the number of white blood cells (Neutropenia)
There are various types of cells in the blood. A decrease in the number of infection-fighting white blood cells is known as neutropenia. Many chemotherapeutic agents impair the bone marrow’s ability to produce cells. As a result, neutropenia may occur 7 to 10 days after chemotherapy. Neutropenia alone is not a danger to your pet. However, your pet’s ability to fight off infection is impaired by neutropenia. Before each drug treatment, your pet will be given a complete physical examination, and a blood test called a complete blood count (CBC) will be performed. If your pet has a significant reduction in the number of white blood cells, your veterinarian may wish to perform periodic blood tests, prescribe antibiotics to protect your pet from infection, or both.
Tissue Damage
If the chemotherapy is accidentally given outside the vein, severe tissue reactions can result. Therefore, drugs such as doxorubicin, vincristine, and vinblastine are handled with the utmost care and are only administered by highly trained professionals. If irritation of the injection site develops in the form of pain or redness, apply ice packs for 15 minutes every 3 hours. Call your veterinary health care team if you have concerns or if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
Allergic Reactions
Allergic reactions to chemotherapeutic agents are very rare and generally not a problem you will have to treat at home. If your pet has an allergic reaction to any drug, the reaction would develop upon administration, and your veterinarian and the hospital staff are trained to treat patients for allergic reactions.
Stomach or Intestinal Discomfort
Some dogs experience some form of stomach or intestinal discomfort 2 to 7 days after a
chemotherapy treatment. Below are listed some steps you can take at home.
Vomiting and Nausea
Loss of Appetite
Diarrhea
Some dogs experience some form of stomach or intestinal discomfort 2 to 7 days after a
chemotherapy treatment. Below are listed some steps you can take at home.
Vomiting and Nausea
- Do not give your dog any food or water for 12 hours.
- After 12 hours, offer your dog ice cubes, then water, then small, bland meals.
- Call your veterinary health care team if you have concerns or if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
Loss of Appetite
- Offer your pet four to six small bland meals a day. Examples include cooked rice, chicken, and turkey.
- Add warm broth, animal fats, and favorite foods to increase flavor and appeal.
- Call your veterinarian if you have concerns or if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
Diarrhea
- Keep water available at all times.
- If your pet is also not eating, offer chicken or beef broth.
- Call your veterinarian if you have concerns or if the condition persists for more than 24 hours.
