Keep Yourself and Your Dogs Safe with Palladia
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
Updated: April 13th, 2021
Palladia is the first FDA-approved drug for dog cancer. It is a chemotherapy medication, and as such it is a big gun.
When I say big gun, I mean that there are side effects and issues that you need to be aware of. And some of you may have not heard this yet. Since a goal of this blog and the Dog Cancer Survival Guide is to give you important information that you may have not yet heard, let’s look at Palladia.
When you give your dog Palladia, you should wash your hands with soap and water after handling. Better yet, wear gloves. This is because a small amount of Palladia could end up inside your body if you handle the medication with bear hands. Like many chemotherapy drugs, toxicities are possible, and there is no reason to be exposed to these materials if you are not undergoing treatment yourself.
The drug insert suggest that you keep the bottle away from children. Also remember to keep the bottle away from any other medication. Sometimes medications can be confused by us grown-ups too, and drugs like these need to be kept in their own secure location.
If you are pregnant, I would not even handle Palladia due to the possible effects on developing babies. The insert says that birth defects are possible if Palladia were taken during pregnancy.
Remember to never break or crush the tablets. This is because the drug will aerosolize (become an airborne powder) and may be inhaled.
According to the manufacturer, the “waste” products of a dog taking Palladia should be put in a sealed plastic bag for disposal. Gloves should be worn. This is fairly strait forward for feces, but I would assume urine is a waste as well. Thus, I would consider active urinary metabolites of the drug to be possible. Same with vomited material.
For vomit, bag it wearing gloves. Urine would be tougher to collect in a bag, and skin contamination is a risk. Thus I advise irrigating the urinated area well with water. This implies that dogs on Palladia living in homes with other dogs should be walked outside, separate from the others, for elimination of waste. It would be considerate for others in the neighborhood for you to carry a jug of water to irrigate the appropriate areas, in addition to your ziplocks.
Whenever you embark on a treatment for dog cancer, be your dog’s number one health care advocate. Get the full picture, weigh your options, and create an action plan.
All my best,
Dr D
Dr. Demian Dressler is internationally recognized as “the dog cancer vet” because of his innovations in the field of dog cancer management, and the popularity of his blog here at Dog Cancer Blog. The owner of South Shore Veterinary Care, a full-service veterinary hospital in Maui, Hawaii, Dr. Dressler studied Animal Physiology and received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California at Davis before earning his Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine from Cornell University. After practicing at Killewald Animal Hospital in Amherst, New York, he returned to his home state, Hawaii, to practice at the East Honolulu Pet Hospital before heading home to Maui to open his own hospital. Dr. Dressler consults both dog lovers and veterinary professionals, and is sought after as a speaker on topics ranging from the links between lifestyle choices and disease, nutrition and cancer, and animal ethics. His television appearances include “Ask the Vet” segments on local news programs. He is the author of The Dog Cancer Survival Guide: Full Spectrum Treatments to Optimize Your Dog’s Life Quality and Longevity. He is a member of the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Hawaii Veterinary Medical Association, the American Association of Avian Veterinarians, the National Animal Supplement Council and CORE (Comparative Orthopedic Research Evaluation). He is also an advisory board member for Pacific Primate Sanctuary.
thanks Dr D…i did have an ultrasound done of all his organs and everything is showing clear…I just made an appt with an oncologist for a consult…it is on Nov 3. Marcelino has recovered very well from both his surgeries.
I was wondering if maybe during the first surgery, cancer cells ‘escaped” into his surrounding tissue area, thus forming another tumor within 2 months(???)
I am bringing your book with me to the oncologist:)
I have so many tabs and notes sticking out of it!
marcelino’s surgery photos are found at
http://www.flickr.com/louies
Christina,
good news on the surgeries. Most of the current ideas on cancers indicate that the cells either were already there in the first place, or popped up “de novo” (new independent growths). There used to be big hype over potentiating spread during surgery, and although there is some merit there (including considering the drugs used for anesthesia and their influence on spread post-op), current thinking is leaning less in that direction as a generality.
Dr D
teri/tess~~~~i am so sorry that your lab is not responding well to the treatment….Having 2 dogs at the current moment with MCT I can fully feel your anger and pain. I hope that she can stay pain free and comfortable and live life as good as possible…………
[[[hugs]]] for her.
My heart goes out to Teri & Tess.
My 11 year old lab mix was diagnosed with a stage 2 grade 1 MCT on her muzzle in 6/09. She had surgery but of course they were not able to get clean margins. She has significant occlusion to both nasal passages.
She was started on Benadryl, famotidine, and prednisone (she also takes thyroid medication). After all of her test results were complete, Palladia was added (mid July). After about 4 weeks, she developed a GI bleed (evidenced by vomiting, loss of appetite, and blood work). Palladia was stopped…Carafate and misoprostol were added.
She’s much better! Palladia has been restarted at a lower dose and frequency. She’s been back on Palladia for about 4 weeks now and she’s doing well…still her old ‘chow hound’ self! The Carafate has been stopped, but the other meds continue.
I’m not sure what progress is…but…the violent sneezing she was having has stopped…and…she doesn’t snore as much!
Thanks for listening!
Dr D,
My 13 year old lab/??? mix has been on the Palladia for almost 4 weeks, thanks to the great Doctor at the U of WI oncology department.
I regret to report she is not respondng. She has MCT lump on her muzzle so close to her nose that surgery will not give us the clean margins needed and she also has a lump on her lymph node. I have found you site to be very enlighting and want to thank you for your dedication. Now I can only try and keep her comfortable and pain free for the remaining time I have wth her.
Teri & Tess
Freezing kidney cancer: Hot treatment should be new gold standard for destroying small tumors
http://www.physorg.com/news155814518.html
Joan! that is great news! I hope she continues to do well!
Why is there so little information out there on cryotherapy (freezing cancer)? Dr. Anthony Horan mentions how the body does not react to freezing as traumatically as it responds to surgical resection.
Cancer cells may not be as prone to commit suicide (apoptosis) when there is trauma in an area because the body probably thinks it needs every cell it can recruit to deal with the trauma.
Why no research and experimentation on the “how” and “why” of this?
Do you have any suggestions with a dog with a melanoma of the eye. My collie has a melanoma of the eye on the iris. The vets don’t want to do surgery because the cancer is position at the 1 o’clock that is where the major blood vessel runs under. It is changing on the edges only. He is on Kumpi dog food which is an antioxident and has been on it for about 2 years. He is 4 years old. I’m looking for a drop to use to dissolve the melanoma or something we can do. I’m gradually getting rid of plastics in the environment and changing to no cleaners that would affect him or leave him outside when I clean if they do have harmful fumes. This is a service dog and cancer detection dog as well. Please email on my private line carsun@comcast.net. I’m open for suggestions. Thanks Carol
Palladia was recommended by an oncologist for my (otherwise than cancer)
healthy 15 yr. old small dog. Instead, I’m trying artemsinin, curcumin and K9 Immunity plus diet change.
Dr. Dressler, do you know of any successes using artemisin plus DMSO
for topical therapy. he has a largish right manidibular mass.
Blood root was suggested by holistic vet.
I hear can be severe necrosis etc. what have you heard re blood root, dmso etc?
Reyla Graber
Your commentary always proves helpful. My own dog has grade 2, stage 2 MCT and is currently taking vinblastine. The plan is to initiate palladia soon so your information was particularly helpful. Are you free to comment on how we keep the other dog in the house safe? Obviously they share toys, water, beds, etc. Help if you can.
my dog marcelino just had his second mast cell cancer surgery. both were grade 2 with totally clean margins of over 3 cm. As soon as i saw the tiny growth i had him in for surgery, no wait time. Lymphs are clear, muscle tissue that was taken out was clear and the vascular system was clear. The first stain kit 2 months ago came back with great news of 70 months survival…the second kit was just sent out a few days ago. my concern is 2 surgeries within 3 months. He is only 5 years old. he is an Italian greyhound.
should we be looking into this drug or just wait………..
Christina, you shoud get some imaging done of the liver and spleen. Recurring MCT’s sometimes are due to an internal cancer spreading out to the skin. You want to know about this if this is the case in your dog.
Roughly 90% of Grad 2 MCT are cured with wide excision. Personal opinion, if other sources of the mast cells are ruled out, I would opt against Palladia in a case like this. Consult with your vet though as I cannot know the details of your individual dog.
Best,
d