Chemotherapy
Is Dog Cancer Treatment the Same as Prevention?
I’ve been thinking about a distinction that deserves way more attention from those who want to be their dogs’ primary health advocate. Why are distinctions important? One meaning of distinction is, “the act of making or keeping distinct”. So there is action implied in distinctions. Many time actions are built in to words because they…
Read ArticleWhen to Avoid Chemo for Canine Mast Cell Tumors?
There has been much online talk these days about dogs with mast cell tumors (read, Palladia) which are the most common canine cancer. So I thought I’d just add some fuel to the fire and give my readers some overall guidelines about mast cell tumors and chemotherapy. As many already know, these cancers come in…
Read ArticleKeep Yourself and Your Dogs Safe with Palladia
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…
Read ArticleCarcinogenic Chemo Drugs
One of the biggest ironies I have encountered are carcinogenic chemotherapy drugs. Sound odd to you? Well, I don’t blame you! When I first found out about it I was shocked. Medication used for fighting cancer actually increasing the odds for cancer later? Now, before everyone gets reactionary, we have to temper this topic…
Read ArticleThe Cost of My Dog’s Life, part 1
If you are a dog lover coping with the diagnosis of dog cancer, at some point you will be forced to deal with costs. In this economic climate, many are faced with heart-wrenching decisions. “I need to choose between my dog’s care and my own.” “I have to pick either paying for my home or…
Read ArticleImportant Issues in Chemotherapy
The problem with chemotherapy, at least traditional drugs, is that it does not always target just the cancer cells. What I mean by that is the chemo drug may not care if it shuts down a dividing body cell or a dividing cancer cell. Chemotherapy drugs tend, with some exceptions, to go after cells that…
Read ArticleChemo side effects: What should I do?
Chemotherapy does have side effects that need to be considered. About 5% of these will require your pet to be hospitalized, on the average, and there is a 1% chance of fatal reactions overall with chemotherapy. Although I have not seen any published data, unpublished estimates on overall risks of any side effect are roughly…
Read ArticleA New Look Chemotherapy
The usual way we have used chemotherapy, in both human patients and dogs, brings about toxicity risks that can be frightening for many. This fear is a rational one. The reason that the bad effects of chemotherapy are seen is a bit complex, but stems from what I believe are two main areas. First, the…
Read ArticleHelp For Diarrhea In Canine Cancer Patients
I was recently asked by a client about what over the counter product could be used for diarrhea in veterinary patients. There are a number of different items that can be used. Some have interactions with other meds, or possibly side effects that would not be desirable. I told her about one that you might…
Read ArticleAnti-oxidants versus Pro-Oxidants
A reader asked an interesting question recently that I thought would make a good post. The question involved the use of antioxidants, either for dogs with cancer or to help prevent cancer. Lets get an overview to clarify this frequently-muddied picture. A free radical is a reactive molecule that tends to damage cell parts. When…
Read ArticlePalladia, First Dog Cancer Drug FDA Approved But Not Great
Palladia, the first drug officially approved for use in treating dog cancer has arrived. This was described in the Dog Cancer Survival Guide by it’s pre-market name, SU11654. Now it’s finally ready for release. Palladia, made by Pfizer, has been approved by the FDA. It is expected to be available next year. This drug is…
Read ArticleDo Numbers Matter?
A lover of a dog with cancer needs to come up with an plan that makes sense. The first step in any plan is arming oneself with answers, or data that relates to the situation. There are two basic areas that we need to focus on. The first is what can we do to maintain…
Read ArticleCan I give supplements with Chemotherapy?
In the world of dog cancer, we find ourselves in a war where we can be under-gunned. I must confess that when I look at this statement, I find myself wondering whether it is healthy. To think about dealing with malignancies as a war? Perhaps this analogy is too violent, too antagonistic, too contrary. The…
Read ArticleLymphosarcoma and Simpler Chemo Options for Dogs
Lymphosarcoma is a cancer of the white blood cells called lymphocytes. It is one of the most common cancers in dogs. The worst kind of cancer is the kind you have to deal with in your dog. I heard that from a lady I saw on a video online a while back and I thought…
Read ArticleNew Antioxidant Info For Managing Dog Cancer
Got some new stuff for everyone into vitamins and antioxidants in cancer treatment for their loved dogs. Recall we are talking about cancer treatment, not cancer prevention. These are two different categories gang, with different considerations. You may recall also that the big deal is that there has been concern with free radical scavenging, which…
Read ArticleChemotherapy toxicity in dog cancer: Acetyl-L-Carnitine (ALC)
Chemotherapy agents are used to help slow the growth of tumors, improve life quality, and decrease tumor spread in dogs. Although the doses used are less than in humans, toxicity of chemo drugs is still a concern. The big problem is that things that decrease toxicity of the chemo drugs often will decrease the effectiveness…
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The Toxicity of Potent Dog Chemo Drug Doxorubicin
Is your dog on doxorubicin? Here’s what you need to know about this potent, common chemotherapy agent.
Read ArticlePredicting Chemotherapy Reactions in Dogs: MDR 1
Hi everyone! What about chemo safety in dogs, anyway? How do we know whether a given dog with cancer will tolerate chemotherapy? Well, for some drugs, there is a test that can give us info. The test is for mutations in a gene called MDR 1, or ABCB delta 1. This gene make a protein…
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