Cancer & chemo treatment in dogs?

[Aragon56]

Hi,

I've never posted in the dogs section of the forum before but could do with some advice...

We have an 11 year old Jack russell x border terrier who was diagnosed with liver cancer last month. He's had all the scans as he had a lot of cushings-type symptoms,and the vet found lots of nodules on the liver, he said that they could try chemo treatment but apart from that there's not much they can do other than to make his life comfortable & cut out all red meat.

Recently he's been a bit down and not walking much-we are considering giving him a short course of chemo. I've been reading up about it a bit but I'm not sure its something we should have to put him through. The poor chap is already completely blind but has had a very good life. I know the time will come at some point this year when he is in pain and that will be the time to PTS, I'm just not sure if its worth trying this chemo first. I think it will only prolong his life a little, not cure the cancer.

Thanks in advance

 

[Bossdog]

Aww, sorry to hear about your little dog, what a horrible situation. I've always been an advocate of PTS before there is likely to be any pain, I don't know about chemo for dogs but it sounds like a lot to put him through if he is only going to be PTS at the end of it? 11 is a difficult age, a lot of small dogs can go on to 15 or 16 years but as he is already blind and not feeling himself, I personally wouldn't want to put him through any more. Sorry, that sounds horrid but I know how you feel, my old lady is 14 and I know it's coming... not a nice decision to make. xxxx

 

[BigRed]

I am sorry for your dog, but you should do the decent thing by him and have him put to sleep before he goes any further downhill. He does not understand about cancer or chemo, he only knows he doesn't feel well and he will feel a lot worse when the cancer advances, which it inevitably will.

 

[Aragon56]

Thanks to both of you for replying. My gut feeling is to have PTS too before he is in any pain or the cancer advances any more. Bossdog you are right, he will only have to be PTS at some point soon even if he does have chemo.

The vet has said that the cancer is too progressed to be curable, but it will ease his symptoms (its affecting his kidneys too as he is weeing more at night). The vet also said that dogs can cope with chemo far better than humans do as its not as powerful, and that he's unlikely to be in any pain right now, but clearly he's not quite himself. Its a horrible decision to make, but I guess its one that all dog owners have to make at some point.

 

[jojo23]

Hi
My dog has had cushings for 3 years and done very well on the treatment, recently she became very unwell and the vets first thought was that the drugs were not controlling the cushings anymore. The only other course of treatment was chemo, which he said would make her very very ill before it made her better, but would be the only thing they could offer. We decided not to go ahead with this as she had been through enough and didn't think it was fair to put her through it. It turned out the reason she was ill was because her liver was damaged. She is now on a hepatic diet along with antibiotics and lactulose to help support her liver, but it is a matter of how long she can remain well before her liver gives out. We have decided we will not let her suffer and not keep her alive for selfish reasons but even so it will be very difficult when the time comes, but I have come to terms with the fact that the kindest thing to do is to let them go when the time is right.

 

[nijinsky]

So sorry to hear what you're going through.

2 of my dogs have died of cancer, one was very quick, we don't know he had it but chose to have him PTS while he was under (the vets were investigating), he was only 8

2nd dog we were removing tumours, she had 3 in total (a form of skin cancer) but at 13 didn't feel it was right to put her through any more & we chose to have her PTS, she had other problems as well.

I do know that chemo for dogs is nowhere near as bad as it is for humans, they don't seem to get the sickness we do.

It's your decision. If it is gonna cure him I'd say go for it, if it's only going to prolong his life for a while, I wouldn't do it, as you say he's 11, completely blind, make the life he has left as nice as poss & let him go before he's in any pain. It's bloody hard but if you love them, let them go.

 

[glenruby]

I personally wouldnt put my own dog through chemo. Ive seen it used on plenty of dogs. Most have lymphoma and really it just prolongs their life for about one year. IMO not worth putting a dog through that for the sake of a few months. While it appears true that animals dont get AS sick as humans do with the treatment, they certainly appear off from for a day or so either side of the tx. Plus lots of visits to the vets will be required - usually bloods are taken before the drugs are administered as they can get bone marrow suppression and dont produce enough blood cells. I would just try to make him as comfortable as possible and be ready to make the decision when the time comes. I am currently dealing with a dog who has end stage liver disease and 6 weeks ago came in with ascites (is in heart failure as well) and appeared to be close to death. The owners wanted to try whatever they could, so we put her on various drugs to treat her symptomatically(not chemo - it wouldnt help her) and we made arrangements for them to come back ten days later to see how the dog was progressing and she was much brighter and happier though no improvement in the ascites. 4 weeks on, she is doing very well, is comfotable and only has the odd bad day but the owners know that its just a matter of time. She really only has a few months at best.

BTW, did your vet do a liver biopsy to diagnose as there are a number of liver disorders that can cause nodules to appear.

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm just not sure if its worth trying this chemo first

[/ QUOTE ]
Not something I'd put any dog through, let alone an older one at 11.

Sorry