Canine chemotherapy

Anyone put their dog through chemotherapy?

My friend's dog had his rear leg amputated a couple of weeks ago and the tumour was malignant, and the dog needs chemotherapy starting on Thursday this week.

I also have another friend who had a Rottie with an amputation and tried chemotherapy, but it didn't work and she has vowed she'd never ever put another dog through it.

Any thoughts/experiences. Not that it will influence my friend's decision, I think if it were me I'd try absolutely everything to keep my dog as happy and healthy as possible.

Yes, my Milo had a leg amputated in August and started chemo in September. He had four sessions, about 3/4 weeks apart. He had no reaction to the chemo and, once he had recovered from the sedative, was back to normal. He had x-rays after the last session and there is no sign of secondaries (not that that means they aren't there, just that they aren't evident at the moment). He is still looking well, eating well and enjoying two walks a day of up to an hour each. The vet will x-ray again in a few months but he is delighted with Milo as his last few similar patients didn't do so well.

I know how your friend feels as I know I have done everything I can for Milo. People who originally said they would have him pts are now saying that it was definitely the right decision for him. However, if he had been any older (he was 10 in August but is a very fit agility dog) and not so fit, I probably wouldn't have put him through it. However, I definitely suffered more than he did! Feel free to pm me if you want any more info.

Akitagirl on here had very good results with her boy Zeke

Thanks! I am aware it's a difficult post to answer for some but I do appreciate it.

This was an option we were given with Bandit(amputation and chemo), as the cancer had not spread anywhere else, but after a honest talk with my vet and my own views swaying the options we declined,

My vet was not in favour as in his experience it only gives mths not years of extra life, and for such invasive surgery and chemo, we felt it was not something we were willing to put our boy through.

i never regret the decision we made, what time he had left we made the most of,

Same happened to a friend with her Rotti, she went with Palliative care, everyone has to decide for themselves, and I hope your friends dog benefits from the procedure.

Me too...............

Having seen a dog suffer terribly with chemo I don't think I could put mine through it. He was really, really ill with it. I'd rather make the most of what time we did have left than the dog spend its last few months suffering like that.

I know they don't all suffer that way but I still don't think I could put them through it.

I hope your friends dog benefits from the treatment though.

When we found out our Zeke at 6 years old got Lymphoma/cancer, he underwent 6 months chemotherapy - 2 months once weekly then 4 months once fortnightly, his treatment plan included injections, IV's and tablets, each trip, a different treatment - not all in one go!

He was a young, fit dog and you wouldn't know there was anything wrong with him when he was diagnosed - yet he was given 6 weeks to live without treatment there was NO WAY we could at not least give it a go, we decided to give it a go and the second he showed a reduced quality of life then we would stop, we love him so much we couldn't bare to see him suffer a single day.

He managed very, very well with it - well, not managed, he breezed through it. Injections not a problem... IV's (20 minutes) he just laid there, side effects (sickness) were all managed well with tablets or quick shots, in fact I don't remember him suffering many side effects at all. Until the last day of treatment he still trotted happily into that waiting room. He still enjoyed 2 walks a day-but tired quicker, still enjoyed all his meals etc throughout.

BUT having gone through it, i know my female wouldn't have coped with so many hospital visits, so much prodding and poking - I wouldn't put her through it, she would have got very stressed being left alone in there all morning (we used to drop him off first thing and pick him up 1/2pm) I think it very much depends on the dog. Would I put another dog 'through it' - yes.

Also, we attended a specialist Oncology department at a local animal hospital for his treatment, had it been just at our local vets i don't think that he would have had such an easy journey - the oncologists were very thorough and so knowledgeable, help, support and options were offered every step of the way.

Zeke's still here nearly 2 years later!! - you wouldn't know there had been anything wrong with him, he's the picture of health, his chemo wasn't a cure, unfortunately there isn't a cure for Lymphoma, and the prognosis with the chemotherapy was 6-12 months remission, he's outlived that by a looong way and is still the lovely, happy laid back lad he always was.

Hardest but best decision i've ever made in my life, honestly.

Thank you all so much for your replies, they really do mean such a lot to me - all of them.

I now feel I can listen and talk with my friend with a little more knowledge - albeit second hand knowledge, but it's better than nothing at all. I feel I can now at least sit and hold her hand through a time that must be so mind-blowing for her, and that's thanks to you all for your time, it truly is appreciated, so much.

xxxx As your friend takes a stand on her dogs behalf I think she is about to learn how to be really strong, and her dog will teach her courage, i know ours did. She's lucky she has a good friend in you too