Pets and Cancer, there is hope

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Pets and Cancer - There is hope
by Steve Durrance, D.V.M.
Mountain Shadows Pet Hospital
(Originally published in the Gazette May '99)

Cancer. It is a word that can strike a chord of fear in each of us. Chances are that most of us will be directly or indirectly affected by cancer at some point in our lives. Our pets can also be affected by cancer and this can trigger a variety of feelings in us including, fear, anger, sadness and guilt. However, a diagnosis of cancer does not have to be an immediate end for our pets. Although we often can't cure this disease there are many types of cancer that can be successfully treated and put into long remission. These treatments are becoming more widely available to pet owners, and we know that dogs and cats almost always tolerate cancer treatment better than humans.

Cancer can come in many forms and many types of treatments are available. Surgery, chemotherapy, nutrition, radiation, and alternative/complementary therapies can all play a valuable role in the treatment of cancer in pets. Chemotherapy is a word that can be just as frightening as cancer but it is a very useful tool we can use to treat cancer in our pets. It often requires only a half-day stay in the veterinary hospital and pets usually show mild or no side-effects from their treatments. There are also new and exciting nutritional therapies now available. When these diets are used in conjunction with other treatments they can increase the remission time of cancer and dramatically improve the quality of life for our pets. Dietary therapy can enhance chemotherapy treatments, can decrease the spread of cancer cells, and can provide valuable nutrients to the patient while limiting nutrients to the cancer itself.

Complementary and alternative therapies for cancer are also becoming more widely used. Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are just some of the alternative and complimentary therapies that have been proven effective through quality research and clinical trials.

Kind, compassionate care should also be a vital part of any treatment that a pet receives, and in many cases, can be the most important element of all. Our ultimate goal in treating cancer in our pets is to give them the highest quality of life possible for as long as we can.

Cutting edge research currently taking place may eventually produce new chemicals that may be able to stop a cancerous tumor from producing a blood supply while affecting the patient very little. This treatment could potentially "starve" the cancer without causing any damage to the patient's body.

The friendships we have with our companion animals create profound and enduring bonds that should be celebrated and cherished at every opportunity. Veterinary professionals have an obligation to provide pet owners with support and understanding during this difficult time. New treatments are providing more hope than ever for our pets diagnosed with cancer.

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