Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy in veterinary medicine is much different than in human medicine

Chemotherapy is an option for many animals faced with the devastating diagnosis of cancer. Chemotherapy is generally a palliative procedure, although some cancers are much more sensitive to the chemo and can achieve a cure.

In veterinary medicine, we are not giving the high toxic doses of drugs that are given in human medicine, attempting to destroy the cancers. In veterinary medicine we give therapeutic doses of chemo in order to extend the animal’s life, and to give the animal a better quality of life, but we don't necessarily expect to reach a cure.

Because of this, animals do not experience the nausea frequently associated with chemotherapy – such as vomiting or diarrhea – nor do they experience hair loss. Animals generally handle chemotherapy very well and tend to have very few side effects, if any at all! Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously, but some are given orally.

If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, chemotherapy may be worth your consideration – it can help to extend the time and quality of life for your pet, and therefore for you as well.