Chemotherapy and drug treatment for cancer
Chemotherapy, targeted drugs and supportive treatment for cancer, given here on site. Where needed, we coordinate treatment with an external centre.
What it involves
Drug treatment of tumours in animals includes several groups: classic chemotherapy (drugs given intravenously or orally in cycles), targeted drugs (e.g. kinase inhibitors in mast cell tumour), metronomic chemotherapy (small oral doses given daily at home) and supportive treatment — pain relief, anti-inflammatory, anti-sickness and appetite-supporting medication. The aim can vary: prolonging life, delaying recurrence after surgery, or solely improving comfort.
Chemotherapy in dogs and cats is approached differently than in humans: we choose doses so that the animal lives normally during treatment — eating, playing, not suffering. Serious side effects affect a minority of patients, and mild ones (a temporary drop in appetite, loose stools) are short-lived. Hair loss occurs only in some breeds with continuously growing coats.
The safety of treatment rests on blood tests before every administration (blood count with a differential, biochemistry) — we run them in our on-site laboratory, with a result within a few dozen minutes — and on strict rules for administration and for handling excreta at home.
When it is used
After the diagnosis and stage have been established, when the cancer is disseminated (lymphoma, leukaemias), when after surgery histopathology shows a high grade of malignancy or an incomplete margin, and when surgery is not possible and treatment is meant to improve comfort. The decision is always preceded by a conversation about the aim, the burden and the costs; the owner decides whether to start.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- My dog has been diagnosed with lymphoma and the vet has proposed chemotherapy.
- After removal of a high-grade mast cell tumour, additional treatment has been recommended.
- My cat has intestinal lymphoma and is losing weight despite a good appetite.
- The tumour is inoperable and I want to keep my pet comfortable for as long as possible.
- After surgery, my dog with a sarcoma has an incomplete margin and high-grade malignancy on histopathology.
- After treatment at a referral centre, I need blood checks and drug doses given closer to home.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
A histopathological or cytological diagnosis with the type and grade determined, full staging (chest X-ray, abdominal ultrasound, blood and urine tests), and before some drugs — echocardiography (cardiotoxic drugs) and an assessment of the kidneys. In cats, additional testing for FeLV/FIV. Before each cycle: a blood count with a differential and selected biochemical parameters.
How it proceeds
During the assessment we discuss the protocol: the drugs, the frequency of administration (usually every 1–3 weeks), the duration (from a few months), the costs and safety rules at home. An intravenous administration takes 30–60 minutes: examination, blood test, and once the result is in, placing an intravenous cannula and giving the drug with safe-handling precautions, then observation and discharge on the same day. We hand over oral drugs in packaging with instructions to give them wearing gloves.
If a given drug or protocol requires the facilities of an external centre, we coordinate treatment with that centre — the administrations take place there, while follow-up tests, supportive treatment and care between cycles are done here, with a full exchange of records (STD-06).
Aftercare
At home: watch appetite, stools and energy for 3–5 days after administration, give anti-sickness drugs as needed, wear gloves when cleaning the litter tray or faeces for 72 hours, and limit contact of small children and pregnant women with excreta. Weigh the animal before every visit.
Call urgently for vomiting or diarrhoea lasting more than a day, complete refusal of food, fever, lethargy or bleeding — a fall in white blood cells needs a rapid response.
Frequently asked questions
Does chemotherapy exhaust an animal the way it does a person?
Usually not — the doses are lower, and the aim is a good quality of life during treatment. Serious side effects affect a few per cent of patients, and we know how to prevent them.
Do you give chemotherapy on site?
Yes, we give chemotherapy on site. When a drug or protocol requires the facilities of an external centre, we coordinate treatment with that centre, while check-ups and care between cycles are provided here.
Will the dog recover after chemotherapy?
In most cancers the aim is a long remission and comfort, not a complete cure. We discuss honestly what can be expected with the given diagnosis.
Is the treatment safe for people in the household?
Yes, provided simple rules are followed: gloves when handling oral drugs and excreta for 72 hours after administration, and limiting contact of children and pregnant women with faeces.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about chemotherapy and drug treatment of tumours?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.