Palliative Cancer Care in the Dog and Cat
Easing the Pain and Discomfort of Canine and Feline Tumors & Cancers
May 7, 2009
When a dog or cat is diagnosed with cancer, pet owners are faced with difficult decisions regarding care for the sick pet. While cure of the cancer or tumor would be optimal, treatment of tumors and cancers in animals is sometimes not very rewarding or successful. Often, pet owners are faced with trying to maintain the pet's quality of life. Palliative cancer care helps pet owners achieve this goal.
Goals of Palliative Cancer Treatment for Dogs and CatsPalliative cancer treatment for dogs and cats has two goals:
- Relieving pain associated with the tumor or cancer for both canine and feline patients
- Relieving or reducing other components of suffering related to the tumor or cancer, including weakness, nausea, respiratory distress and other symptoms directly related to the cancer or tumor.
Pain Control is an Important Goal of Palliative Canine and Feline Cancer Care
Canine and feline cancers and tumors can be quite painful for the affected pet. Pain control is important to maintain the quality of life for these animals.
Potential medications used to relieve pain for canine and feline patients suffering cancers and tumors include:
- non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications. Piroxicam is a commonly used NSAID in tumors and cancers, but there are a number of other NSAID medications as well.
- tramadol
- gabapentin
- steroids such as dexamethasone, prednisone, prenisolone and others
- opioids such as Fentanyl
Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy as Palliative Cancer Care in Dogs and Cats
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are both options which can palliate many of the symptoms of canine and feline cancer. Even when chemotherapy or radiation therapy is not effective in eradicating the tumor or cancer for the dog or cat, it may be possible to slow the progression of the disease or reduce clinical symptoms resulting from the cancer or tumor by using chemotherapy or radiation therapy.
The best treatment will depend on the type of cancer or tumor diagnosed and the physical condition of the individual cat or dog. A consultation with the pet's veterinarian will be necessary to determine whether chemotherapy, radiation therapy or a combination of the two is most appropriate for the pet.
Complementary or Alternative Medicine Alternatives as Palliative Cancer Care Options for Dogs and CatsComplementary or alternative medicine techniques may offer additional care options for palliative cancer care in dogs and cats suffering from cancers and tumors.
Complementary or alternative medicine methods may include:
- acupuncture
- acupressure
- herbal therapy
- aromatherapy
- other modalities
As with chemotherapy and radiation therapy, the appropriate medical treatment will depend on the dog or cat's individual diagnosis and clinical signs.
Multi-Modal Therapy for Palliative Cancer Care in Canine and Feline Cancers and Tumors
Multi-modal therapy, incorporating two or more of the above treatment options is often the best method of providing effective palliative cancer care for dogs and cats suffering from cancers and tumors.
Multi-modal therapy allows reduced dosages of medications, making the drugs safer for the pet, as well as affording the highest level of comfort for the dog or cat.
Setting Goals for Palliative Cancer Care in Dogs and Cats
The most important part of providing palliative cancer care for a canine or feline patient suffering from a cancer or tumor is maintaining an adequate quality of life for the dog or cat. Setting goals prior to the initiation of a palliative cancer care plan is important to be certain that the best interests of the dog or cat are always the primary focus.
Goals and expectations should be considered before or shortly after starting palliative treatment for any dog or cat suffering from cancer. It should always be remembered that the pet's quality of life is the primary concern. When quality of life can no longer be maintained with palliative cancer care, it is time to move forward and give the pet the gift of freedom from pain and suffering by performing a humane euthanasia.
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