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Quality of Life After Canine Cancer"Quality of Life after canine cancer can be difficult for the owner to determine. Understanding your dog's activity level, appetite, alertness and body condition can help you make a decision." The Quality of Life after canine cancer treatment is an important consideration in whether or not to treat your dog. There are many side effects to cancer treatment. The decision on whether or not to treat the cancer is going to be part of the conversation between you and your veterinarian. An important part of the decision is the quality of life that you can expect for your dog. You know your dog better than anyone. It is only you that can report to your veterinarian how you dog is behaving and the impact the cancer is having on their health. Look at your veterinarian as a trusted adviser, not the person responsible for your dog’s well being. The Animal Medical Center in New York City has a scale to help determine if the quality of life after canine cancer treatment will result in a positive quality of life for your dog. It is helpful to think about each of the following factors in making a determination. If you can answer that after treatment your dog will score highly in each factor, then treatment makes sense. It is sometimes helpful to write down your expectations for each factor prior to having a discussion about treatment with your veterinarian. You can then discuss each one and see how your expectations match the expected reality of treatment. If your ratings are higher than what your veterinarian tells you, it might not make sense to put your dog through a treatment that will not result in equal or better quality of life. Our only thought is that if your gut tells you that treatment will result in a better quality of life for your dog, then by all means do it. Sources: Nutrition and Cancer: New Keys for Cure and Control 2003! Gregory K. Ogilvie, DVM, DACVIM (Internal Medicine & Oncology) Colorado State University Ft. Collins, CO, USA Prostatic Disease in the Dog Lymphoma Canine Brain Tumors: Improvements in Diagnosis and Treatment Neoplasia of the Nervous System (spinal tumors) Current Therapy for Canine Oral Tumors Dog Owner’s Home Veterinary Handbook Hound Health Handbook From Quality of LIfe After Canine Cancer to Canine Cancer Home
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