My dog has lymphoma. What are affordable treatment options available?

I'm sorry to hear that Daisy received this diagnosis. There are certainly risks and benefits to both options with respect to side effects, life span and cost. Side effects of prednisone in the short term can cause excessive drinking and urination. Some animals with underlying heart disease can go into congestive heart failure and other animals can develop diabetes as a result of the high doses of corticosteroids given in these situations. Around 40% of dogs can achieve remission for 4-6 weeks with prednisone alone, but this is certainly based upon an individual's response to medication and if any metastatic (spread) of disease is present. Obviously, this treatment is much less expensive, but a much shorter survival time is expected. Daisy's chemotherapy protocol is based on whether she has B cell or T cell lymphoma and if any metastatic disease is present. As a generalized statement, lymphoma responds to chemotherapy better than most cancers. Oncologists strive to administer chemotherapeutic drugs at doses that will kill cancerous cells while avoiding as many side effects as possible. The side effects possible vary with different chemotherapeutic drugs. In short, there is no right or wrong choice. You need to evaluate both options to determine your comfort level. If you haven't already done so, consider a consultation with a veterinary oncologist for more information. I hope this helps!

I am so very sorry to hear about Lucy. It is always heartbreaking to get this news. If you cannot afford chemotherapy I would discuss the possibility of treating with just prednisone (a steroid) alone. This can provide temporary improvement in some pets and is not expensive. As far as how long she has left, it really can vary by dog. I have seen some decline very rapidly after diagnosis, within a week or two. That is the more rare case. Others on prednisone may live for another several months, and occasionally we will have one live 6 months or longer. The average is about 2 months. You can read more about the disease at http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=575

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Lymphoma is in fact a cancer. This is typically treated with chemotherapy. There are many chemotherapy options that can be considered such as a multi agent protocol called CHOP. There are other chemotherapeutic medications that can be considered depending on what your veterinarian has available. In general, chemotherapy is well-tolerated in dogs when done appropriately. If not able to proceed with chemotherapy, there are other options like prednisone therapy alone which in itself can help dogs with lymphoma though for a very short amount of time. The prognosis with chemotherapy varies and depends on the type of lymphoma he has (B-cell vs. T-cell) and the treatment chosen. The prognosis varies between 6 to 12 months with chemotherapy and about 2 months on just prednisone. Please feel free to request a consultation with me if you have more specific questions. Good luck!

Hello, thank you for using Pet Coach. I am so sorry for you loss. I know it is difficult to lose part of your family under any circumstances. I am not quite sure why you are wondering about doxycycline though. As you know, it is an antibiotic and is not indicated in treating lymphoma. Prednisone is the only treatment if chemotherapy cannot be instituted. Prednisone is not a curative medication, it only works to slow the growth of the cancer. Doxycycline does not do anything to treat cancer. If you can provide more information as to why you are referring to the doxycycline we can maybe help you better. Again, I am sorry for your loss. Best wishes.

Poor Millie. Chemo is an option but you will need to have access to a veterinary oncologist. I would talk to your vet about referring you to an oncologist if you have one in your area. If not, the best option would be to start her on steroids. Steroids isn't a cure but it can help improve her symptoms/clinical signs. It will help make her have a good quality of life during her time left. I hope this helps!

Sorry to hear this...it must be very sad to see him like this. The lymphoma does seem rather advanced, but treatment is a possibility. In-fact, it could still make a big difference in slowing the progression of the cancer and actually make him feel better. There are a few different options for chemotherapy that can range in price and efficacy. The decision about what treatment is best for Kratos takes into account multiple different factors, so this will definitely have to be a discussion between you and the vet that diagnosed the lymphoma. I hope that helps and Kratos feels better soon.

I am very sorry that Benny has been diagnosed with Lymphoma. My heart truly goes out to you both. First of all know there is no wrong answer here, whichever you chose for your Benny he will be kept as happy and as comfortable as possible for as long as possible. The doses of chemotherapy used in dogs are smaller then those used in humans, therefore the side effects tend to be lowered. Dogs do not generally become as ill as a human undergoing chemotherapy does. Benny has lived a very long and I am sure happy life with you. A year can be a gift on top of that life, as can a further 2 months. I know the decision to let go of one of our pets is incredibly challenging as you move forward with either treatment keep that in mind that as veterinarians we strive for a quality of life for the pets we see. If you believe that Benny is still happy and has a good quality of life, then there isn't a reason to let go of him yet. It can be difficult to be objective when it comes to our own pets, so discussing with other people in Benny's life as well as using a quality of life index can be helpful. A quality of life index, like the one at the link below, asks you questions in order to obtain a quality of life score. It is advised that you take the test three times on three separate days. It is also helpful to have others who know Benny well answer the questions. The aim is for a score above 35, however, it is only a guide and ultimately you and Benny's veterinarian understand great situation better then anyone else. http://www.aplb.org/resources/quality-of-life_scale.php I wish you the warmest regards in this decision. I can't advise what is the right choice for you. But if it were my dog and finances allowed I would want to try for the extra year given by chemotherapy. Mainly because I believe you would have more healthy time with him in this scenario, whereas with using on prednisolone he will continue to deteriorate from this point on. But as I mentioned there is no wrong answer. You are doing him well in either situation. In either situation you will treasure the time you have left together. I would be will be very difficult when the time does come, but try to focus on the love you two shared, and the memories you made to create a beautiful lif for dear Benny