A Treatment that is Promising for Cancer in Dogs
The last thing anyone wants to hear about is cancer in dogs. This is something that is very disheartening and hearing our beloved dog has cancer is very distressful. With many types of treatments available today, we need to check out our resources and see what type could work with our pet.
The College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina's State University, has opened up a dog bone marrow transplant unit. The transplant unit performs these operations on canines with lymphoma. They have performed 30 of these procedures over the last two years.
Lymphomas are one of the most common cancers in dogs. More and more younger dogs are becoming inflicted with these and not just older dogs. Lymphomas in dogs affect the lymph system which runs throughout the body so surgery cannot be used to correct this. Most dogs unfortunately die within two months of diagnosis, and fewer than 2% of dogs are ever cured.
70 percent of the dogs who have received transplants in the last two years, are still alive today. The true results with canine lymphoma will not be known until a few years down the road. Even the dogs who never got completely cured will be in remission much longer had they not have gotten the transplant and that we do know for sure.
For a dog to receive a bone marrow transplant they need to be in either complete remission or very close. They can receive a bone marrow transplant anytime after that. The protocol requires several days of preparation. This begins with twice daily injections of Neupogen, which will drive healthy cells from the marrow into the bloodstream where they will be harvested. A very low fat diet is fed so that the extraction is not made difficult.
One week later the dog is placed on a leukaphoresis machine that harvests stem cells from the blood. The next day the dog gets full body radiation, then immediately afterwards the dog gets the stem cells that were harvested the day before, infused back into their bloodstream. The entire process is under sedation or anesthesia and is painless for the dog.
To ensure the immune system recovers after the procedure, the dog is kept at the facility for about two weeks. They may experience some hair loss and tiredness and are given antibiotics before and after to reduce any possible infection.
All relapses occurred within the first four months that most dogs had. Most of the other dogs remained cancer free or in remission for at least another two years. While there are additional monitoring costs after you take them home, the average cost of BMT runs about $14500.00 USD. Certain pet insurance plans will cover costs related to this procedure.
Serious health problems like kidney disease or heart disease in dogs will prevent them from receiving a transplant. Dogs who run a high risk of infection as with Cushing's disease or diabetes, are not candidates. Clinics offering this procedure for dog's with cancer in the United States are becoming more and more prevalent. Surely this procedure will become commonplace like many others, and in time will be available elsewhere.
The College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh, North Carolina's State University, has opened up a dog bone marrow transplant unit. The transplant unit performs these operations on canines with lymphoma. They have performed 30 of these procedures over the last two years.
Lymphomas are one of the most common cancers in dogs. More and more younger dogs are becoming inflicted with these and not just older dogs. Lymphomas in dogs affect the lymph system which runs throughout the body so surgery cannot be used to correct this. Most dogs unfortunately die within two months of diagnosis, and fewer than 2% of dogs are ever cured.
70 percent of the dogs who have received transplants in the last two years, are still alive today. The true results with canine lymphoma will not be known until a few years down the road. Even the dogs who never got completely cured will be in remission much longer had they not have gotten the transplant and that we do know for sure.
For a dog to receive a bone marrow transplant they need to be in either complete remission or very close. They can receive a bone marrow transplant anytime after that. The protocol requires several days of preparation. This begins with twice daily injections of Neupogen, which will drive healthy cells from the marrow into the bloodstream where they will be harvested. A very low fat diet is fed so that the extraction is not made difficult.
One week later the dog is placed on a leukaphoresis machine that harvests stem cells from the blood. The next day the dog gets full body radiation, then immediately afterwards the dog gets the stem cells that were harvested the day before, infused back into their bloodstream. The entire process is under sedation or anesthesia and is painless for the dog.
To ensure the immune system recovers after the procedure, the dog is kept at the facility for about two weeks. They may experience some hair loss and tiredness and are given antibiotics before and after to reduce any possible infection.
All relapses occurred within the first four months that most dogs had. Most of the other dogs remained cancer free or in remission for at least another two years. While there are additional monitoring costs after you take them home, the average cost of BMT runs about $14500.00 USD. Certain pet insurance plans will cover costs related to this procedure.
Serious health problems like kidney disease or heart disease in dogs will prevent them from receiving a transplant. Dogs who run a high risk of infection as with Cushing's disease or diabetes, are not candidates. Clinics offering this procedure for dog's with cancer in the United States are becoming more and more prevalent. Surely this procedure will become commonplace like many others, and in time will be available elsewhere.
About the Author:
Helga Schmitt has been avidly studying and researching dog health, physiotherapy and rehabilitation hands on for the past 20 years. She is a Registered Canine Hydrotherapist, Chartered Herbalist, Holistic Nutritionist, and holds a Certificate in Homeopathy. She advises dog owners about complementary health choices. Get your free Older Dog Tips Guide, and to read more on Cancer in Dogs or Tumors in Dogs...
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