Chemo precautions for other household pets

Willow · 03-04-2009, 04:41 AM

My lovely 8 year old lab has just be diagnosed with lymphoma. We have two
indoor cats. I am familiar with the care that has to be taken with vomit or
body waste when taking chemotherapy. Is it dangerous for the cats to share the water bowl with the dog? As a precaution I will try to keep the cats from the water bowl but that may not be possible. Any information will be appreciated.

maximus · 03-04-2009, 04:58 AM

That's a god question Willow. I'm not sure. The water bowl was never mentioned to me -maybe you should give your vet a quick call to check on it. That way, if it's it not a concern, it would be one less thing you have to worry about.
Very sorry to hear about your lab's diagnosis. I am in the same shoes as you with my boy and his lymphoma.
All the best if I can answer anything for you on our experiences, please ask.
Hugs to your pup
Trish

Willow · 03-04-2009, 06:00 PM

Trish
My dog, Cassie, was just diagnosed. She has had two prednisone injections.
That improved her appetite and gave her some energy. She was refusing most food. Discussing chemo choices with vet tomorrow. This time last week we were out for a long walk and she was having a great time. Strikes fast.

How did you discover the cancer? What type of chemo did you decide to
go with? How is your boy handling the chemo?

Thanks for your reply. It is always helpful to have others to turn to who are going through the same thing.

Pam

maximus · 03-08-2009, 07:12 AM

Hi Willow
I noticed on a Saturday evening that Max's lymph nodes in his neck were enlarged. They came up very fast. I am always touching him and had not notice anything until that night. Went to the vet Monday morning for a needle aspirate, got the results on Wednesday indicating lymphoma and met with the oncologist on Thurs and started treatment that day.

I am so grateful that my vet took it seriously and addressed the situation right away. Although, I already knew in my heart that there was something very wrong, so I was not leaving there without an answer - and I knew it was not an infection. There is little time to waste with lymphoma. I lost my stallion to lymphoma a few years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with it. I couldn't believe it was happening again.

Max started the Madison Wisconsin protocol (end of June 08). That went until early Dec. He went into remission right away. First half of the treatment was weekly, then every other week. He had several times where he had some nausea and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea and went off his food a day or two, after the treatment (usually 2-3 days later), but he would bounce back quickly. We had medication to give him to help with those side effects. He never had any severe side effects that required hospitalization or special care. Just patience that I knew it would pass and he would be OK after - almost like someone flipped a switch and he would be happy and wanting to play again. I knew when he brought me a toy that he was past the nausea. While it was upsetting to me that he would get sick from time to time, it wasn't anything that caused me to second guess my choice to do the chemo.

Unfortunately, his remission didn't last long. We were hoping for a minimum 2 months - we only got 3 weeks. So we started right away on a rescue protocol of vincristin and mustargen with oral prednisone. He has been doing well on that, with minimal side effects.

There are days when I think I can fee his lymph nodes a bit. Sometimes I think maybe I'm imagining it, getting paranoid. He gets his treatment every other week, and I'm always prepared for bad news when we go to see the oncologist, but so far he is pleased with everything, despite that he was very disappointed that the original remission was so short. He mentioned that it is something he has noticed in other Rottweilers - that they go into remission very quickly, but it may not last as long as others. Nothing certain, but just his experience from other dogs.

Max's breathing has been a little strange lately (doesn't seem to bother him, just sounds a little labored sometimes). I think it started around the time we started the new protocol, but not sure if it started right at the time or a bit before....? It's possibly from the prednisone, possibly from a growth in another organ or fluid on the lungs. During his last treatment, we did xrays to see if there was anything extra going on internally (tumors, fluid on the lungs, etc) and everything was 'perfect' in the words of our oncologist. I think he was as surprised as I was - we both expected something to be there causing the odd breathing. Not to say there isn't something in there that just wasn't visible on xray, but at least nothing obvious. So that is a small bit of good news in a bad situation.

We really just take things day to day. Try to have as much fun as we can and try VERY hard not get down about. When I feel myself getting upset, I usually go in the bathroom to cry - I don't want to pass that stress on to Max. Then I do my best to snap myself out of it and grab a toy and go outside and play. I know that he could get very sick very quickly. Maybe he'll be here for 2 months - maybe 2 weeks. Who knows. Feels a bit like we're on borrowed time, but we plan to keep fighting until he tells me he can't anymore.

During his first round of treatment, I was not as emotional most of the time. It felt like I was doing something proactive, and things were going well and he stayed in remission the entire time. Then, after it lasted so short after the treatment stopped, that's when I really started to realize that no matter how hard I fight for him - we will lose the battle eventually. A very heart-sinking feeling... but the chemo has allowed us months and months together that we wouldn't have otherwise had - and I have no regrets. I think that chemo often gets a bad rap. Likely in part because of the images we all have of humans and chemo. But it's not like that at all for us - I would do it again. Yes, some dogs have severe reactions, and yes, it can make them ill for some of the time, but for Max, it was a very small percentage of the time, and worth the risk. Trust in your oncologist and his staff are, I feel, a huge part of it.

I hope that's of some help to you. Everyone always says that I know my dog best and I know what is good for him and what is not. This is more true than ever. Only you can decide what route you want to take and know that whatever choice you make, it is the right one for your dog and for you.
I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but glad you found this board. There are some very helpful and supportive people here - all of us connected by something very sad, and very difficult, but it's great to be able to get things off your chest and know that others are as lost as I am sometimes.
Hugs to you and your pup
Trish & Maximus

Benpaws · 03-08-2009, 09:18 AM

Dear Trish,
What a loving and caring response you gave to Pam who is just starting on this journey with her beloved Lab.
We didn't opt for chemo and it was never suggested by our vet with Benny's tumours following his surgery. I often wonder if it would have helped him.
Last week, Benny had the larger of the tumours injected but it did not shrink as much as we had hoped. However, he is doing pretty well most days and enjoying his food and his walks. He just had a haircut and now on a walk and I'll help bathe him. He was looking like a small "mammoth" and could hardly see out of his eyes for all the fur. Many people asked us what kind of a dog he was when we were out walking him.
You are so right that we know our own dogs and with the help of our vets we are doing the best we can. Every day with them is another "gift" and every moment when they can play, another moment of joy.
I know too that the day will arrive when Benny lets me know he has had more than he can handle and I will let him go. However, I know his footsteps will always be beside mine. I will see him in the moon and stars and sun and he will be in the rainbow after the storm.
This disease is so stressful and so uncertain. I feel as if I am on a roller coaster ride and like you I sometimes go into another room to shed some tears.
However, I would not trade any day I have had with Benny. I also have learned so many things from him and I know that whatever happens I am a better person for having shared this brief time with my best fur boy.
Thank you for all that you share in this forum and God Bless Max.
I am glad things are good for you both right now. Cherish today. Live in the moment like Max does.
Good luck to you too Pam. You are in my prayers as is everyone here. The nicest people in the whole world OWN a DOG!
I might add that Benny's breathing is sometimes laboured as well and the vet said it is from the prednisone which he takes daily.
I get such comfort every day when I come here and read what others are willing to share.
THANKS TED!

Hugs, Joanne & Benny

maximus · 03-09-2009, 11:02 AM

Well it turns out I'm not imagining Max's lymph nodes being enlarged. Can feel them clear as day today. So, off we go to the oncologist on our scheduled treatment day on Thursday so see where we go from here. Bad news is, my regular onco is off so we will be seeing his colleague. I am assuming (hoping..?) he is as knowledgeable.
Hoping for something positive... but hope is getting to be a more distant glimmer these days. Luckily Max seems to be feeling good, so I'll take that and try not to stress like mad until Thurs.

Benpaws · 03-13-2009, 09:00 AM

Dear Trish,
I sure hope your onclologist can help with Max's recent tumours. What an awful disease and one day we have hope and then our hopes are "dashed" and another day begins. Try and be positive. I let myself fall into the "well of depression" this week and that was not good for Benny.
What a "roller coaster" ride this cancer is!!!!
Praying for you.

Hugs,
Joanne & Benny

kev'n'zig · 07-29-2009, 06:28 PM

hi, sharing the water bowl is fine. ziggy is going through chemo, i asked my vet also, because we have a second dog.

03-04-2009, 04:41 AM	#1 (permalink)
Willow Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	Chemo precautions for other household pets My lovely 8 year old lab has just be diagnosed with lymphoma. We have two indoor cats. I am familiar with the care that has to be taken with vomit or body waste when taking chemotherapy. Is it dangerous for the cats to share the water bowl with the dog? As a precaution I will try to keep the cats from the water bowl but that may not be possible. Any information will be appreciated.

03-08-2009, 09:18 AM	#5 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 894	Re: Your reply Trish to Pam Dear Trish, What a loving and caring response you gave to Pam who is just starting on this journey with her beloved Lab. We didn't opt for chemo and it was never suggested by our vet with Benny's tumours following his surgery. I often wonder if it would have helped him. Last week, Benny had the larger of the tumours injected but it did not shrink as much as we had hoped. However, he is doing pretty well most days and enjoying his food and his walks. He just had a haircut and now on a walk and I'll help bathe him. He was looking like a small "mammoth" and could hardly see out of his eyes for all the fur. Many people asked us what kind of a dog he was when we were out walking him. You are so right that we know our own dogs and with the help of our vets we are doing the best we can. Every day with them is another "gift" and every moment when they can play, another moment of joy. I know too that the day will arrive when Benny lets me know he has had more than he can handle and I will let him go. However, I know his footsteps will always be beside mine. I will see him in the moon and stars and sun and he will be in the rainbow after the storm. This disease is so stressful and so uncertain. I feel as if I am on a roller coaster ride and like you I sometimes go into another room to shed some tears. However, I would not trade any day I have had with Benny. I also have learned so many things from him and I know that whatever happens I am a better person for having shared this brief time with my best fur boy. Thank you for all that you share in this forum and God Bless Max. I am glad things are good for you both right now. Cherish today. Live in the moment like Max does. Good luck to you too Pam. You are in my prayers as is everyone here. The nicest people in the whole world OWN a DOG! I might add that Benny's breathing is sometimes laboured as well and the vet said it is from the prednisone which he takes daily. I get such comfort every day when I come here and read what others are willing to share. THANKS TED! Hugs, Joanne & Benny

03-13-2009, 09:00 AM	#7 (permalink)
Benpaws Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oakville, ON., CANADA Posts: 894	Maximus Dear Trish, I sure hope your onclologist can help with Max's recent tumours. What an awful disease and one day we have hope and then our hopes are "dashed" and another day begins. Try and be positive. I let myself fall into the "well of depression" this week and that was not good for Benny. What a "roller coaster" ride this cancer is!!!! Praying for you. Hugs, Joanne & Benny

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03-04-2009, 04:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
maximus Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46	That's a god question Willow. I'm not sure. The water bowl was never mentioned to me -maybe you should give your vet a quick call to check on it. That way, if it's it not a concern, it would be one less thing you have to worry about. Very sorry to hear about your lab's diagnosis. I am in the same shoes as you with my boy and his lymphoma. All the best if I can answer anything for you on our experiences, please ask. Hugs to your pup Trish

03-04-2009, 06:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
Willow Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 2	Trish My dog, Cassie, was just diagnosed. She has had two prednisone injections. That improved her appetite and gave her some energy. She was refusing most food. Discussing chemo choices with vet tomorrow. This time last week we were out for a long walk and she was having a great time. Strikes fast. How did you discover the cancer? What type of chemo did you decide to go with? How is your boy handling the chemo? Thanks for your reply. It is always helpful to have others to turn to who are going through the same thing. Pam

03-08-2009, 07:12 AM	#4 (permalink)
maximus Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46	Hi Willow I noticed on a Saturday evening that Max's lymph nodes in his neck were enlarged. They came up very fast. I am always touching him and had not notice anything until that night. Went to the vet Monday morning for a needle aspirate, got the results on Wednesday indicating lymphoma and met with the oncologist on Thurs and started treatment that day. I am so grateful that my vet took it seriously and addressed the situation right away. Although, I already knew in my heart that there was something very wrong, so I was not leaving there without an answer - and I knew it was not an infection. There is little time to waste with lymphoma. I lost my stallion to lymphoma a few years ago, so I was somewhat familiar with it. I couldn't believe it was happening again. Max started the Madison Wisconsin protocol (end of June 08). That went until early Dec. He went into remission right away. First half of the treatment was weekly, then every other week. He had several times where he had some nausea and sometimes vomiting and diarrhea and went off his food a day or two, after the treatment (usually 2-3 days later), but he would bounce back quickly. We had medication to give him to help with those side effects. He never had any severe side effects that required hospitalization or special care. Just patience that I knew it would pass and he would be OK after - almost like someone flipped a switch and he would be happy and wanting to play again. I knew when he brought me a toy that he was past the nausea. While it was upsetting to me that he would get sick from time to time, it wasn't anything that caused me to second guess my choice to do the chemo. Unfortunately, his remission didn't last long. We were hoping for a minimum 2 months - we only got 3 weeks. So we started right away on a rescue protocol of vincristin and mustargen with oral prednisone. He has been doing well on that, with minimal side effects. There are days when I think I can fee his lymph nodes a bit. Sometimes I think maybe I'm imagining it, getting paranoid. He gets his treatment every other week, and I'm always prepared for bad news when we go to see the oncologist, but so far he is pleased with everything, despite that he was very disappointed that the original remission was so short. He mentioned that it is something he has noticed in other Rottweilers - that they go into remission very quickly, but it may not last as long as others. Nothing certain, but just his experience from other dogs. Max's breathing has been a little strange lately (doesn't seem to bother him, just sounds a little labored sometimes). I think it started around the time we started the new protocol, but not sure if it started right at the time or a bit before....? It's possibly from the prednisone, possibly from a growth in another organ or fluid on the lungs. During his last treatment, we did xrays to see if there was anything extra going on internally (tumors, fluid on the lungs, etc) and everything was 'perfect' in the words of our oncologist. I think he was as surprised as I was - we both expected something to be there causing the odd breathing. Not to say there isn't something in there that just wasn't visible on xray, but at least nothing obvious. So that is a small bit of good news in a bad situation. We really just take things day to day. Try to have as much fun as we can and try VERY hard not get down about. When I feel myself getting upset, I usually go in the bathroom to cry - I don't want to pass that stress on to Max. Then I do my best to snap myself out of it and grab a toy and go outside and play. I know that he could get very sick very quickly. Maybe he'll be here for 2 months - maybe 2 weeks. Who knows. Feels a bit like we're on borrowed time, but we plan to keep fighting until he tells me he can't anymore. During his first round of treatment, I was not as emotional most of the time. It felt like I was doing something proactive, and things were going well and he stayed in remission the entire time. Then, after it lasted so short after the treatment stopped, that's when I really started to realize that no matter how hard I fight for him - we will lose the battle eventually. A very heart-sinking feeling... but the chemo has allowed us months and months together that we wouldn't have otherwise had - and I have no regrets. I think that chemo often gets a bad rap. Likely in part because of the images we all have of humans and chemo. But it's not like that at all for us - I would do it again. Yes, some dogs have severe reactions, and yes, it can make them ill for some of the time, but for Max, it was a very small percentage of the time, and worth the risk. Trust in your oncologist and his staff are, I feel, a huge part of it. I hope that's of some help to you. Everyone always says that I know my dog best and I know what is good for him and what is not. This is more true than ever. Only you can decide what route you want to take and know that whatever choice you make, it is the right one for your dog and for you. I'm so sorry you have to go through this, but glad you found this board. There are some very helpful and supportive people here - all of us connected by something very sad, and very difficult, but it's great to be able to get things off your chest and know that others are as lost as I am sometimes. Hugs to you and your pup Trish & Maximus

03-09-2009, 11:02 AM	#6 (permalink)
maximus Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 46	Well it turns out I'm not imagining Max's lymph nodes being enlarged. Can feel them clear as day today. So, off we go to the oncologist on our scheduled treatment day on Thursday so see where we go from here. Bad news is, my regular onco is off so we will be seeing his colleague. I am assuming (hoping..?) he is as knowledgeable. Hoping for something positive... but hope is getting to be a more distant glimmer these days. Luckily Max seems to be feeling good, so I'll take that and try not to stress like mad until Thurs.

07-29-2009, 06:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
kev'n'zig Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 2	hi, sharing the water bowl is fine. ziggy is going through chemo, i asked my vet also, because we have a second dog.