There is no cure for this disease and relapses are common after therapy. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are commonly used for treatment in lymphoma animal patients. Use of chemotherapy alone or with radiation therapy will be decided by your veterinary oncologist based on the stage of the disease, the age of your dog, and your dog's overall well-being.
In dehydrated patients, fluid therapy is given to stabilize the body fluids. In case of abnormal fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen, your veterinarian will remove the accumulated fluid. Unfortunately, relapses are common after chemotherapy and it is rarely found to have long term curative value in most affected patients. The ultimate goal of chemotherapy remains to improve the quality of life in affected patients.
Living and Management
Unfortunately there is no cure available for this disease. The only resolution in some cases is to provide extra care to improve the quality of life in affected animals. Many side-effects are seen with chemotherapy and you should talk to a veterinary oncologist for best recommendations before deciding on this type of therapy. Chemotherapeutic drugs are highly toxic to different body systems and various complications are seen during and after treatment.
Chemotherapy is also potentially hazardous for human beings, therefore you should talk to the veterinary oncologist about safe handling and administration of chemotherapeutic medicines at home. Basic precautions include wearing latex gloves before drug administration.
Regular monitoring and checkups are required for evaluating the the patient's progress. Regular blood testing, along with cardiac and other body system evaluation is required during treatment. You will need to visit your veterinarian at regular intervals for follow-ups and at each visit your veterinarian will evaluate your dog’s response to treatment and adjust it as necessary. In case of serious complications, your veterinarian may reduce dosages or stop the treatment altogether.
During chemotherapy, patients are more prone to various infections, which can quickly become complicated, so you will need to watch your dog for any signs of infection. Call your veterinarian immediately if you observe any untoward symptom in your dog. Do not ever increase or reduce the dosage of drugs without prior consulting with your veterinarian. If pain medications have been prescribed, use them with caution and follow all directions carefully, making sure that all members of the home are familiar with the medication schedule; one of the most preventable accidents with pets is overdose of medication.
A treatment of certain neoplasms that is administered using an x ray
An in-depth examination of the properties of urine; used to determine the presence or absence of illness
Anything pertaining to an organ
A decreased number of lymphocytic leukocytes in an animal’s blood system
A type of leukocyte in the body
The condition of being drowsy, listless, or weak
Small structures that filter out the lymph and store lymphocytes
A condition of the blood in which normal red blood cell counts or hemoglobin are lacking.
A term for a type of neoplasm that is made up of lymphoid tissue; these masses are usually malignant in nature