When our pets get cancer: the way vets treat it is very much like what's done for people

This topic came to mind the other day when I was looking at some old family photographs in a file of pictures taken along ago by camera, then transferred into digital format, and stored on our hard drive.

Such great memories from the past! Some bittersweet now for sure, but still such great memories!

Pics of my wife Marilyn, me, the kids, and, yes, family pet Goldie the dog.

Goldie was a good-natured female Pomeranian we had as a family pet long ago, when my kids were still young.

We had had her since she was a puppy, and for about a dozen years she had been a great family pet and companion.

Then one day my wife noticed that Goldie had a small lump in her abdominal area near her left hind leg.

I have to admit I wasn't too concerned about it at the time, thinking that perhaps she had just bumped into something, cut herself, got a mild infection of some kind, and the "lump" was just an indication of that.

But my wife was more concerned, and insisted that we take Goldie to the vet for a check-up, and also to find out what was going on with that lump.

So we took her in to the vet, had her examined, and the vet's verdict was: canine soft tissue carcinoma.

Marilyn and I were both shocked, as neither of us had ever given much thought to our family dog coming down with cancer, especially Marilyn, who had always been the caretaker of the family pets.

As for what we were going to do about Goldie, the vet was forthright about it. He said he could, if we wished, apply certain treatments "to make her more comfortable" if she started to show symptoms of distress, but those treatments were expensive, and, due to her age, he honestly felt that the best thing to do for her was just to let her be.

So that's what we did. And about a year later, because of the burdens of old age that had been increasing for her, whether aggravated by the cancer or not, we finally had to let her go.

Incidentally, facts from a website about cancer mortality in dogs:

"Overall 1 and 4 dogs is will get cancer with over 50% of dogs over the age of 10 developing cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death in all but eleven of the purebred breeds."

(Interestingly, I also read that Pomeranians were listed as less likely to get a soft tissue carcinoma than most other dog breeds, but I guess Goldie just drew the short straw on that one).

Anyway, I thought about this the other day, while remembering the past, and realized that at the time we had talked to the vet, I had never asked him specifically about what kinds of cancer treatments were available for dogs, and whether they were similar to the ones we use for humans.

So out of curiosity, I recently did some searching, concentrating on dogs and cats in particular, and found out some rather interesting facts about how cancer treatment in them is actually very similar to treatment of it in humans.

Quotes below from:

"How Human And Animal Cancers Compare"
https://vetmed.tamu.edu/news/pet-talk/how-human-and-animal-cancers-compare/

" ... cancer is unique in that nearly every species can develop it and that it may present similarly across species lines."

" ... 1 in 3 dogs and 1 in 4 cats will be diagnosed in their lifetime with cancer, compared to 1 in 5 humans."

" ... In addition to chemotherapy and radiation, humans may receive targeted therapies that are not widely available to animals, a result of extensive research into drugs that effectively fight specific types of cancer. However, Bracha (veterinary professor at Texas A&M university) says that veterinary researchers are working to develop similar targeted therapies for animals. In the meantime, most pets are treated with the same chemotherapy drugs or radiation humans receive."

“We do use many of the same medications—same drugs, same chemotherapy, radiation, and so on—to treat animals that we use in human medicine,” Bracha said. “So, many of the medications are pretty much the same. The differences are in the dose and the frequency that we give our animals versus humans.”

" ... animals receive more conservative doses to reduce toxicity and side effects."

" ... most pets won’t lose their fur during chemotherapy, as animal fur doesn’t grow continuously like human hair does."

"Certain breeds may also carry genetic risks for certain types of cancers, as well. For example, terriers are at higher risk for bladder cancer than other breeds. Large dog breeds also tend to have higher rates of osteosarcoma, or bone cancer, than smaller breeds."

" ... canine cancer often develops very similarly to human cancer. The progression of osteosarcoma is very, very similar between humans and animals ... They start in the same locations in the body, they metastasize to the lungs, and they oftentimes have a very aggressive course of disease.”

And especially interesting:

"Canine cancers are so similar to human malignancies that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has designated research into canine cancers a priority, using them as a model for human cancers to improve treatment outcomes in both species."

And for cats:

"While mixed breed and purebred cats can develop cancer, the incidence of cancer is higher in purebreds. Pure breeds such as Siamese, Sphinx, Persian, and Bengal cats are more susceptible to cancer ... The higher incidence of cancer in purebred cats is partially due to inbreeding (the mating of genetically similar or closely related cats). Because cancer is a genetic disease, inbreeding increases the likelihood of combining harmful genetic changes leading to cancer."

"(as with dogs) ... Depending on the type of cancer and its level of progress, surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy may be used to treat the cancer. Although research into causes and treatment of feline cancers has been slow, there have been advances in radiation therapy, as well as newer and improved chemotherapy procedures."

Here's a short Youtube video describing generally cancer treatment for pets. Note how similar it sounds to a description of cancer treatment for humans:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks8-tgtflg4

And here's a dog receiving radiation, undergoing an IMRT treatment (hey, that's what I had, except they didn't have to knock me out with anesthesia first!) :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shisizwto2o

Some other issues, from various websites:

"And then there is the cost. While some pet owners will spend whatever it takes, the truth is not everyone can afford expensive canine healthcare treatments out-of-pocket. The cost of chemotherapy, for example, can range from $3,000 to more than $10,000. So even though this is an emotional time, you will want to take time to consider the financial aspect of treatment."

"Some dogs will have a short span of happy days after their cancer diagnosis. And others will continue to live comfortably for months on end. Our pups are just like humans in the sense that each and every body will respond differently to medical conditions."

Regarding cost of treatment, there is pet insurance, which some owners actually purchase for their pets. Some features of that, which I noted from reading some websites on it:

Some major suppliers of it: MetLife Pet Insurance, Progressive Pet Insurance (yes, MetLife and Progressive offer insurance for pets, too!), Embrace Pet Insurance, ASPCA Pet Health Insurance, Healthypaws Pet Insurance.

Facts from some websites:

"Most animal insurance plans are reimbursement-based. You pay a premium each month to your insurer. When you get a bill for a qualifying vet visit, you send a copy of the receipt along with a claim to your insurance company. After reviewing your claim, your insurer reimburses you, either via check or direct deposit."

" ... your pet’s age and breed impacts how much an insurance company charges you for a policy. More aggressive breeds and larger animals generally cost more to insure. Policies are typically cheaper for younger pets since they are less likely to have costly conditions."

"Deductibles typically range from $100 to $1,000."

"Your annual maximum is the cap on how much your pet insurer will reimburse you for the year. This can range from $3,000 to unlimited."

"An average premium for a dog is around $47/month ($29/month for a cat)."

Normally, consulting any licensed vet is coverable.

Some pet insurance companies even have 24/7 support lines that one can call and talk to a vet, if an emergency with one's pet arises.

Policies can be accident-only, accident and illness, or preventative care only.

But most companies won’t cover pre-existing health conditions, so if a pet has contracted cancer before a policy is taken out, coverage may not be possible.

about coverage for cancer specifically:

"What Pet Insurance Covers Cancer Treatment?"
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/pet-insurance/pet-care/cancer-treatment-coverage/#:~:text=accident%20and%20illness%20pet%20insurance%20plans%20typically%20cover,pet%20insurance%20companies%20that%20cover%20cancer-related%20medical%20expenses.

which tells us:

"The average cost of cancer treatment is $4,100 for dogs and $3,800 for cats"

So $5,000 in coverage would seem reasonable. Its cost:

"The average cost for $5,000 of annual coverage (specifically for cancer) for a dog is $35 a month and $28 for a cat, according to a Forbes Advisor analysis of pet insurance costs."

The above article also lists those dog breeds most prone to develop cancer.

Obviously, the decision on what to do when faced with a cancer diagnosis in a family pet is going to be as emotional as it will be pragmatic, and each case will need to be decided on its own merits.

But doing what's best for the pet must always be the first priority. And sometime that means saying goodbye.

But if we really can help them deal with a cancer that has come upon them, that's the least we can do, as they have brought so much pleasure and companionship to us during their lives so far.

And wouldn't it be something if somehow, someday, the cure for cancer in humans results from the study of it in dogs or cats?

One more great positive they might bring into our lives, in addition to all the others they give us.

But wouldn't that be something indeed, if it really did happen!

Why Do Only Dogs and Humans (and Maybe Lions) Get Prostate Cancer?

Similarities of prostate and breast cancer: Evolution, diet, and estrogens (2001)

Donald Coffee

"Abstract
Environment determines the risk of both prostate and breast cancer, and this risk can vary >10-fold. In contrast, no risk exists for human seminal vesicle cancer demonstrating tissue specificity. There is also species specificity, because there is no risk for prostate cancer in any other aging mammal except the dog. A study of evolution indicates that the prostate and breast appeared at the same time 65 million years ago with the development of mammals. All male mammals have a prostate; however, the seminal vesicles are variable and are determined by the diet so that species primarily eating meat do not have seminal vesicles. The exception is the human, who has seminal vesicles and consumes meat, although this is a recent dietary change. Human lineage departed from other higher primates 8 million years ago. The closest existing primate to humans is the bonobo (pigmy chimpanzee), which does not eat meat but exists primarily on a high fruit and fresh vegetable diet. Homo sapiens evolved only about 150,000 years ago, and only in the last 10% of that time (10 to 15 thousand years ago) did humans and dogs dramatically alter their diets. This is the time when humans domesticated the dog, bred animals, grew crops, and cooked, processed, and stored meats and vegetables. All current epidemiologic evidence and suggestions for preventing prostate and breast cancer in humans indicates that we should return to the original diets under which our ancestors evolved. The recent development of the Western-type diet is associated with breast and prostate cancer throughout the world. It is believed that the exposure to and metabolism of estrogens, and the dietary intake of phytoestrogens, combined with fat intake, obesity, and burned food processing may all be related to hormonal carcinogenesis and oxidative DNA damage. An explanatory model is proposed."

mattam said...
Probably back when all cats and dogs were wild there was little opportunity to develop most cancers because they didn't live long enough. Maybe the same thing for humans. It was a pretty rough world.

Yes, people love their animals. When I was a kid my Aunt paid $1,500 per leg (about $11,000 now) for surgery on her old poodle's front legs. I distinctly remember my father telling me he thought it was stupidest thing he ever heard of. I don't know about today so much, but back then it was considered cruelty to prolong the suffering of a sick or injured animal. A trip to the Vet to put the animal down was the right thing to do. Or, you could take the animal to the gravel pit and shoot it. Hopefully you were skilled enough to do it with one shot. And while you were at it, might as well also kill that stinky goat you never really liked. But I digress.

It's interesting that it's okay to euthanize sick pets, but letting people of sound mind make that decision for themselves is really, really controversial. I have also wondered what hunters and gatherers did when faced with the dilemma of what to do about a tribe member too sick or too injured, or just too old to keep up with the group. Hard choices, but every member of the tribe likely knew what must be done, no matter how heartbreaking it might be.

Please excuse the rambling. It's just another installment in my sporadic ADT influenced observations.

I hope the rest of your week goes well.

i had to euthanize my dog Lola last friday. no, not at the gravel pit. she went to the vet. she was a rescue between 15 and 16 years old. she never really suffered and she even licked my face before getting the first shot. she got me through prostate cancer. i wasn't going to let her suffer.

i recently rescued a young dog and i bought pet insurance that i hope i never need to use

Rescued a repeat shelter offender, going on 4 years together, what a wonderful dog.
Recently diagnosed with a mast cell tumor on his head at the base of his ear canal opening
Consult $230 , recommend treatment plan $2,000-$2,500 for tests to confirm it’s not systemic, surgery $5,000-$7,000, due to location very unlikely can get clean margins, follow up radiation and maybe chemo. Total estimated $15,000-$20,000 and no way to say how long it extends his life if any.
Not sure going to open that door, mast cell if not removed with clear margins and aggressive grade cause systemic release.
Keeping him comfortable with antihistamines and maybe prednisone seems like a more humane way to go.
Don’t want his remaining time to be in pain and sickness in an attempt to prolong his life. He’s suffers extreme distress from a simple office visit most likely from his traumatic childhood.

Post Edited (Fauntleroy) : 5/22/2024 8:28:58 AM (GMT-8)