Someone's best friend receiving chemotherapy.
While most of you were putting together the kids Easter baskets and hiding eggs for the Sunday morning hunt, a few people-type peeps gathered at Lucky Dawg Daycare & Training Center for a discussion with Dr. Jeannette Kelly of Veterinary Cancer Care Center of Santa Fe.
Dr. Kelly is a petite, athletic, powerhouse of hope. She and her staff are passionate about providing exceptional care and compassion for those animals and their people who are dealing with the realities of cancer. Throughout the hour and a half, relaxed and informative discussion, I was impressed with the fact that this level of empathy is the norm at Veterinary Cancer Care, not the exception. And yet it seems that Veterinary Cancer Care is a little-known secret in Santa Fe (www.vetcancercare.com). Did you know that Dr. Kelly is Santa Fe's only veterinary board certified oncologist? While most pet guardians are familiar with and grateful for the Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center located at 2001 Vivigen Way, it was clear that most of us in attendance were unaware of the numbers of animals being treated for various types of cancer, literally right around the corner.
Why even talk about cancer unless your pet is given that heart-sinking prognosis? Because, as Dr. Kelly presented, it is diagnosable, treatable, manageable and often curable, Nearly 50% of all pets over ten years of age will battle cancer. Now more than ever, there is a greater cultural sway highlighting the importance of the human/animal bond, Due to that connection, there are more educated owners and more emphasis on better nutritional choices for our pets. But Veterinary Cancer Care also emphasizes the importance of early detection and screening, as well as prevention which includes the role of genetics and environmental factors.
Dr. Kelly shared that cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that spread withing the body despite the immune system's own attempt at control. The following warning signs could be an indication of cancer:
Due in part to irresponsible breeding, environmental factors and/or compromised immune systems, cancer can be found in many popular breeds. Please talk with your veterinarian if you think your dog may be predisposed as an at-risk breed:
Did you know that spaying or neutering your pet at an early age can help to prevent mammary or testicular tumors? Compared with females left intact, those spayed before puberty have a 0.5% risk; those spayed after one estrous cycle have an 8.0% risk; and dogs spayed after two estrous cycles have up to a 26.0% risk for developing mammary neoplasia later in life. Overall, unspayed females have a 7 times greater risk of developing mammary neoplasia than do those that are spayed.
According to Dr. Kelly, nutrition can play a big role in the prevention of cancers in your four-legged friend. A high quality, well-balanced food that is grain-free (grains should not be looked at as "the bad guys", but just like anything, too much of a good thing...) is optimal for your dog. Cancer feeds on simple carbohydrates, so if your dog food is filled with fillers, it's a recipe for disaster (pun intended...). Adding fish oil as an anti-inflammatory to your dog's meals or other foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids will help keep your dog's immune system in check.
When and where applicable, decrease or eliminate your dog's exposure to environmental risks such as:
If your dog has a previous history of cancer, or cancer is known to be in the lineage, regular wellness exams are recommended every three months that should include routine dentistry, blood work, urinalysis, and applicable tumor mapping and aspiration. As a pet guardian, you play an important role in early detection and diagnosis. Perform a regular body exam on your dog - check the lymph nodes and the mammary chain. Look for any crusty sores or scabs on lightly pigmented or sparsely coated dogs. Feel for subcutaneous lumps. Don't forget to check your dogs paws and in between the toes. Look in your dogs ears, up the nose, around the gum line and the roof of the mouth. It is important to establish a relationship with your veterinarian; don't wait until you think something is wrong or your dog is visibly ill. Keep a log of the monthly body exams; include dates and body areas where you have performed the exams, as well as any notable changes. Share these with your veterinarian - do not think that you are hypochondriatic - you could be saving your dog's life.
I was impressed with the varying degree of treatment options that Veterinary Cancer Care provide it's patients, intended to support, educate and empower pet guardians. Surgery in itself can be curative and is often combined with chemotherapy - either intravenous or local - to achieve a cure. Unlike humans, dogs do not have the same reaction to chemotherapy; in fact, they handle the treatment quite well. There are very few side effects and most can be managed easily, resulting in a happier pet. There have been advances that are leading to improved responses to the medication, longer disease-free intervals and survival times. Discomfort, nausea, vomiting and the lack of appetite are not normal responses to chemotherapy for dogs.
For Veterinary Cancer Care, the quality of your pet's life is their #1 concern. As they administer a less frequent and lower dose of chemo, there is low to no toxicity and general improvement in the quality of life. The goal is often to add quality time to life; not achieve a cure; by arresting the growth and metastasis of cancer through chemotherapy. Other treatment options can include cryosurgery (use of cold to kill cancer cells and their blood supply), radiation, oral melanoma vaccine (for those with existing oral melanoma), nutrition and supplement counseling, and antiangiogenic therapy (oral drug that inhibits cancer cells from growing blood vessels).
I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Kelly for speaking to us about the hope she and her team provide to pet guardians and of course, their pets. I for one, will be taking my two Labs in for a wellness check soon. While we can't prevent every "bad" thing from happening to our beloved pets, knowing that we have this gem right here in Santa Fe is surely comforting and encouraging. And hopeful.
Dr. Kelly is a petite, athletic, powerhouse of hope. She and her staff are passionate about providing exceptional care and compassion for those animals and their people who are dealing with the realities of cancer. Throughout the hour and a half, relaxed and informative discussion, I was impressed with the fact that this level of empathy is the norm at Veterinary Cancer Care, not the exception. And yet it seems that Veterinary Cancer Care is a little-known secret in Santa Fe (www.vetcancercare.com). Did you know that Dr. Kelly is Santa Fe's only veterinary board certified oncologist? While most pet guardians are familiar with and grateful for the Veterinary Emergency & Specialty Center located at 2001 Vivigen Way, it was clear that most of us in attendance were unaware of the numbers of animals being treated for various types of cancer, literally right around the corner.
Why even talk about cancer unless your pet is given that heart-sinking prognosis? Because, as Dr. Kelly presented, it is diagnosable, treatable, manageable and often curable, Nearly 50% of all pets over ten years of age will battle cancer. Now more than ever, there is a greater cultural sway highlighting the importance of the human/animal bond, Due to that connection, there are more educated owners and more emphasis on better nutritional choices for our pets. But Veterinary Cancer Care also emphasizes the importance of early detection and screening, as well as prevention which includes the role of genetics and environmental factors.
Dr. Kelly shared that cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells that spread withing the body despite the immune system's own attempt at control. The following warning signs could be an indication of cancer:
- Abnormal swellings that persist or continue to grow
- Sores that do not heal
- Weight loss
- Loss of appetite
- Bleeding or discharge from any body opening
- Offensive odor
- Difficulty eating or swallowing
- Hesitation to exercise or loss of stamina
- Persistent lameness or stiffness
- Difficulty breathing, urinating or defecating
Due in part to irresponsible breeding, environmental factors and/or compromised immune systems, cancer can be found in many popular breeds. Please talk with your veterinarian if you think your dog may be predisposed as an at-risk breed:
- Golden Retriever - general predisposition; lymphoma
- Boxer, Pug, Shar Pei - mast cell tumor
- German Shepherd Dog, Labrador - hemangiosarcoma (spleen)
- Large breeds - osteosarcoma (bone)
- Standard Poodle - interdigit squamous cell carcinoma
- Sparsely coated/lightly pigmented breeds - skin cancers
- Scottish Terrier - transitional cell carcinoma (bladder)
- Boxer, Mastiffs, St. Bernard, Scottish Terrier, Airedale, Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, Labrador - lymphoma
- Collies - nasal tumors
- English Springer Spaniel - mammary gland tumors
- Bernese Mountain Dog - soft tissue sarcoma
Did you know that spaying or neutering your pet at an early age can help to prevent mammary or testicular tumors? Compared with females left intact, those spayed before puberty have a 0.5% risk; those spayed after one estrous cycle have an 8.0% risk; and dogs spayed after two estrous cycles have up to a 26.0% risk for developing mammary neoplasia later in life. Overall, unspayed females have a 7 times greater risk of developing mammary neoplasia than do those that are spayed.
According to Dr. Kelly, nutrition can play a big role in the prevention of cancers in your four-legged friend. A high quality, well-balanced food that is grain-free (grains should not be looked at as "the bad guys", but just like anything, too much of a good thing...) is optimal for your dog. Cancer feeds on simple carbohydrates, so if your dog food is filled with fillers, it's a recipe for disaster (pun intended...). Adding fish oil as an anti-inflammatory to your dog's meals or other foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids will help keep your dog's immune system in check.
When and where applicable, decrease or eliminate your dog's exposure to environmental risks such as:
- Pesticides (includes flea collars)
- Sun exposure
- Second-hand smoke and urban pollution
- Chronic inflammation (seasonal allergies)
- Asbestos exposure
- Viruses
- Bone plates/implant connection to bone tumors
If your dog has a previous history of cancer, or cancer is known to be in the lineage, regular wellness exams are recommended every three months that should include routine dentistry, blood work, urinalysis, and applicable tumor mapping and aspiration. As a pet guardian, you play an important role in early detection and diagnosis. Perform a regular body exam on your dog - check the lymph nodes and the mammary chain. Look for any crusty sores or scabs on lightly pigmented or sparsely coated dogs. Feel for subcutaneous lumps. Don't forget to check your dogs paws and in between the toes. Look in your dogs ears, up the nose, around the gum line and the roof of the mouth. It is important to establish a relationship with your veterinarian; don't wait until you think something is wrong or your dog is visibly ill. Keep a log of the monthly body exams; include dates and body areas where you have performed the exams, as well as any notable changes. Share these with your veterinarian - do not think that you are hypochondriatic - you could be saving your dog's life.
I was impressed with the varying degree of treatment options that Veterinary Cancer Care provide it's patients, intended to support, educate and empower pet guardians. Surgery in itself can be curative and is often combined with chemotherapy - either intravenous or local - to achieve a cure. Unlike humans, dogs do not have the same reaction to chemotherapy; in fact, they handle the treatment quite well. There are very few side effects and most can be managed easily, resulting in a happier pet. There have been advances that are leading to improved responses to the medication, longer disease-free intervals and survival times. Discomfort, nausea, vomiting and the lack of appetite are not normal responses to chemotherapy for dogs.
For Veterinary Cancer Care, the quality of your pet's life is their #1 concern. As they administer a less frequent and lower dose of chemo, there is low to no toxicity and general improvement in the quality of life. The goal is often to add quality time to life; not achieve a cure; by arresting the growth and metastasis of cancer through chemotherapy. Other treatment options can include cryosurgery (use of cold to kill cancer cells and their blood supply), radiation, oral melanoma vaccine (for those with existing oral melanoma), nutrition and supplement counseling, and antiangiogenic therapy (oral drug that inhibits cancer cells from growing blood vessels).
I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Kelly for speaking to us about the hope she and her team provide to pet guardians and of course, their pets. I for one, will be taking my two Labs in for a wellness check soon. While we can't prevent every "bad" thing from happening to our beloved pets, knowing that we have this gem right here in Santa Fe is surely comforting and encouraging. And hopeful.
Dr. Jeannette Kelly
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