Tips & Info
Fellow dog parents: Here are some tips and information that we learned during Lord Barkington’s cancer journey. We wish we had known about some of these earlier. Hopefully, this will help guide you through your dog’s cancer journey. Be sure to check out Lord Barkington’s product recommendations video at the bottom of this page!
Pet Insurance
As soon as you get a dog, buy pet insurance. Once your dog is diagnosed with an illness, disease, or injury, it’s too late. If your dog is diagnosed with cancer pet insurance could potentially save you tens of thousands of dollars. We used Figo Pet Insurance and were very pleased with the coverage and service.
Blood Tests
Standard blood tests aren’t necessarily a good indicator of the presence of cancer. Lord Barkington’s cancer had spread throughout his body, but his blood work was repeatedly normal. Be aware of other signs.
Cancer Screening
We never knew that there are cancer screening blood tests for dogs. They can be used to detect cancer before symptoms appear. They don’t test for every type of cancer, but they do test for the most common ones. The test is called Nu.Q. Another company, IDEXX, also has cancer testing, information available here. A new company, Oncotect, allows you to collect a urine sample at home and send it to test for the 4 most common cancer types. Read about the options, then discuss with your veterinarian.
Urgent Care Center Vs. Emergency Center Vs. 24-Hour Center
These are NOT the same. Urgent care veterinary centers usually keep regular hours and require an appointment. They may not have all of the diagnostic and treatment equipment that an an emergency center has. An emergency center may or may not be open 24 hours a day/365 days/year. Some may be small with a limited staff and limited equipment. Others are large with a full range of diagnostic equipment and veterinary specialists on staff. Some veterinary centers prefer to call themselves a 24-hour center. They have the ability to handle emergencies. However, you can also bring your pet there for non-emergent problems. At some facilities you may not even need an appointment. We were able to bring Lord Barkington to a 24-hour facility without an appointment when he needed a CT scan. Do some research about the types of facilities that are available in your area, so that you can quickly make the best selection when your dog needs help.
Veterinary Oncologists
Oncologists are doctors who specialize in treating cancer. There are two types of veterinary oncologists. Medical oncologists administer chemotherapy, prescribe supportive medications, and give other drug-based cancer treatments. Radiation oncologists do radiation therapy. Depending on the type of cancer and location, your dog may need both doctors. Both types of oncologists often have a significant wait to get a consultation. Call everybody to find out who has the soonest appointment, and be prepared to drive a distance. You may even need to stay overnight at a hotel. Your dog’s life may depend on getting treatment as quickly as possible.
Diet
While your dog is battling cancer, a high protein, low-carb diet may be beneficial. Tumors use carbohydrates to promote cancer cell growth, but it’s more difficult for them to grow using fat. Read more at: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/feeding-the-canine-cancer-patient and always discuss potential dietary changes with your dog’s vet.
Appetite Changes
Your dog’s appetite may change with cancer. You may need to try feeding him/her something new (check with your vet first). For example, when Lord Barkington developed cancer, he stopped eating dog food and would only eat human food. Sometimes hand-feeding or spoon-feeding worked with Lord Barkington when he didn’t really want to eat. Other times, he didn’t realize he was hungry until he started eating. If we could coax him to eat a bite or two of either his food or a treat, sometimes he’d start eating from his bowl after that. If your dog is hesitant to eat and has been prescribed anti-nausea pills, try to give the pill first, then wait at least an hour before offering food. This gives the pill a chance to work which may help your dog feel more like eating.
Pills
Sooner or later, your dog’s medical oncologist will likely send you home with a wide array of prescription pills to treat various symptoms and side effects. Buy a pill organizer and make a chart to be sure you’re giving your dog the correct dosages at the correct times. Also purchase some pill pockets to help make pill-time pleasant. Multiple flavors of pill pockets may be needed if your dog becomes sick of eating the same flavor every day.
Car Sickness
Your dog may experience nausea as a result of either the cancer, the treatments, or both. The nausea may increase during car rides. Hopefully, the anti-nausea pills your vet prescribes will help. However, your dog may still get sick. Lord Barkington always had a tendency to be car sick, even before cancer. After cleaning up that mess once or twice, we quickly figured out how to be prepared.
- STEP 1: Use old bath towels to cover the floor and/or seat of your car where your dog usually sits.
- STEP 2: Pack a “go” bag containing garbage bags, disposable gloves, gallon-size Ziploc bags, paper towels, doggie wipes, and an extra set of bath towels.
How to use your “go” bag if your dog gets sick:
- Put on a pair of the gloves.
- Use paper towels to pick up as much of the vomit as possible and dispose of in a Ziploc bag.
- If your dog got any on him/herself, use the wipes to clean it off. Put the used wipes in the Ziploc bag.
- Carefully pickup the soiled bath towels, folding the mess inward and put them in a garbage bag.
- Remove your gloves and put them in the Ziploc bag.
- Seal the Ziploc bag and dispose of it in a trash can ASAP.
- Use the extra bath towels to replace the ones you picked up.
- When you get home, the towels can be washed in the washing machine.
- Ideally, the mess was contained to the towels. If not, an enzymatic carpet cleaner will help remove the stain. If a lingering odor is a problem, try putting a layer of baking soda on the area. Leave it overnight, then vacuum it up the next day. This may need to be repeated.
Cancer Treatment Options
There are so many different chemotherapy drugs and other types of cancer treatment. Every treatment option comes with benefits and risks. Your dog’s oncologist will help guide you through the options. However, ultimately, the decision is yours. Weigh the facts, and then trust your instincts. Afterwards, try to be kind to yourself if your decisions don’t always work out the way you hoped. You’re doing the best you can, and your dog knows that you have his or her best interests at heart.
Emotions
Caring for your dog with cancer has it’s ups and downs. Every day will be different. The unexpected is always just around the corner. It’s a whirlwind of emotions and challenges. Try to roll with it. Most importantly, stay focused on why you’re doing it – because of your boundless love for your dog.
Vocabulary
Learn helpful cancer vocabulary and veterinary terminology on our vocabulary page.