Chemotherapy for Dogs

by Annie Jenkins 

Dogs are seen as part of the family right? They are meant to be man's best friend right? So is it right, when your dog has been diagnosed with cancer, to not give them treatment? As cancer rates increase in the canine population, some owners may turn to chemo, which is a well known standard treatment for humans. However, choosing to pursue chemotherapy is a decision that comes with many things to consider. 

Unlike humans, dogs cannot have an explanation for the purpose of chemotherapy or the side effects. As well as that, humans are able to weigh out the pros and cons whereas with dogs this is not possible. To the best of our knowledge, dogs can’t comprehend the future compared to the extent humans can. The only thing the dog will understand is the treatment itself, which is not a very pleasant experience. Dogs do receive a lower dosage of chemo compared to humans and they usually have less additional drugs being administered too. That being said, dogs can still experience side effects which can vary from dog to dog. Some dogs may experience some mild, moderate, or severe appetite loss, vomiting, or diarrhoea. As well as that, decreased white and red blood cell counts could lead to a greater risk of infection. Finally, some dogs may experience lethargy due to the treatments. Even after giving a dog chemotherapy and putting them through the potential different side effects it is rarely curative and the main intent of this treatment is not to cure the dog but to just extend its life span to less than 2 years.

Unfortunately, dogs are not able to make their own choice on whether or not they want treatment, it is the owner who must decide for them. Of course, the dog does in fact have a right to whatever treatment is offered however they aren’t able to make their own decision or understand why a particular decision has been chosen for them. Some owners of dogs will have to face this dilemma of acting on behalf of a being who cannot and will not communicate their personal preference nor understand why these actions were taken to begin with.

The side effects of chemotherapy can be gruelling so the question is would it be right to put a dog through all that pain for it to only potentially extend their lives by less than 2 years. Or is the better option to give the dog palliative care or even euthensaia. Overall, I really think the choice, of whether or not to pursue chemotherapy, comes down to the type of situation being faced whether or not it is ethical or not. For instance, if the dog had an extremely high chance of living many more healthy years then it could be the right option then. But, if the dog is already near the end of its life and even chemotherapy will not cure them, then palliative care or euthensia might be the more ethical option. Although, in every situation the dog, owner and veterinarian will all undergo some sort of suffering but this will vary in every situation. As well as that, all owners will have a slightly different view on what should be done and some may be able to deal with the situation better and others may need more time. In conclusion, I do not think there is a right or wrong approach to this situation and if you ever have to face this type of situation I am sure whatever option you choose will be the right one for you and your dog.