What is palliative care for dogs and cats?
Palliative care is the caring for patients who’s disease does not respond to a treatment cure. Included in palliative care is the control of pain and the psychological and social support for the patients and their families.
What is the goal of palliative care?
Quality of life is the prime concern and objective for patients and their owners. Quality of life can be inferred indirectly by the animals behavior. Is the pet alert, how is their appetite, what is their weight and body condition, how active are they and how their bowel movements and urinating function are.
Half of all animals with cancer will die of the disease, most will need pain and symptom control.
Controlling symptoms is the first step of palliative oncology. Symptoms of cancer such as painful urination and bowel movements, impairment of digestion respiratory distress, anemia, malnutrition, excess calcium in the blood and hypoglycemia can cause pain and discomfort.
A growing percentage of pet owners want to care for a sick or older pet and provide support and comfort when the going gets rough. Treatments range from a more comfortable bed, small changes in diets (more palatable), oral medications for pain, to surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and other medications. The treatment path is individualized to the patient, changed and monitored depending on how the pet responds to treatment. Chemotherapy or radiation therapy may not be effective in eradicating the cancer but it may slow the rate of cancer growth and or reduce symptoms that result from the cancer. Radiation is usually combined with inflammatory and pain medication. Medications used to ease symptoms include antibiotics, stool softener, anti vomiting drugs and many others.
Other medications to relive pain and other symptoms in animal cancer patients include steroids (eg Prednisone, dexamethasone), no-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) (eg Carprofen and Metacam). Opiod drugs like Fentanly patches have been useful for chronic pain. Morphine is sometimes used and in cats Butrophanol is sometimes used.
Pain can be observed indirectly in animals by changes in their respiratory and heart rate, pupil size, guarding of the stomach, general posture and difficulty in laying down. General unease and reclusiveness are other indirect signs of pain.
Cancer palliative care is just one type of palliative care offered, other palliative care may include care for Kidney disease, Heart disease, liver disease, arthritis and respiratory disease.
At the animal hospital we work with our Veterinarians, Veterinary technicians and Veterinarian specialists to help manage palliative care treatments and decisions.