With such a protocol, veterinary oncologists can achieve remission with minimal side effects and an excellent quality of life for their patients. Often the drugs selected will have different modes of working and different side effects, so no one system in the body is overwhelmed. Veterinarians have had good success rates with the protocols designed for animals. The extra time people get to spend with their animals is much appreciated, and they are pleased with the quality of life chemotherapy achieves for their pets. Pet owners need to consider the potential for success with chemotherapy versus no treatment.
Lymphoma is extremely rewarding to treat with chemotherapy because the animals respond really well.
The average golden retriever with lymphoma will live 13 to 16 months on combination chemotherapy with an excellent quality of life. Learning that a pet has cancer is very difficult. You are suddenly flooded with all sorts of emotions and questions. And the choices to be made have no easy right or wrong answers. The decision is a very personal one.