Part II of this blog covered treatment options for mast cell tumors and factors to include in your decision-making process. This final installment will cover monitoring your pet’s health, appreciating the time you have together, grief support resources, and I’ll provide an update on my dog, Sally.
Monitoring Your Pet’s Health after Treatment
If your pet has had one or more mast cell tumors, you will be assigned a recheck schedule by your pet’s family veterinarian or oncologist. It will probably involve appointments to check for lumps and bumps every three weeks to three months, depending on your pet’s medical history and whether complete surgical margins were obtained (see Part II of this blog for more on that.) At home, thoroughly examine your entire pet for new growths at least once a month.
Since gastrointestinal signs can also be a sign of undetected cancer, reach out to your veterinarian if your pet has diarrhea, vomiting, loss of appetite, or bloody stool.
Appreciating the Time You Have with Your Pet
If you’re like me, your pet’s cancer scare may have you thinking about making the most of the time you have left with your pet. Even if your pet’s cancer was essentially cured by surgical removal of the mass, you may have had an unwelcome glimpse into your pet’s mortality. Instead of allowing that fear to paralyze you, consider that none of us are guaranteed a certain lifespan, and it is incumbent upon us to make the most of the one life we have. Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing on how we can do that regarding our pets:
- Make the “Hellos” longer. When you get home, instead of rushing off to start dinner or help the kids with their homework, spend 5 minutes enjoying and reciprocating your pet’s excitement at your homecoming. Look into their eyes, tell them you love them, and play with a toy or a ball if that’s something they enjoy.
- Enjoy the walks. If your pet is physically able to go for a walk and enjoys doing so, implement a regular walking schedule that both of you can look forward to. If you and your dog are already walkers, make sure you build in sufficient time to smell (and pee on!) the roses.
- Be present. Our pets set a wonderful example of how to live “in the moment.” Set down your phone while you’re petting your dog. Match your breath to theirs. Feel their heart beating in their chest. Being mentally present while spending time with your dog will add enjoyment for both of you.
- Give yourself grace. What you’re currently experiencing is called anticipatory grief. You feel it ahead of the loss itself, but it’s just as real and challenging. While it’s true that your pet is still with you, these moments can also be bittersweet because they may be numbered now in a way they weren’t before. Be patient with yourself and allow yourself the space you need to feel however you may feel.
- Document your time together. I grew up without a cell phone, and I usually prefer experiencing events live rather than reviewing videos or photos later. However, I can also appreciate the value of photos and videos of pets who have died, and in the past, I have wished I’d taken more of them. You may even wish to splurge on a professional photo shoot with your pet.
- Journal about your pet. No topic is off limits – memories of them as a young animal, silly things they do, things they do that frustrate you, and the anticipatory grief you may be feeling at the thought of their passing. Just document those moments, special and ordinary, even if it’s just as insurance against that regret.
Grief Support Resources
You can give your pet the most peaceful passing by considering in advance how you will know when it’s time to choose euthanasia. This way, you can make clearer, more rational decisions regarding your pet’s quality of life. Your pet’s veterinary team can talk you through your pet’s specific prognosis and expectations, but you can also utilize tools and resources such as the “Five Favorite Things Rule” and a Quality of Life Scale to help you better recognize and prepare for when it may be time to consider end-of-life care.
If your pet passes away from their cancer, one of the most important things you can do is show yourself compassion, acknowledge that you’re grieving, and give yourself permission to feel how you feel.
It can be challenging to go through deep loss alone. Consider sharing your experience with a trusted friend or family member. At AERC, we offer a Pet Loss Support Group that meets virtually once a month. You can find other groups, including in-person ones, as well as quality of life scales, counseling services, and other resources on our Pet Loss Support page. You can also find blogs about the topic of pet loss on our website by typing “pet loss” in the search bar on the homepage.
Remember, grieving is a personal process, and everyone experiences it differently. It’s important to take the time to work through your own personal sorrow.
Sally receiving Electrochemotherapy with Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota’s Oncology Service.
Update on Sally
Sally received both of the electrochemotherapy treatments AERC’s Oncology Service recommended. Electrochemotherapy involves injecting chemotherapy systemically into a vein, then administering electropulses around the surgical incision to increase the likelihood that remaining cancer cells will absorb the chemotherapy. The skin around the surgical incision is covered with clear, protective jelly to help ensure it won’t get burned by the electropulses, and the pet is under anesthesia during the whole process. Sally’s treatments went smoothly. Afterwards, she was prescribed medications for nausea, diarrhea, and pain. She experienced all three for about 12 hours, then she was back to her normal, happy self.
Unfortunately, via the bloodwork that we had done prior to Sally’s surgical appointment, it was discovered that Sally also has chronic kidney disease. It remains to be seen how serious it is, and more data points are needed before coming to any conclusions about how Sally’s lifespan will be affected. In the meantime, we have switched her food to an early renal diet to support her kidneys’ need for a lower protein diet while also trying to balance her muscles’ need for protein support.
While this situation with Sally’s multiple illnesses sometimes feels overwhelming and unusual, I suspect that it is not uncommon. These animals that we love so dearly are not unlike elderly humans in that sometimes, while we’re managing one disease process, another one crops up, seemingly out of the blue. I have had to accept that regardless of my plans for her to live to a ripe old age, Sally’s body may not be able to hold her here as long as I would prefer. But we will cross that bridge when we come to it, together. In the meantime, I am appreciating every moment I have with her. If your pet has cancer, I hope you can do the same.
Learn more about Animal Emergency & Referral Center of Minnesota’s Oncology Service here.
More Reading:
- Early Detection of Cancer in Dogs and Cats: 5 Things Pet Owners Can Do
- Debunking Pet Cancer Myths
- Common Types of Cancer in Pets | Part I: Determining a Diagnosis
- Pet Euthanasia: Making the Difficult Decision to Say Goodbye
- Grieving the Loss of a Pet
