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Dog Cancer Treatment Cost

How Much Does Dog Cancer Treatment Cost?

Average Claim: $446-$604

High: Radiation Therapy: $2,000-$6,000

Typical costs:

Costs vary widely, depending on the type and stage of cancer, the number of treatments needed and the age and condition of the dog.
The initial visit, including diagnosis, discussion of prognosis and a treatment plan likely will cost $200 and up, depending on the location of the cancer, according to The National Canine Cancer Foundation.
Major surgery to remove a tumor deep in the body, or that requires reconstruction, usually starts at about $1,500.
Chemotherapy depends on the size of the dog, and usually ranges from $200 to $2,000 and up, for three to six months of treatment.
Radiation therapy usually ranges from $2,000 to $6,000.
The treatment combination depends on the type of cancer. For lymphoma, the most common type of cancer in dogs, treatment usually consists of only chemotherapy. The average claim amount submitted to Veterinary Pet Insurance for lymphoma is $479. Mast cell tumors usually are treated with only surgery, and sometimes radiation or chemotherapy, depending on the stage, and have an average claim amount of $604. Osteosarcoma is sometimes treated with amputation surgery and almost always with chemotherapy, with an average claim amount of $446.

What should be included:

After a diagnosis, a veterinarian will refer the dog to a veterinary oncologist or will draw up a treatment plan specific to the dog and the type and stage of cancer.
The University of Missouri-Columbia's veterinary oncology program provides overviews chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery.

Additional costs:

Healthypet.com has an article on pain management. Pain medications can cost $25 to $50 a month.
Pets with cancer sometimes require antibiotics or other medications, which usually cost about $30 to $50.
Some owners of dogs with cancer choose to add complementary and alternative medicine to the treatment regimen. The American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association allows a search for holistic veterinarians by state.

Discounts:

Before committing to an expensive treatment, you may want to get a second opinion.
Tip: In some cases, it is possible to get free or discounted care by enrolling your dog in a clinical trial. The Veterinary Cancer Society provides links to institutions currently holding clinical trials.

Shopping for dog cancer treatment:

Because there are more than 100 types of cancer seen in pets, and each one has its own set of problems and variations in treatment, it is important to learn as much as possible about the specific diagnosis. Good resources include: your veterinarian, the library and the internet. HealthyPet.com has a primer on handling a cancer diagnosis and finding the best treatment.
VeterinaryPartner.com provides detailed articles on some of the more common types of cancer found in dogs: Osteosarcoma, Hemangiosarcoma, Lymphocytic Leukemia, Lymphoma, Mammary Tumors, Mast Cell Tumors, and Transitional Cell Carcinoma.
To find a veterinary oncologist, use the by-state search offered by The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.