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| 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.
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Article updated September 2007 |
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Recent Posts |
| Posted by: Shilo in Corvallis, OR. | Purchased: September, 2009 |
| Breed: Rotweiller | Cancer Type: Osteosarcoma |
| Treatment: Amputation Only | Vet: Oregon State University |
| So far just the diagnosis and amputation. We still have to follow up with the Chemotherepy |
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| Amount: $1,400.00 |
Surgery Cost
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| Posted by: researching options in East Hampton, NY. | Purchased: October, 2009 |
| Breed: Australian Shepherd | Cancer Type: adenocarcinoma |
| Treatment: Surgery | Vet: Victor Schwartz |
| Surgery $1400. Oct 2009 at East Hampton Veterinary Clinic. Excellent Care. Need followup with Oncologist. |
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| Amount: $5,700.00 |
Total Cost Of Mast Cell Cancer Treatment
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| Posted by: Blue in Princeton, NJ in Princeton, NJ. | Purchased: September, 2009 |
| Breed: Mixed (Large) | Cancer Type: Mast Cell - Mastocytoma Grade 2, Stage 3 |
| Treatment: Surgery, Radiation | Vet: |
Diagnostics - $700 (blood work, tumor aspiration, chest x-ray, abdominal ultrasound)
Surgery - $1550 (tumor removal)
Radiation - $3250 (consult with Oncologist, 15 radiation treatments, follow up)
Pain management meds & accupuncture - $200 |
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| Amount: $4,785.00 |
Diagnosis and Surgery cost
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| Posted by: scubaj in Halifax, Other. | Purchased: November, 2009 |
| Breed: Australian Sheperd | Cancer Type: adenocarcinoma lung |
| Treatment: surgery | Vet: Atlantic Vet Collwge Teaching Hospital |
Thoracotomy / Lobectomy : $4000
Diagnosis : x-rays, U/S, Blood work, and biopsy : $785
She is still at the vet Hospital, so no follow up known yet. |
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| Posted by: Atlanta, GA in ATLANTA, GA. | Purchased: October, 2009 |
| Breed: American Eskimo Spitz | Cancer Type: transitional cell carcinoma |
| Treatment: Chemotherapy with piroxicam | Vet: Dr. Hamilton, Georgia Vet Specialist |
| The chemotherapy was awful. My dog did not respond well to the treatment. When we told the doctor that she was too weak to take another treatment, he told us to continue. She had the treatment. Then she became extremely ill and died 2 weeks later. I will never put another dog through chemotherapy again, nor would I use any doctor from Georgia Vet Specialists. |
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| Amount: $2,157.00 |
Small Intestinal Surgery
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| Posted by: Rex Lover in Wheat Ridge, CO. | Purchased: June, 2010 |
| Breed: German S. Lab Mix | Cancer Type: andenocarcinoma of small intestine |
| Treatment: removal of the tumor | Vet: Banfeild emergency clinic |
| Surgery went GREAT. My dog is doing so much better. He feels like his old self again. Now waiting to hear back From CSU vet hospital for the treatment plan from here. This was the entire bill from the surgery that includes pain meds, antibiotics, surgery, pathology reports, biopsy and two day hospital stay. |
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| Amount: $3,500.00 |
adenocarcinoma lung
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| Posted by: Katie_Madison in Phoenix, AZ. | Purchased: June, 2010 |
| Breed: Bichon | Cancer Type: adenocarcinoma |
| Treatment: Surgery | Vet: Gilson Surgeon/Church |
| Dr. Whit Church is one of the smartest and caring cardiologist/vets. I had been to three veterinarians (one board certified internist, Dr. Greene) that all missed Katie's coughing symptom and misdiagnosed as heart disease. Took Katie (on a whim) to see a cardiologist. Whit Church assessed the situation, had an x-ray and biopsy done on the first visit. Gilson did the surgery on June 8th. Pathology with clear margins on June 14th. |
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| Amount: $2,048.00 |
Lymphoma/Mass cell tumor
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| Posted by: a user in Glen Carbon, IL. | Purchased: August, 2010 |
| Breed: beagle dautschund | Cancer Type: Lymphoma?mass cell tumor |
| Treatment: surgery/chemo | Vet: hawthorne animal hopspital |
| Dr. Davis and the staff at Hawthorne first and foremost are the most knowledgeable vets I have come across. My dog is 14 have had 2 prior surgeries for mass cell cancer which were stage 2's, this last one was unfortunately stage 3 and looks like its time to try chemo. will find out in the next 2 weeks what chemo consists for my dog. I'm sure it will be expensive, but hopefully worth preserving the life of my family member. |
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Post About Your Experience With Dog Cancer Treatment |
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