Page 3274 - Cote clinical veterinary advisor dogs and cats 4th

Consent to Administer Chemotherapy

VetBooks.ir Patient name:_________________________________
Pet owner’s name:_____________________________ Med rec #____________
Best contact during/after procedure (e.g., cell phone number):____________________

INTRODUCTION USE OF SEDATIVES OR ANESTHESIA
We want to make sure that you understand the planned medical Many times, no sedation is necessary to administer chemotherapy.
procedure to be performed on your pet. You should know why the If sedation is necessary for your pet, we will administer medications
procedure has been suggested, what the potential benefits are for that cause your pet to become drowsy and relaxed, but to remain
your pet, and the most common/important risks of the procedure. conscious. You pet will remain in control of vital functions such as
Alternatives to this procedure, when applicable, will be discussed breathing. In general, there are fewer risks associated with sedation
with you. It is also important that you recognize that medicine is than with general anesthesia, but adverse events occur very rarely.
not an exact science, and that the outcome cannot be guaranteed. Many medications used to induce sedation can be “reversed” by
We encourage you to ask us as many questions as required for giving other medications to counter the sedative effect, allowing
you to make a well-informed decision. your pet to “wake up” more quickly after the procedure has been
completed.
BENEFITS/OPTIMAL OUTCOME OF THE PROCEDURE
Chemotherapy is administered to treat certain cancers. The goals FORESEEABLE RISKS TO THE PROCEDURE
of treatment include shrinking the tumor itself, reducing the risk About 80% of patients receiving chemotherapy have no side
of tumor regrowth, treating metastases (areas of cancer spread), effects. In fact, many pets with cancer feel better after beginning
or reducing the risk of formation of metastases. The treatment of chemotherapy than they did before they started treatment. About
cancer in veterinary patients is different than in people. We use 15% have mild side effects that are easily managed with at-home
similar drugs but at lower doses in pets because our goal is not medications like antinausea drugs or antidiarrheal drugs. Around
only to prolong life, but to prolong a good quality of life. Severe or 5% could have serious side effects requiring hospitalization.
excessive side effects are not tolerated in veterinary chemotherapy. We anticipate many possible side effects and have ways to
If the side effects of treatment prevent the pet from enjoying life combat them. Gastrointestinal side effects (nausea, vomiting, and/
(as judged by you, the pet owner), we will change our treatment or diarrhea) can occur 3-5 days after chemotherapy but are usually
plan. Unfortunately, cancer is often not cured by chemotherapy, but mild. We can readily treat these with supportive medications alone
chemotherapy can often let your pet enjoy life more than without in most cases. Low blood cell counts, typically occurring about one
treatment. week after chemotherapy, can lead to infection. For that reason,
Chemotherapy drugs are also sometimes used to treat auto- with most types of chemotherapy we check bloodwork before and
immune and inflammatory diseases where no cancer exists. after treatment. If the blood cell count is low, we may prescribe
a short course of antibiotics and/or recommend hospitalization.
EXPLANATION OF THE PROCEDURE Further, we can modify the next treatment so that we minimize the
Chemotherapy drugs are most often given as injections, but some risk of a recurrent low blood count. Pets very rarely lose their fur
are given by mouth as capsules or tablets (pills). Most chemotherapy during chemotherapy; however, dogs with continuously growing
drugs are given in the vein (IV). Certain chemotherapy drugs must haircoats (such as poodles) have thinning of their coat and cats
be given slowly over a specific period of time, such as a half-hour. can lose their whiskers.
For this reason, sedation and temporary IV catheter placement may Some chemotherapy complications are specific to the drug
be needed so your pet is very still during this period, reducing the administered. These can include liver injury, kidney injury, or heart
risk of drug leakage and injury. The specific type of chemotherapy disease. Please ask us if you have concerns about any specific
that we have deemed best for your pet will be explained. We want side effect.
you to know: One additional complication that can occur with IV chemotherapy
1) The names of the drugs that will be used is leakage of drugs outside the vein during infusion. This can result
2) How often each drug will be given, and if they will be given in in pain and irritation at the site, or in a worst-case scenario, it can
the clinic or at home even lead to severe tissue damage. If there is drug leakage, we may
3) How long chemotherapy will be continued (barring complications) recommend icing the area, warm packing the area, or administering
4) The possible side effects of chemotherapy, and what we will special injections in the area of leakage.
do to reduce the risk of those side effects
5) How often will rechecks be necessary, and what will be done Other anticipated risks specific to your pet:___________________
at these rechecks
6) The costs associated with a typical treatment plan _________________________________________________________
7) The prognosis, or our best guess as to outcome with treatment
Additional procedures planned for your pet at the same time
as the chemotherapy administration: ALTERNATIVES TO THE PROCEDURE
Depending on the type of cancer or autoimmune/inflammatory
____________________________________________________________ disease your pet has, there may be treatment alternatives. Surgery,

From Cohn and Côté: Clinical Veterinary Advisor, 4th edition. Copyright © 2020 by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.