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Options for dogs with Untreated Lymphoma:
Some owners may not be able to choose to treat their dogs for lymphoma due to the costs involved in the treatment.  We are starting a trial for dogs who have received no treatment for their lymphoma.  This funded study will be testing the efficacy of a new drug for canine lymphoma and will be ideal for owners who want to contribute to the development of new drugs for dogs and people, but who cannot afford traditional therapy.

Options for dogs with Osteosarcoma:
Traditional cisplatin chemotherapy can be problematic for dogs with kidney or heart disease.  We now offer five different chemotherapy protocols for dogs with osteosarcoma - giving their owners the freedom to choose the protocol that most closely matches their and their dog's needs and goals.  We still use cisplatin (given once every 3 weeks for 4 treatment cycles), but also offer the most aggressive chemo protocol - cisplatin and doxorubicin (given on the same day once every 3 weeks for 4 treatment cycles).  For dogs who cannot have cisplatin or the diuresis it requires, we offer carboplatin (given once very 3 weeks for 4 treatment cycles), or alternating carboplatin and doxorubicin treatments (2 treatments each).  Finally for owners who cannot afford a platinum-based protocol, we can offer doxorubicin (5 total treatments, given once every 2 weeks).  Average survival times following these protocols do vary, with cisplatin, cisplatin/doxorubicin, and carboplatin being preferred at this time.

Options for cats with lymphoma:
1.  Not all cats with GI lymphoma need aggressive combination chemotherapy!  When we diagnose low grade intestinal lymphoma in cats, we can often choose to treat with oral medications at home, and still have almost all of these cats do very well for a year or more.
2.  For cats with high-grade lymphoma, we are still having remarkable success with our SouthPaws combination cyclic protocol using vincristine, cyclophosphamide, prednisone, mitoxantrone, cytosine arabinoside, and chlorambucil.  We are seeing over 20% of treated cats surviving more than a year after starting therapy, without any side effects from chemotherapy.
3.  Remember the traditional maxim that no cat ever gets a second remission?  We have been successful in 50% of cats with relapsed lymphoma using CCNU rescue therapy.

These are just some examples of the options for therapy of your cancer patient that are available at SouthPaws. Please call if you have any questions about these options, or have a patient that you'd like to discuss or refer.

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If the needle slips off the bone, reposition it and try again.  A loss of resistance signals entry into the marrow cavity.  If resistance is felt a second time, the needle is penetrating a second cortex; retract it slightly and redirect.

7.  When the needle is firmly seated in bone with the tip in the marrow cavity, confirm its correct position by aspirating bone marrow with a syringe (or by injecting saline without signs of extravasation).

8.  Attach the needle to an IV set or cap it.

9.  Secure the needle by wrapping a tape butterfly at its hub and suturing the tape to the skin.

10.  Apply a povidone iodine-treated gauze pad to the skin entry site and bandage securely.

11.  Maintain patency by flushing with 1-2 ml of heparinized saline every 6 hours.

References:

Blair, Evan M., D.V.M., "The Feather Lines," at Exoticnet (http://www.exoticnet.com).

Hoskins, Johnny D., "Fluid Therapy in the Puppy and Kitten," in Kirk's Current Veterinary Therapy, ed. by John D. Bonagura (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1995), XII, pp. 35-36.

McCurnin, Dennis M., Clinical Textbook for Veterinary Technicians, 4th ed. (Philadelphia: W.B. Saunders Co., 1998), pp. 231, 259, 381.

Muir, William W. and John A.E. Hubbell, Handbook of Veterinary Anesthesia, 2nd ed. (St. Louis: Mosby, 1995), p. 345.