ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To determine owner's perception of their pet's quality of life during treatment with carboplatin for a variety of canine and feline neoplasms. METHODS: Owners were contacted via a postal questionnaire and asked questions regarding their perception of chemotherapy in pets and their perception of carboplatin treatment in their pet. RESULTS: Twenty-eight (59%) of owners responded to the questionnaire. Forty-three percent of owners had not considered chemotherapy in pets before treatment; however, after treatment, 89% of owners supported its use. Sixteen (57%) patients had mild to severe side effects. Most patients experienced mild side effects, including lethargy and loss of appetite. Quality of life during treatment was reduced compared with prediagnosis quality of life however at its best was significantly improved compared with pretreatment quality of life. Eighty-nine per cent of respondents did not regret treating their pet. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Carboplatin is well tolerated by both owners and pets. Most patients have either no side effects or experience mild lethargy or inappetence. Carboplatin treatment, either alone or in conjunction with other medications, should be considered as a palliative treatment in both dogs and cats with susceptible neoplasms.
Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/therapeutic use , Carboplatin/therapeutic use , Cat Diseases/psychology , Dog Diseases/psychology , Palliative Care , Quality of Life , Animal Welfare , Animals , Antineoplastic Agents/adverse effects , Carboplatin/adverse effects , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Cats , Dog Diseases/drug therapy , Dogs , Female , Male , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Neoplasms/psychology , Neoplasms/veterinary , Ownership , Patient Satisfaction , Surveys and QuestionnairesABSTRACT
A cystic thymoma was identified in an eight-year-old domestic longhair cat with a chronic cough. Radiographs indicated a large mass of soft tissue density in the anterior thorax. Ultrasonography revealed an echogenic mass occupying the cranial and mid-thorax with a slight swirling movement of the echoes. Subsequent drainage under ultrasound guidance yielded a cholesterol-rich fluid. The mass was resected at exploratory thoracotomy and the diagnosis of thymoma confirmed. There was no sign of recurrence one year postoperatively. The clinical features and unusual laboratory findings are presented and compared with previously reported cases of thymomata in the cat.
Subject(s)
Cat Diseases/diagnosis , Cholesterol/analysis , Cysts/veterinary , Thymoma/veterinary , Thymus Neoplasms/veterinary , Animals , Cat Diseases/diagnostic imaging , Cats , Cysts/chemistry , Cysts/diagnostic imaging , Male , Thymoma/chemistry , Thymoma/diagnostic imaging , Thymus Neoplasms/chemistry , Thymus Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , UltrasonographyABSTRACT
Ethmoturbinate polyps are described in a one-year-old cat with a four month history of stertorous respiration and frequent sneezing. Remission of clinical signs occurred after rhinotomy and polypectomy. This appears to be the first known case of nasal polyps reported from outside Italy and the USA.
