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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
1)Westbury animal hospital:workup of appetite loss/lethargy. found acute renal failure and liver mass.One ICU night. $1300 2)Texas A&M:diagnosis made with needle biopsy. 2 chemodrugs given and one nite ICU. $1650 3)west bury animal hosp. further chemo/lab cost $550.
I was referred to U of G Small Animal Hosp. by an another incompetent vet in Huntsville, Trish Wendell. She did unnecessary emergency surgery for a hernia. Wasn't that, so she sent us to Guelph. They did over $5000 more surgery. Turns out the dog had incurable cancer. My beautiful dog was tortured, then put down. It's all about the money. I asked why they didn't test for cancer before they did all this surgery. I was told "Who do you think we are, Princess Margaret Hospital?" Yes, I thought they were the best, that's why I took my dog there!
I have a six year old female boxer. She has a mast cell tumor removed last July. The vet he was able to get all of the infected area cleared. Now I have just discovered two more tumors. My vet has now advised me to go to a local animal hospital that offers cancer treatment. I have no idea what to expect. This is my third boxer. My first was tumor prone.
Any one who can offer any advice would be greatly appreciated.
My beautiful 12 years boy started vomit and diar.In month lost 20 lb. Bl.test 2x, great, extray stomach , lungs great.Everything was great , but Sky was starved to death in front my eyes. 2 months nightmare , cry from pain , cannot eat , horrible. Ultrasound - mass tumor. Surgery , just open his belly told me, cancer is in lymp.nodes, have one months to live if most. My boy suffer so much , so much, I let him go , when sleep on oper,table, hug him and let him go . I cant let him suffer more . Was very fast , just like that , on and off 2 months.
My 5-year-old yellow lab was running on our property and tripped over a fence. A few days later we noticed he was lame on that back leg. 2 weeks later a large lump appeared on his inner knee. After xrays and a fine-needle aspiration, the results indicated a mast cell tumor. We took him to a specialist who removed the tumor along with some muscle that it had adheared to. The tumor was well-defined and we are waiting for pathology to let us know the grade of the tumor. We have already decided no staging because we will not do radiation or chemo. regardless of the results.
a sudden hard mass noticed few days after his vaccination and medical check up,in inner side of the back leg size of tennis ball. Aspiration of the sight was done ,but cancer was not confirmed or found. after removal by the Vet , received today the report which indicate fibrosarcoma grade 3, the Vet was not able to remove every thing as the mass was invasive into leg's muscles and tissues, was referred to vet ontologist for radiation, i am looking into it to find radiation treatment with moderate cost , any advice will be appreciated