FDA Approves New Drug for Cancer in Dogs
Palladia - The Medication That Dissolves Mast Cell Tumor
Great news is on the horizon for dogs with mast cell tumors . The cancer research in veterinary health has discovered a new cancer treatment that is specially designed for dogs.The drug called Palladia has just been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Before this drug was discovered, dogs were subjected to human oncology drug treatments.
The FDA: First Drug to Treat Cancer in Dogs Approved was announced on June 3, 2009. This has been a medical breakthrough in veterinary research. According to Bernadette Dunham, director of FDA's Center for Veterinary Medicine, dogs were give the same medication as humans. Unfortunately, by using this method they did not know whether it was a safe or an effective cancer treatment in dogs..
The Pfizer Animal Health Inc. has discovered a new drug called Palladia, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. It was approved to use in treatment in cutaneous mast cell tumors in dogs. These mast cell tumors are potentially a serious type of cancer and it accounts for 20 percent of canine skin tumors. If left untreated, this type of cancer can spread to other parts of the body, including the lymph nodes.
Mast Cell Tumors-The Great Imitators
What do Canine cutaneous mast cell tumors look like? Mast cell tumors, also known as the great imitators, can resemble lipomas or fatty tumors and other benign skin lesions. This type of cancer accounts for 1 out of 5 cases of skin tumors in dogs.
What Palladia Does
Palladia kills the tumor cells. It does this by cutting off the tumors blood supply. The dosage for this drug, in order for it to work, must be taken every other day depending on the size of the tumor.and how the tumor responds to this drug. The dog could be on Palladia for several months.
The cost of Palladia has not been disclosed yet, and only a select few veterinary oncologist specialists will have this drug before 2010. Plans are for Palladia to be available to all clinics in early 2010.
Side Effects of Palladia
Palladia is not without side effects. The most common side effects include diarrhea, loss in weight, blood in the stools and a decrease or loss in appetite. It can even cause lameness in the dog.
Although Palladia has been found to kill the mast cell tumor, it is a great first step in the treatment of other dog cancers.
Skin Cancer Percentages
Skin cancer tumors occur 6 times more often in dogs, than they do in cats and up to 34 times more often than they do in people. It can occur in young dogs, but most of the time it is the middle-aged to older dogs that get this. Only about 20 to 30 percent are benign and are usually slow growing. They are well defined, move freely under the skin and cause no pain to the dog. Malignant tumors, such as the mast cell tumor are different. They grow rapidly, have ill-defined margins, infiltrative and may be ulcerated. More information on dog tumors, benign and malignant, can be found on the website Skin Cancer in Dogs | Canine Skin Cancer Symptoms and Treatment .
This new drug offers pets with mast cell tumors an option to prolong their live. Research has come a long way and it still has further to go. Pet owners now have a choice between this drug made for dogs, or human drugs where the results are unknown. There are other choices. Natural remedies such as herbs, homeopathic remedies, and natural supplements help strengthen the immune system, thus making the body stronger in its fight against diseases such as cancer. Another alternative is hope and prayer. Miracles still happen.
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