Eigenaarsinfo: betere hartscreening voor honden die worden behandeld met chemotherapie (Engelstalige versie)

English version for dog owners

Dogs with cancer are often treated with chemotherapy, recommended by a veterinary oncologist.
Chemotherapy can work well to fight cancer, but in some cases, it can harm the heart muscle. This study aims to find out how often this happens in dogs and whether regular heart check-ups can detect it early. If we catch it early, the treatment can be adjusted in time to protect your dog’s heart.

WHAT IS CHEMOTHERAPY-RELATED HEART DAMAGE?

Doxorubicin is a strong chemotherapeutic drug often used to treat cancers like lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) or hemangiosarcoma (cancer of the blood vessels) in dogs. Sometimes, this drug can weaken the heart muscle, making it harder for the heart to pump blood properly. In severe cases, it can lead to heart failure. In people, this side effect is well-known, but it hasn’t been studied much in dogs. However, we know that it can happen and may affect a dog’s quality of life and lifespan. Catching this problem early is important so the treatment can be adjusted to lower the risk of heart failure.

WHAT IS THE GOAL OF THIS STUDY?

Doctors use a special type of ultrasound technique to find early signs of heart damage in people receiving chemotherapy. This test can spot small changes in heart function earlier compared to standard, regular tests. For this purpose, this ultrasound technique hasn’t been studied in dogs yet. The goal of this study is to investigate if this special type of ultrasound technique can help find heart damage early in dogs as well. Early detection would allow vets to change the treatment and improve the quality of life and lifespan for dogs with cancer.

PARTICIPATION IN THE STUDY

By participating in this study, your dog will be monitored by specialists from both the cardiology and oncology departments. Additionally, all costs of the heart examinations will be covered free of charge. The results of these tests will be communicated to you and your veterinarian. You and your veterinarian are always welcome to contact us with any additional questions to help optimize the treatment and follow-up care for your dog.

Your participation in this study will provide us with valuable information to improve the future treatment and care of dogs with cancer.

For more information or referral, please contact Dr. G. Mampaey or Dr. P. Smets (cardiology department) via cardiologie.khd@ugent.be or 09/264 77 00.