title: [Quality of life and life expectancy of dogs undergoing chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma. An owner survey].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The outcome of palliative chemotherapy in dogs with lymphoma was evaluated. Special emphasis was placed on the quality of life during chemotherapy. In addition, factors which were important for the owners in estimating their dogs' quality of life and for the assessment of therapy were recorded.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a retrospective study the owners of 207 dogs that had undergone chemotherapy at the Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, University of Munich during the previous 13 years, were asked about their dogs' course of disease and therapy by using a specially designed questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 123 owners (59.4%) responded to the questionnaire. Quality of life improved in 64 dogs (53.3%) during chemotherapy. In only 24 dogs (20.0%) was a decline in the quality of life recorded, that directly correlated with remission status and side effects. The overall remission rate in dogs undergoing chemotherapy was 83.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Despite treatment complications, the majority of the owners (65.0%) were satisfied by the chemotherapy of their dogs. Ninety owners (73.2%) would have treated their animal with chemotherapy again; for this decision prolonged survival was an important factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In dogs with cancer the quality of life needs to be monitored constantly during palliative chemotherapy. This assessment helps to choose the appropriate chemotherapy protocol and facilitates the decision on further treatment options by the owner and the veterinarian.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Kleintierklinik der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Veterinärstraße 13, 80539 München.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bergmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sauter-Louis
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirschberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D010067:Ownership; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000523:psychology; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents