14 Nebraskaland • December 2019
CANINE CHEMO
By Jarrod Spilger
Our hunting dogs are much more than bird finders and
retrievers – they're members of our family. So when I
found out my Small Munsterlander pointer, Phantom, had
lymphoma in early 2018, I knew I had to do something.
The canine oncology department at Colorado State
University prescribed her a CHOP chemotherapy
protocol which our local vet administered. Here's what
it entailed:
Week 1: Vincristine.
Week 2: Cytoxan. Lasix was also given to offset the risk of
sterile hemorrhagic cystitis (bladder inflammation).
Week 3: Doxorubicin.
Week 4: Rest.
This cycle was repeated four times for a total of 15 weeks.
A fourth component, Prednisone, was given immediately
upon diagnosis, continued throughout the first cycle, and
then administered as needed during the remaining cycles.
This steroid both strengthened Phantom and boosted
her appetite.
After treatments ended in mid-July all we could do was
wait and monitor. By August, she was in remission and given
the green light to begin hunting in September.
We enjoyed a productive 2018-19 hunting season.
Unfortunately, the cancer returned in December, with a
vengeance. Phantom passed away at home in January 2019
just as we were preparing to restart chemo.
We'd gained 11 extra months, though, during which we
got another puppy, Komet, who is Phantom's first cousin.
He both bolstered her spirits and helped with the workload.
Phantom helped train Komet, and the three of us even
enjoyed some productive hunts together.
Canine chemo gave us one more season to create a few
more precious memories in Nebraska's great outdoors.
Jarrod Spilger is an outdoor writer, hunter and dog lover
from Grand Island.
IN THE FIELD
PHOTO
BY
JARROD
SPILGER
