Care Tips When Your Dog Has An Inoperable Liver Tumor

When you take your dog to the vet for routine care or even for an issue they are experiencing, you never expect to be given a tumor or cancer diagnosis for your dog. However, more and more, especially with older dogs, people's four-legged friends are being found to have various forms of cancer. A highly-disheartening diagnosis is that of an inoperable liver tumor. 

If this has happened recently with your dog, you may be wondering what kind of dog care you can and should provide to your furry friend. Get to know some of the ways that you can provide the best possible palliative care for your dog with an inoperable liver tumor. 

Consider Chemotherapy Options

When your dog is unable to undergo surgery for their liver tumor, you may want to think about chemotherapy options for your dog. Chemotherapy is not usually the first line of defense in the treatment of liver cancer because it is not highly-effective. However, it can prolong your dog's life and can be effective in preventing liver tumor growth. 

If you are considering chemotherapy for your dog, keep in mind that if your dog cannot have surgery because their body is unable to handle anesthesia, they may also have a tough time tolerating chemotherapy. A veterinary oncologist will be able to run blood panels on your dog to give you a better idea if chemotherapy is the right choice for you and your dog and can also give you an idea of just how effective it will be and how many more months or years it could give you with your beloved dog. 

Try SAMe and Other Natural Supplements

Numerous natural herbs and supplements can help your dog's liver health and help to keep them comfortable while they are living with an inoperable liver tumor. Some of the best options available to your dog is actually a supplement also used in humans for liver health.

This supplement is known as SAMe (S-adenosylmethionine). SAMe is an essential amino acid that can be found in various foods like some types of meat (particularly red meat). While SAMe has various effects in the body, for the liver it is generally used because it breaks down toxins and helps to regulate various hormones that can affect liver function. 

SAMe also has the added bonus of having pain-relieving properties. Liver tumors and cancer can cause a great deal of discomfort and pain, and SAMe can help with that. There are also other supplements that can help your dog and their liver. This includes multiple mushroom compound, milk thistle, and fish oil (or omega-3 supplements).

If it is legal in your state, you may also want to consider CBD (cannabidiol) oil pills for your dog. These can reduce pain and help with the side effects of chemotherapy like nausea. It may even help to counteract the tumor, fighting the cancer. 

Now that you know some of the steps you can take to provide your dog with care when they have an inoperable liver tumor, you can be sure you are taking the best care of your dog possible. For more information, contact an animal hospital like Murrells Inlet Veterinary Hospital today.