Today, I met a woman who was deeply concerned about how to protect her dog from potential harm while she undergoes chemotherapy. She had been misled into believing that her beloved pet might not be able to stay with her during this challenging time.
I can’t imagine a time you need your pet more than when you are undergoing something as stressful as chemotherapy!
Safeguarding Your Immunity
Chemotherapy can significantly weaken your immune system, making it vital to take extra precautions to stay healthy:
- Thorough Hand Washing: Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling your pet, their food, or their waste to minimize the risk of infection.
- Avoiding Scratches: Keep your pet’s nails trimmed and avoid rough play to prevent scratches, which can lead to infections.
- Protecting Against Urine and Feces: Make sure your pet does not have access to your bathroom or dirty laundry, as your bodily fluids can contain traces of chemotherapy. Unintentional ingestion could be harmful to your dog.
Managing Pet Care
Chemotherapy often comes with fatigue and physical discomfort. Here are some practical tips to help you manage pet care during this time:
- Hire a Pet Walker: If you are too tired or unwell to walk your dog, consider hiring a pet walker. This ensures your pet continues to get the exercise and emotional release they need without overburdening you your energy levels.
- Paw Hygiene: Regularly wipe down your pet’s paws to keep them clean and reduce the risk of bringing germs into the house.
Feeding Your Pet
Maintaining your pet’s nutrition is crucial, and feeding your dog a raw diet is generally not a concern during chemotherapy, as long as you follow these precautions:
- Safe Food Handling: Handle raw food carefully, washing your hands thoroughly before and after preparation.
- Clean Dishware: Regularly wash your pet’s food and water bowls with hot, soapy water to prevent bacterial growth.
- Face Washing: Gently wash your dog’s face after meals to keep them clean and reduce the risk of transmitting any potential pathogens. Even Raw feeding will still be acceptable, but if you’re concerned you can move to a gently prepared meal option during this time. I have recipes I can share with you.
What if my dog licks me?
Unless your dog is licking an open wound or giving you kisses, you should be fine. Support your immune system during this time with essential oils, vitamins, minerals, CBD, herbs, and other supplements that offer natural benefits to your wellness. If you need help doing this, please ask. I can offer you a number of suggestions and guide you to many resources & a naturopath if needed!
Dispelling Misconceptions and Taking Precautions
There’s a common misconception that chemotherapy patients can harm their pets through physical contact. Thankfully, this is not the case. Here’s what you need to know:
- Safe Physical Contact: You can safely pet your cat or dog without worrying about transferring chemotherapy through your hands or breath.
- Medication Safety: Keep all chemotherapy drugs and other medications out of your pet’s reach, as they can be extremely harmful if ingested. If your pet does ingest any medication, contact your veterinarian and/or poison control immediately.
- Scooping Poop: call a company that does this for you, especially if your energy is low. Wear gloves if needed. Take hand sanitizer with you! But you should be fine.
- Litter Box Safety: Generally, it’s safe to empty your cat’s litter box, but always consult your healthcare team to ensure it’s appropriate for your specific situation.
- IV Tubing Caution: If you use IV tubing, be extra cautious to keep it out of your pet’s reach to prevent them from chewing on it.
Consider the Thieves Line of Cleaning Products for your home, hand sanitizers, laundry soap, essential oils, sanitizing wipes, and much more to support your wellness goals during this time!
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