After Your Pet’s

Chemotherapy treatments used inpets are generally less intense than

those used in human medicine.

Most cancer chemotherapy targets rapidly dividing cells in the body—acharacteristic typical of cancer cells. Treatments used in pets are generally lessintense than those used in human medicine. Still, pets will excrete potentiallyharmful drugs in their body fluids (such as urine, feces, vomit, and saliva) andcare must be used to minimize your potential exposure to these substances.Below are our recommendations for keeping you and your family safe:

First 48 hours after your pet has been dischargedfollowing a chemotherapy treatment:

■ Keep children and other pets away from the pet that has received his or herchemotherapy treatment.

■ Wash food bowls and toys separately from other household items, using water anddishwashing or laundry detergent (if the items are washed in the laundry machine).

Chemotherapy:Safety at Home

■ Wash bedding separately from otherlaundry using laundry detergent andbleach if fecal-soiled. Repeat anempty washing cycle before usingthe machine for your usual laundryitems.

■ Use latex gloves when cleaning upurine, feces, or other body fluids:– The thicker the glove, the better.

You may also double glove (use onepair of gloves on top of another).Nitrile gloves may also be used, butlatex is preferred when possible.

– Dispose of gloves in the trash; trashshould be double-bagged.

– Always wash hands after removingand disposing used gloves.

■ Clean up feces, urine, and/or vomit(wearing gloves), and disposeproperly:– Solid/semi-solid waste

(feces/vomit) and small amounts ofabsorbent material (such as toiletpaper or paper towels with urine)may be flushed down the toilet.

– Larger amounts of waste should bedisposed of in your regular trash.Double bag the trash bags.

■ Encourage dogs to urinate on grass,in an area away from where otherpets normally eliminate. Havingyour pet urinate on grass rather thanconcrete (or other solid surface) willeliminate the needto hose the areadown. Using a hose increases thepossibility of contaminated fluidssplashing on people in the vicinity.

■ If there is an “accident” in the house(such as urinating or vomiting):– Try to contain and absorb the fluid

by blotting with paper towels (thatcan then be double-bagged andthrown away).

– After cleaning the area, disinfect itwith household bleach (1 partbleach to 10 parts water)

Somechemotherapydrugs remainin body fluids

longer than 48 to 72 hours.Please consult

with yourveterinarian

regardingspecific drugs.

cliniciansbrief.com/for-your-clinic/100

■ For cats: – Clean litter trays regularly.

Disinfect the litter pan 72 hoursafter the chemotherapy treatment.

– Consider using a litter pan liner ordisposable litter tray.

Special Conditions:For the following people, it ispreferable NOT to handle animals ortheir body fluids for 72 hours after thepet’s chemotherapy treatment:

■ Those trying to become pregnanty (both men and women)

■ Breastfeeding mothers

■ Immunosuppressed people (such as very ill people or those with immunedisorders)

■ People taking immunosuppressivemedications (such as peoplereceiving treatment for cancer or animmune disorder)

Some chemotherapy drugs remain inbody fluids longer than 48 to 72 hours.Please consult with your veterinarianregarding specific drugs.

Some dogs have “pica,” a behavior ofingesting nonfood items such as dog/catfeces. Housemates of pets undergoingchemotherapy should be monitored forthis behavior and steps should be takento minimize opportunity (eg, place catlitter box on raised surface out of dog’sreach). If you have any questionsregarding your pet, please call us at:_____________________________

If you have any questions regardingyour health or potential exposure toyour pet after chemotherapy, pleasecontact your physician.