Palliative care in the treatment of dogs with cancer: promotion of symptom relief and the perspective of the owner

• Grant number: 20/13368-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: February 01, 2021
• End date: February 28, 2022
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Clinics and Surgery
• Principal Investigator: Andrigo Barboza de Nardi
• Grantee: Beatriz Furlan Paz
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Jaboticabal. Jaboticabal , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This research seeks to evaluate the improvement of clinical signs and symptom relief of dogs with cancer, as well as the reduction of distress experienced by the owner and acceptance of the practice of veterinary palliative care (CPV), instituted at the Veterinary Hospital "Governador Laudo Natel" , from the São Paulo State University "Júlio de Mesquita Filho", Jaboticabal campus. Participating in this research project are animals with cancer treated in different sectors of the hospital, comprising the control group of 30 dogs that do not receive palliative care (C), and the treated group of 30 canines that have access to this practice (T). At each consultation the owners will answer the "Modified Symptom Assessment Scale" (EASM), which assesses the frequency and intensity of up to fourteen symptoms, as well as the discomfort and distress caused to the animal and its owner. Anamnesis and detailed physical examination of patients participating in CPV care will be performed. Treatment will be based on pharmacological and/or integrative therapies according to the needs of each case. At the end of the patient follow-up period, clients of the treated animals will receive the questionnaire "Evaluation of Care in Veterinary Palliative Care" (AACPV) to analyze the service and suggest improvements. Clinical data such as race, sex, diagnosis and cancer staging, and the categorical responses of AACPV will be analyzed using descriptive statistics, with mean and standard deviation. The Wilcoxon and Mann-Whitney tests will be used to verify the influence of the treatments instituted on the symptoms reported by the clients. (AU)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PAZ, Beatriz Furlan. Palliative care in the treatment of dogs with cancer: the state of the art to prevent and relieve the patient's pain and suffering, and offer full assistance and support to the human-animal relationship. 2022. Master's Dissertation - Universidade Estadual Paulista (Unesp). Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias. Jaboticabal Jaboticabal.