Top Activities For Dogs With Lymphoma

Introduction

Lymphoma, or lymphosarcoma, is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in dogs. It affects the blood cells and lymphoid tissues and is also typically present in the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, bone marrow, and intestinal tract as well. While a cancer diagnosis is scary for any pet owner, it’s important to know you’ve got options. Around 80 percent of dogs will respond positively to chemotherapy, giving you peace of mind that you still have plenty of time to enjoy memorable moments with your pooch. If you’ve made the hard decision to put your pup through treatment, you’re bound to want to make them feel better as they try to recover. Here are few of the many activity options for dogs with lymphoma.

Food Puzzles

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Cheap

Normal

1 hr

Items needed

Cardboard boxes

Puzzles

Treats

Activity description

Most dogs don’t feel adverse side effects as a result of chemotherapy, but around 10 to 15 percent of them do. Therefore, if you need quiet activities to keep your dog’s mind occupied while their body rests, then a food puzzle is an affordable, effortless, and fast solution. You can build food puzzles yourself, buy them from the many pet stores which stock them, and keep your pampered pooch entertained for hours. Even better, a food puzzle won’t tire out their body, but it will enable them to eat treats if their appetite is lacking. A favorite homemade puzzle for many dog owners is a small cardboard box with holes cut out of it. Once filled with treats, your dog then has to work to get those treats through the holes. If you don’t have time to head to the store, it’s an easy and quick solution.

Step

1

Buy or build a food puzzle

Consider your dog’s skill level and buy or build a food puzzle to match it. Some dogs are naturally inquisitive, so they thrive on mental stimulation. Other dogs, however, show less interest in solving problems. Therefore, choose or build a food puzzle that’s a little easier for them. It might be something as simple as peanut butter or cottage cheese inside a toy designed to hold treats.

Step

2

Select nutritional food

Your dog is going through a rough time, as chemotherapy can take its toll. Given the fatigue your dog is bound to be experiencing, it’s in your best interests to stock up on treats and ingredients that boost energy and have nutritional content. Food that may be beneficial both in food puzzles and in everyday meals include organ meats, sweet potato, chicken, and beef.

Car Ride

Popular

0 Votes

Any Day

Free

Easy

20 min

Items needed

Car harness

Activity description

When a dog has lymphoma, there’s every possibility they won’t be themselves. While every dog responds differently to treatment, some are happier to be by your side rather than get up to mischief or want to go for a run or walk. If you feel both you and your furry friend could benefit from time away from home, then a car ride could tick all the boxes. A car ride enables your dog to get out of the house, put their head out the window, take in all the sights and smells, and most importantly, enjoy life. Not all dogs enjoy a ride in the car, but there is a significantly higher number of dogs that do. Therefore, if you’re looking to spoil your pup during their recovery, riding first class alongside their best friend could be the best experience for which they could ever ask.

Step

1

Prepare the car

If you don’t usually allow your dog the pleasure of riding in your car, then you may wish to prepare it for the journey. As you know, dogs shed fur, have dirty paws, and don’t like to sit in one spot either. If you can invest in a car harness to keep them strapped in, you may find it limits their ability to clamber all over your seats. What’s more, it’s a far safer way to travel. Otherwise, you can buy dog hammocks to keep them in the back seat or cover the seats with blankets to protect them.

Step

2

Go!

As soon as your pup sees those magical jingly car keys, they’re bound to come clambering to the door. After all, a ride in the car is a time of excitement and an opportunity to see what’s on the other side of the fence. There’s no time like the present to lift them in, then take them on a journey. It might only be a 20-minute drive down some country roads, but it will be enough to provide them with that sense of excitement they might have lost after so long staying inside recuperating.

Short Walk

Popular

0 Votes

Sunny Day

Free

Easy

30 min

Items needed

Leash

Doggy waste bag

Activity description

When the sun is shining, and your dog is beginning to show signs of frustration at being cooped up, it might be time to head outdoors. While lymphoma can cause your dog to be a little bit less than their best, it doesn’t mean they still wouldn’t like a quick stroll outdoors. What’s more, a little bit of activity can help your dog to stay in peak condition while fighting cancer. All you need for this easy task is a leash, a doggy waste bag to keep your streets clean, and a quick route that won’t tire them out too much.

Step

1

Plan a route

Normally when you walk your dog, you’ll have a set course you walk, or you walk as far as you please. When your dog is sick with lymphoma, however, they may not feel as up to a big walk as you are. Before you set out, plan a route that will benefit both you and your dog. You want your pup to have fun, but you don’t want them to experience significant fatigue, either. Therefore, you may wish to plan out a route that takes you around the block and no more, or up to the end of the street and back.

Step

2

Go walking

Once your dog is wearing their harness, or you’ve clipped their leash on, it’s time to go! No doubt, they’ll be chomping at the bit to get out and experience everything the world has to offer. However, it pays to remember to keep their pace consistent, even if they feel like running. You don’t want them to tire out too quickly, unable to manage the journey back home again. Most importantly, let your dog enjoy a leisurely walk, rather than having a destination you need to reach. Let him stop and smell the roses, so to speak.

More Fun Ideas...

Frozen Treats

If you don’t mind a little bit of mess, frozen treats are an excellent way to stimulate your dog’s senses while keeping them quiet. All you need to do is freeze a treat inside water, then give them the ice. Your pup then has to lick and chew to get to that yummy treat in the center. The bonus of this activity is that you’re thinking about their hydration at the same time.

Cups Game

How decent do you think your dog’s senses are? If you’re looking for one of the best ways to stimulate your dog while treating them at the same time, the cups game is an excellent option. Line up three cups on the floor, with a treat under one. Make sure puppy doesn’t see where you hide it! They then need to sniff out which cup has the treat in it. This game can provide hours of entertainment for both you and your pampered pooch.

Conclusion

Given the high success rate of remission with the use of chemotherapy, there’s every reason to consider providing your dog with chemotherapy treatment. However, while they’re going through it, they might be feeling a bit ruff. To brighten their day, consider any of these exciting activities above. You may find they’re the very things they need to get that tail wagging once again.