FLASH Radiotherapy for Canine Osteosarcoma

FLASH flyer

FLASH Consent Form

FLASH radiation is defined as ultra-high dose rate radiation which has been shown in small animal and tissue models to spare normal tissues to a greater extent than normal radiation.

Any dog with suspect osteosarcoma on a limb will qualify.

1 treatment of radiation will be performed. Then your dog will be randomized to the FLASH group or the conventional radiation group for treatments. They will have 4 once/week follow up visits. If amputation is elected, it will be performed 1 month after the start of the study and the cost is covered by the study.

For more information, contact Dr. Tricia Hu at tghu@wisc.edu or Dr. Nathaniel Van Asselt at nvanasselt@wisc.edu or call 608-890-0422.

The UWVC Oncology service is evaluating the efficacy of a probiotic (Visbiome Vet®), compared to traditionally used metronidazole for the management of chemotherapy induced diarrhea in dogs with multicentric lymphoma receiving a 19-week CHOP chemotherapy protocol.Dogs with a confirmed diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma whose owners present to the UWVC oncology service for consultation and elect to treat their dog with 19-week CHOP protocol will be given the option to participate in the clinical trial. Dogs will be randomized into either the Visbiome® Vet or metronidazole treatment groups.

Owners of patients in both groups will be instructed to keep a diary once enrolled in the trial to monitor stool frequency, consistency, and schedule. Diet and medications will also be recorded; owners will be instructed to keep their dog’s diet consistent. Owners will start the respective diarrhea management medication once stools reach a fecal score of >4 (Fecal Scoring System, Nestle Purina PetCare Company, St. Louis, MO), or increased frequency or urgency from baseline is noted. The Fecal Scoring System will be provided for owners, and they will also be encouraged to take photos of their dogs’ eliminations. Stool samples will be collected at baseline/enrollment, prior to each doxorubicin administration, and 1 month after completion of chemotherapy. These samples will be analyzed in future research with consultation with the Gastrointestinal lab at Texas A&M University.

Owners will be financially responsible all costs associated with diagnosis of multicentric lymphoma and treatment with CHOP chemotherapy with the exception of recheck examination fees for timepoints associated with fecal sample collection, which will be covered by the study as client incentive. The cost of metronidazole or Visbiome® Vet (depending upon their randomized group) will be paid for by the study.

For further information or to enroll a potential patient, please contact oncclinicaltrials@vetmed.wisc.edu or call 608-890-0422.