Post Chemotherapy Safety Instructions

The chemotherapy drugs used in our pets are generally the same products used in human medicine.  Pets may excrete some components of some drugs in their urine, feces, vomit, and saliva for 48-72 hours post chemo administration. You may see some discoloration of urine for the first 24 hours – this is not an indication that the urine is unsafe.  Below are our recommendations for keeping your entire family protected.

• Young children and other pets should be kept away from the patient for the first 48 hours, unless exposure to bodily fluids can be monitored.
• Wash food bowls and toys the patient has used 72 hours after chemo treatment.
• Wash soiled bedding separately from other laundry.
• It is advisable to wear latex gloves when cleaning up urine, feces, or vomit.  Gloves and waste can be disposed of in the garbage. Trash should be double bagged.
• Feces, urine, vomit and soiled toilet paper or paper towels can be flushed down the toilet.
• Encourage dogs to urinate on the grass in an area away from where other pets eliminate.
• If your pet eliminates in the house clean area with 1 part bleach to 10 parts water.  If the elimination is on carpet or other bleach sensitive surface, simply dilute the elimination very thoroughly with water.
• Pregnant woman should not handle the pet or their bodily fluids for 72 hours. After each treatment.
• Those trying to become pregnant (woman or men) should not handle the animal or their bodily fluids for 72 hours after each treatment.
• People who are very ill or have a compromised immune system should not handle the animal for 72 hours after each treatment.