Cancer treatment can be hard on anyone. Whether from chemo, immunotherapy, surgery or something else, treatment side effects can be taxing. Many people experience pain, fatigue, nausea, memory problems, insomnia and more. So it’s understandable that taking care of beloved pets at the same time can get a bit complicated.
Keep reading to learn some ways to care for your pets — and yourself — during cancer treatment.
Caring for Pets
Some people undergoing cancer treatment may be concerned about endangering their pets. In general, physical contact with pets will not harm them. But experts recommend protecting them from patients’ bodily fluids, waste and medications. Ways to do this include:
- Keeping bathroom doors closed
- Not allowing pets to lick patients’ skin, face or clothes
- Storing medications in a medicine cabinet or pet-proof container
It’s important to keep your pets healthy, but this takes time and energy. The following tips may help cancer patients manage pet care:
- Consider hiring a pet sitter to handle walks, food, water and waste a few days a week.
- Create a list of all your normal pet care tasks, including how you do them and where you keep supplies. This list can help ensure your furry loved one gets great care, whether it’s directly from you or not.
- Get help from family and friends when you need it. They can take over some or all aspects of pet care for you.
Asking for help may ease stress, allowing you to focus on treatment, recovery and quality time with your pet.
Caring for Yourself
Pets need care, but so do you. Pets can be a great source of support for cancer patients, but they can also spread infections. This is problematic because cancer treatments can make you more susceptible to germs.
Experts say you can reduce your risk of infection from a pet by:
- Avoiding close contact during treatment: Experts recommend not kissing, cuddling or sleeping with pets until treatment ends.
- Avoiding higher-risk pets during treatment: Some pets are more likely to carry infections than others. Reptiles, rodents, farm animals and wildlife can carry Salmonella. You can reduce infection risk by steering clear of these pets until treatment ends.
- Keeping pets away from food and cooking areas: No matter the type, pets in the kitchen or on the dining table pose infection risks. Experts recommend keeping pets, along with their toys and dishes, out of the areas where you eat and cook.
- Skipping activities that can lead to scratches or bites: Playful bites or scratches can lead to infection. To reduce this risk, patients can avoid activities in which pets are likely to bite or scratch.
- Taking precautions with pet waste: Experts recommend keeping pet waste as far from food and food prep as possible. It may also be a good idea to have someone else handle pet waste until your immune system is back at full strength.
- Washing your hands after touching pets or their items: Infections can spread by touching a contaminated surface or pet. But washing your hands with soap and water can get rid of germs before they can cause illnesses.
Whatever your situation, talk to your doctor. They can provide the best advice for your health. And don’t be afraid to lean on your community — and your pets — for support.
