Kelly, a 10-year-old chocolate Lab, sports a bright yellow collar with "Livestrong" embroidered on it. Like cyclist Lance Armstrong, she's a cancer survivor.
In June, Kelly started getting Palladia, the first drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat cancer in dogs.
Kelly had a malignant mast cell tumor and an enlarged lymph node in her chest, said her owner, Pam Greenberg of Dallas. "The prognosis wasn't good – three to nine months."
At that time, Greenberg hit the Internet and discovered that Pfizer, the maker of Palladia, had received FDA approval for the drug in June, but for limited use. Only vets certified in oncology are allowed to give the drug until it becomes widely available early next year.
A month after the treatment, when the playful pooch returned to her Dallas veterinarian for tests, her owner got the news she had been hoping for.
"I don't see any cancer at all," said Dr. Cheryl Harris, who is board-certified in oncology.
Until the development of Palladia, veterinarians had to rely on human cancer drugs without knowing the dosage, safety or effectiveness in animals.
While surgery is the first line of treatment for dogs with mast cell tumors, many dogs don't have that option, Harris said. The malignant tumor accounts for about 20 percent of skin cancer in dogs. It strikes all breeds but is often found in Labradors, boxers and Boston terriers.
About 60 percent of dogs older than 6 are diagnosed with cancer, and nearly half the deaths in pets older than 10 result from the disease, according to the Pet Cancer Foundation.
Palladia joins a growing list of FDA-approved drugs developed specifically for companion animals. Within the last two years, the FDA has approved three other drugs developed by Pfizer's veterinary division: Slentrol for obesity, Cerenia for motion sickness and Convenia, the first single-dose injected antibiotic for skin infections in dogs and cats. Novartis, Eli Lilly and other pharmaceutical giants are also making medicines for companion animals.
Animal health is big business in a country where many people treat their pets as family members. An estimated 62 percent of U.S. households own a pet, equivalent to 71.4 million homes, according to the American Pet Products Association.
This year, pet owners are expected to spend $45.4 billion on their animal companions, $22.4 billion of that on veterinary care, over-the-counter medications and supplies.
Since the FDA approved Palladia, Harris said, she has been inundated with calls from people interested in the drug for their dogs.
"People definitely see their pets as four-legged children," Harris said.
As pet owners seek better care for their cats and dogs, vets have been pushing pharmaceutical companies to develop drugs for the most common conditions, such as motion sickness.
"We are seeing a lot of pet caregivers who are very anxious to keep the family pet healthy," said Rick Goulart, a Pfizer animal health spokesman.
Greenberg estimates that she has spent $5,000 this year on Kelly's treatment, including CT scans, biopsies and drugs. And that doesn't include the Palladia, which has been free because it's just beginning to be used.
Palladia's price is expected to be set next year. Harris said current cancer treatments for pets can cost $2,000 to $5,000 over a year, but Palladia is expected to be cheaper.
After hearing about Palladia, Greenberg did not hesitate to do whatever was needed to save her canine companion.
"I know a ton of people who would do anything for their dogs," she said.
Kelly had to be temporarily taken off the drug when her blood cell count dropped significantly, but after a week she began taking the pill again.
Over about a month, the tumor shrank dramatically, and Kelly was bouncing around like a puppy. Recently, Harris could not detect any cancer in the dog.
"Now on the CT scan you can't see any kind of enlarged lymph gland," Greenberg said. "The breast area doesn't even look like there was a tumor."
Jan Jarvis is a Fort Worth writer.
About Palladia
Palladia was tested on 157 dogs with Grade II and III tumors, which have begun to spread or metastasized to lymph glands.
About 60 percent of the dogs in clinical trials had their tumors shrink, disappear or stop growing, according to Pfizer.
Palladia works by killing tumor cells and cutting off the blood supply to the tumor.