Abstract
PICO question
 In canine lymphoma, does the supplement of turkey tail (Trametes versicolor) as an adjuvant therapy lead to a better quality of life than those that do not?
 
 Clinical bottom line
 Category of research question
 Treatment
 The number and type of study designs reviewed
 One prospective case series was critically appraised
 Strength of evidence
 Very weak
 Outcomes reported
 The case series assessed appetite and activity level of the canine lymphoma patients. They also measured gastrointestinal toxicity and the incidence of neutropenia
 Conclusion
 This prospective case series is insufficient to support the use of turkey tail to enhance the quality of life of canine lymphoma patients. A controlled study is required to evaluate whether the use of turkey tail supplement is useful
 
 How to apply this evidence in practice
 The application of evidence into practice should take into account multiple factors, not limited to: individual clinical expertise, patient’s circumstances and owners’ values, country, location or clinic where you work, the individual case in front of you, the availability of therapies and resources.
 Knowledge Summaries are a resource to help reinforce or inform decision making. They do not override the responsibility or judgement of the practitioner to do what is best for the animal in their care.
 
Highlights
Population: Dogs with lymphoma staged from IIIA to VB, according to World Health Organization clinical staging system (Owen & World Health Organization, 1980)
These dogs received various chemotherapy protocols based on Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) or palliative treatments
The overall strength of evidence is very weak due to the absence of a control population, incomplete assessment of patients HRQoL, failure to use the VCOG grading system for all side effects, questionable representativeness to the canine lymphoma population, and the limitations in the study design. This prospective case series is insufficient to support the use of turkey tail-derived products to enhance the health-related quality of life of canine lymphoma patients receiving conventional therapies
Summary
Population: Dogs with lymphoma staged from IIIA to VB, according to World Health Organization clinical staging system (Owen & World Health Organization, 1980) These dogs received various chemotherapy protocols based on Veterinary Cooperative Oncology Group (VCOG) or palliative treatments. Concurrent supplementation of immune-enhancement product was not specified as well. Intervention details: Each dog received immune-enhancement supplements (K9 ImmunityTM and K9 Transfer FactorTM), as an adjunct to either chemotherapy or palliative therapy. O Grade I indicated that the dogs vomited or had diarrhoea for 3 consecutive days. Dogs with vomiting or diarrhoea for more than 3 consecutive days were assigned as grade II. GI side effect o GI side effects, such as vomiting and diarrhoea, could be an indirect measurement of quality of life They might impact the appetite and stress the patients
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