Early caregiver burden in owners of pets with suspected cancer: Owner psychosocial outcomes, communication behavior, and treatment factors.

Background: Owners of companion animals with serious illnesses are likely to experience "caregiver burden." This topic has not been fully evaluated in veterinary oncology.

Objectives: To examine owners of a dog or cat with suspected cancer for relationships between early caregiver burden and (a) psychosocial factors: depression, stress, and quality of life; (b) owner communication behavior; and (c) specific pet treatment plan factors.