We understand that a cancer diagnosis in your pet can be emotional and overwhelming. Fortunately, the field of veterinary oncology has progressed tremendously over the past several years. AESC’s medical oncology service provides advanced diagnostics and treatments for pets with various tumor types. We work together with your family, your primary care veterinarian, and even other board-certified specialists in our hospital to provide your pet with the most compassionate, comprehensive care possible.
Potential signs of cancer in pets
- Masses, especially those that grow rapidly, feel firm, or change in appearance (e.g. bruising or bleeding)
- Dramatic weight loss
- Swelling of the abdomen, particularly in conjunction with pale gums, decreased energy, and/or collapse
- Sudden pain, limping, or swelling of a limb
- Blood and/or foul odor coming from the nose or mouth
- Major change in appetite
- Persistent vomiting
- Diarrhea
Commonly treated cancers in pets
- Lymphoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Mast cell tumors
- Anal sac adenocarcinoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Soft tissue sarcoma
- Transitional cell carcinoma (bladder tumor)
- Melanoma
- Mammary carcinoma
Diagnostics
- Complete blood count (CBC), blood chemistry, and urinalysis
- Advanced diagnostic imaging
- Digital radiography
- Ultrasound
- Computed tomography (CT)
- MRI
- Cytology
- Tumor marker testing
- Soft tissue and bone biopsies
Treatments
- Chemotherapy
- Chemotherapy may be used to treat cancer that cannot be removed with surgery, or it may be used to enhance the effectiveness of surgery. Fortunately, pets tolerate chemotherapy quite well. In veterinary medicine, chemotherapy is dosed to limit side effects as much as possible so that your pet maintains an excellent quality of life. Our oncologist can also adjust protocols and dosages to reduce unwanted side effects. If after treatment, vomiting, diarrhea, or decreased appetite occurs, these symptoms can be managed with take-home medications. Should side effects need any additional treatment after hours, our emergency service is available 24/7/365.
- Surgical removal of tumors
- Chemotherapy is not the only option for cancer treatment. Our oncologist works closely alongside our board-certified surgeons and board-certified radiologists to determine if tumors can safely and effectively be surgically removed. For some cancers, follow-up chemotherapy is still recommended after surgery, but for many other cancers, surgical removal provides a cure.
