A veterinary medical oncologist is a veterinarian who has additional training and specialized knowledge in the diagnosis of cancer, staging of tumors, development of cancer treatment plans, and the administration of chemotherapy. A veterinary medical oncologist can help your pet by developing treatment plans that incorporate one or all of the following options:
Just as in humans, a pet with cancer typically needs the help of an oncologist to diagnose and treat their disease. Veterinary medical oncologists are able to determine the most appropriate course of treatment based on the most current medical information available.
You can be assured that a veterinarian who refers you and your pet to a veterinary medical oncologist is one who is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of medical care for his or her illness.
Although the diagnosis of cancer is scary, there are often many treatment options available that can be tailored specifically for your pet. Our medical oncology team is here to help every step of the way and support you and your pet through this entire process.
Chemotherapy can provide a good quality of life and improve survival time for dogs and cats with cancer. Chemotherapy is generally well tolerated, with the majority of patients experiencing no side effects. About 20% of patients experience mild gastrointestinal signs, and <5% require hospitalization. Anti-nausea medication is commonly prescribed prophylactically to decrease potential side effects.
While undergoing chemotherapy, dogs with continuously growing hair, such as Poodles, may have a sparser hair coat and cats may lose their whiskers. Chemotherapy also causes bone marrow suppression. Because of this, monitoring of blood work is required to ensure patients are not over suppressed. Owners of animals on chemotherapy should also take safety precautions regarding limiting contact with immune-compromised people (babies, elderly, humans undergoing chemotherapy, etc.).
Your pet should be able to do their normal, daily activities unless otherwise advised by the veterinary medical oncologist. Our medical oncology team will review and discuss all of this and more at your pet’s visit.
When your pet is faced with cancer, a veterinary medical oncologist will work in concert with your pet's general practice veterinarian in order to obtain the best possible medical outcome for your pet.
Just as in people, there is no proven way to keep your pet from getting cancer. You can, however, take steps to minimize the risks. Avoid any known predisposing causes, such as not spaying or neutering pets, or leaving pets exposed to sunlight. Also make sure your pet has regularly scheduled checkups and follow your veterinarian's advice regarding any necessary screening tests.
Any veterinarian who wants to specialize in oncology must first be certified as an internal medicine specialist. Veterinarians who want to become board certified in internal medicine must seek additional, intensive training to become a specialist and earn this prestigious credentialing. Specialty status is granted by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). A veterinarian who has received this specialty status will list the initials, 'DACVIM,' after his or her DVM degree. Or, the veterinarian may indicate that he or she is a 'Diplomate' of the ACVIM. The word 'Diplomate' typically means the specialist has achieved the following:
Obtained a traditional 8 year veterinary degree (four years of college plus four years of veterinary school).
Completed an additional three to six years of advanced training, including a residency at a veterinary teaching hospital where the veterinarian will have trained with some of the best experts in the field and obtained hands on experience.
Completed the credentialing application process established by the ACVIM
Passed a rigorous general examination.
Once a veterinarian is board certified in internal medicine, he or she may seek additional specialty status in veterinary oncology. Internal medicine specialists must obtain additional training in this area and sit for a second, even more intensive examination. These doctors will list their credentials after their boarded status, for example, as 'DAVCIM (Oncology).'
When your pet needs the care of a veterinary internal medicine specialist/veterinary oncologist, years of intensive training and additional education will be focused on helping him or her to recover from the disease and/or enjoy the highest quality of life possible.
The goal of cancer therapy is to destroy abnormal cancer cells while sparing normal cells. An important difference in human vs. animal oncology is that the goal with humans, due to our extended life spans, is to cure the disease. In animals, the goal is more to extend the length of life while still maintaining its
quality. In many cases, a veterinary oncologist will combine some or all of the treatment options outlined below in order to provide the very best outcome for your pet.
Surgery
Radiation Treatment
Chemotherapy
Immunotherapy
Your veterinary oncologist will give you specific instructions regarding your pet's chemotherapy, but in general, you should be aware that pets typically handle chemotherapy regimens far better than people do. First, as cancer treatment for both humans and small animals has become more sophisticated, the side effects created by chemotherapy regimens have become less severe. Second, chemotherapy administration in animals is less aggressive than it is in humans, so animals typically do not become as sick from the side effects as do people.
Finally, veterinary oncologists have many options at their disposal to help keep your pet comfortable during treatment for his or her disease. From pain management options to special nutritional recommendations to medications that can help lessen the nausea associated with chemotherapy, be assured that veterinary oncologists can keep most pets surprisingly comfortable during treatment. In fact, one of the biggest hurdles to treating pets with cancer is that many owners imagine their pet's treatment will be more difficult than it really is.
