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My Pet has Cancer
The many treatment options and plans, and possible side effects.

At VCA Pet CancerCare Centers, we are leading pet cancer care into a new era, focused on improving your pet's quality of life and your time together.

With advanced expertise and technology on par with the capabilities of America’s top human cancer centers, we offer treatments that are more effective, quicker and with far fewer side effects. Most pets remain comfortable and active throughout treatment. In many instances, with VCA’s expert care, pet cancer becomes a more easily managed condition—giving you and your pet more quality time together.
FAQs
A pet cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming. VCA veterinary oncologist Barbara Kitchell, DVM, DACVIM, explains how our VCA Pet CancerCare team of specialists will approach testing and diagnosis in order to devise the optimal treatment plan for your pet.
VCA veterinary medical oncologist Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM, explains how perceptions of "success" can vary among people and veterinary oncologists will discuss prognoses with pet owners and manage expectations of quality of life.
VCA veterinary surgical oncologist Emily Manor, DVM, DACVIM, explains the first oncology consultation. The veterinary oncologist will have looked thoroughly at your pet's records and will conduct a phsyical exam and discuss treatment options, schedule, prognosis and potential side effects.
VCA veterinary emergency specialist Mike Mallard, DVM, DACVECC, talks about how pet owners know their own pets well and can generally tell when something is not right. It is better to be safe than sorry, and get your pet checked out if you feel something is off.
VCA veterinary medical oncologist Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM, explains how quality of life and pain management are a priority of VCA. Veterinary oncologists will determine the best pain management plan depending on the needs and situation of the individual pet.
VCA veterinary medical and radiation oncologist, David Proulx, MSpVM, DACVIM, DACVR, explains the role of the veterinary oncologist in educating the pet owner on all aspects of radiation therapy, including precisely how the treatment works, the prognosis and possible outcomes.
VCA veterinary surgical oncologist Emily Manor, DVM, DACVIM, explains how chemotherapy generally does not cause hair loss in pets the same way as with humans. The hair/fur can beome a bit thinner, and take longer to grow back from shave sites, and cats can sometimes lose their whiskers.
VCA veterinary medical oncologist Sarah Rippy, DVM, MS, DACVIM, explains how a raw diet can be dangerous for pets with cancer, especially those undergoing chemotherapy.
VCA veterinary medical oncologist Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM, talks about some websites that can be checked by pet owners for clinical studies relevant to their pet. These include the VCA Clinical Studies page [link] and the AVMA Clinical Studies Registry.
What happens if my pet has cancer?
Are treatment outcomes the same for every pet with cancer?
What can I expect in an initial consultation with my pet's oncologist?
How do I know if I should bring my pet into the ER?
How can I manage pain in my pet?
What can I expect in a consultation before radiation treatment?
Do pets lose their hair when having chemotherapy?
Is a raw diet safe for my pet?
Where can I find clinical studies that may be available for my pet?
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