Why Does My Pet Need A Veterinary Oncologist?

While your pet's primary-care veterinarian can diagnose and treat many health problems, certain diseases like cancer often requires the care of a doctor who has had specialized, intensive training in veterinary oncology. Just as in humans, a pet with cancer typically needs the help of an oncologist and advanced equipment to help diagnose and treat the disease.

Veterinary oncologists determine the most appropriate course of treatment and coordinate the treatment program for pets with cancer. They also frequently serve as consultants to veterinarians in private practice to ensure that their patients receive the best treatment possible for their cancer. You can be assured that a veterinarian who refers you and your pet to a veterinary oncologist is one that is caring and committed to ensuring that your pet receives the highest standard of medical care for his or her illness. While in some cases, your pet's veterinarian may be able to simply consult with the veterinary oncologist about your pet's care, in other cases it is necessary to actually refer you and your pet to the veterinary oncologist for more advanced diagnostics and treatment. Our oncology specialists also have access to specialized diagnostic or treatment tools that a primary-care veterinarian may not have.

My Pet Has Cancer. Now What?

If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, it is important not to become overwhelmed. Although the disease is serious, treatment decisions generally do not need to be made quickly. If your pet is diagnosed with cancer, however, you will either want to have your pets primary-care veterinarian work in consultation with a veterinary oncologist, or be referred to one of these specialists for your pet's treatment.

Many forms of cancer can be treated, managed, and even cured. Early detection and specialized care are leading to increased survival and cure rates in almost all the types of cancers that afflict our pets. From surgery to chemotherapy to radiation therapy, our veterinary cancer specialists can offer your pet the very latest diagnostic and treatment options and the best chance of survival. With optimal treatment, cancer in many cases simply becomes another manageable chronic disease.

Common Cancers

• Skin tumors
• Mammary tumors
• Lymphosarcoma
• Endocrine tumors
• Osteosarcoma
• Hemangiosarcoma

Will My Regular Veterinarian Still Be Involved?

In most cases, your regular veterinarian will still supervise your pet's veterinary care and will work in tandem with the veterinary oncologist, veterinary radiation oncologist, and any other members of your pet's veterinary health care team.

Did You Know?

Dogs and cats have higher age adjusted incidence rates for many kinds of cancers than do humans. For example, dogs are 35 times more likely to get skin cancer than are humans. They suffer from 8 times the amount of bone cancer and 4 times the amount of breast cancer. However, humans are more likely to get lung and stomach cancers than pets.