Oncology

Is chemotherapy the same as people who receive chemotherapy?

We do use the same drugs as they use in humans, but often much lower doses are used for pets.

Will my pet get sick?

Fortunately, animals tolerate cancer treatments far better than people. The incidence of side effects tends to be less than 5%.

In pets, our primary concern is quality of life; therefore, we choose the maximum dosage possible while trying not to cause significant side effects.

Will my pet lose its hair?

In general, the majority of breeds of dogs and cats do not lose their hair.

Certain breeds are at greater risk for some hair loss. It usually re-grows with the completion of the protocol, but it may grow back a different shade or color.

How long are treatments/protocols?

This greatly depends on the type of cancer.

There are protocols that last only several months and others that may last up to 6 months. The protocols are individually chosen based on the type of cancer present and the protocols ability to provide the longest quantity and quality of life for your pet.

Will my pet be cured?

There is no cure for most cancers in veterinary medicine.

Our goal is to put the cancer into remission and keep it in remission for as long as possible. Remission means ridding the body of visible disease. During remission your pet's quality of life should return to normal.

What is metastasis or metastatic disease?

Most cancers can move from their original spot and start growing in other areas of the body. This is metastasis.

Cancer may spread or metastasize to any organ in the body. However, we most commonly see spread to lymph nodes, lung, and liver.

How do you check for metastasis?

We may recommend doing chest radiographs, ultrasound of the abdomen, and certain blood tests depending on the type of cancer present.