Oncology

Oncology is a branch of medicine that deals with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer in animals.

According to American Veterinary Medical Association, about 1 in 4 dogs will develop cancer, a rate similar to humans, and pet cancer also becomes more common as animals age.

Our pets are living longer lives due to improvements in pet nutrition, parasite prevention, vaccinations, and regular health screenings, hence cancer is now becoming more commonly diagnosed in veterinary practice. When cancer is suspected in a pet, a diagnosis and treatment plan is formulated by the veterinarian, which may comprise of:

• Evaluating the pet’s overall health and condition (physical examination and blood testing).
• Performing a biopsy and sending the samples off for laboratory evaluation.
• Ultrasound and other radiology scans (X-ray or CT) to check for metastasis (spread of the cancer to other parts of the body).
• Surgery to remove the cancer where possible.
• Administering chemotherapy or other pharmaceutical interventions.
• Managing side effects of chemotherapy interventions.
• Providing post-operative and recovery care.

While some cancers can be "cured", cancer treatments are often started to prolong a pet’s life, with the emphasis of the treatment being to improve the animal’s quality of life, not quantity. Your veterinarian wants you to have as much quality time together with your pet as possible and will make recommendations according to your pet’s condition and needs.