We explore all options in your oncology consultation. After a thorough examination of your pet and a review of all diagnostic tests, we develop a customized care plan. This is the surest way to give each family hope that their pet can enjoy an extended quality of life beyond diagnosis. No pet or family is the same, therefore, we tailor and personalize care to your and your pet’s specific circumstances. While chemotherapy is the treatment option most commonly utilized, we often recommend a combination of therapies. The extent and duration of therapeutic treatment is dependent on many factors, including the type of the cancer, stage of the disease, available therapies, and how our patients respond to treatment.
Animals experience chemotherapy quite differently than humans. In most cases they experience minimal side effects, rare hair loss, and most importantly, no psychological effects from expectations of illness or treatment. Our treatment plans may include one or more of the following options:
The diagnostic process involves tests to identify the type of cancer, as well as “staging” to determine whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Some of the diagnostic techniques that we use in the process may include:
With advances in our understanding of cancer and our diagnostic abilities, knowing the type of cancer is often not enough. In order to better tailor therapy and to improve prognostic accuracy, we may recommend advanced diagnostic testing.
Examples of this include:
