Oncology For Dogs and Cats

A pet cancer diagnosis is tough; there's no doubt about it. It's an emotional journey that can bring many unknowns along with it.

The good news is that advances in veterinary oncology (aka cancer care for pets) offer more options than ever to help your pet live a happy, comfortable life. No matter what, at Stewart Animal Clinic, we are here to help your pet get the best possible animal cancer care.

What Is Veterinary Oncology?

Simply put, veterinary oncology is the branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating cancer in animals. Just like people, pets can get various kinds of cancer, whether it's a lump under the skin, bone cancer, or even lymphoma.

We understand that the idea of cancer is scary, but we’re here to tell you that it’s not a hopeless situation. Veterinary oncology has come a long way and continues to evolve. Many types of cancer can be managed, treated, or even cured. We’ll walk you through the process, answer all your questions, and make sure your furry friend gets the pet cancer care they need.

Diagnosing Cancer in Pets

If we suspect your pet might have cancer, we’ll recommend a few tests to figure out what’s going on and confirm our diagnosis. Here’s what that might look like:

• Biopsy: We take a small tissue sample to examine under a microscope.
• Bloodwork: We’ll run tests to evaluate your pet’s overall health.
• Imaging: This could be an X-ray, ultrasound, or sometimes more advanced scans like a CT or MRI to get a closer look at what’s happening inside your pet’s body.

Once we have all the information, we’ll sit down with you and talk about the results and next steps.

Cancer Treatment For Pets

Every cancer is different, so animal cancer treatment options vary depending on what kind of cancer your pet has and how advanced it is. Here are the most common ways we treat cancer in pets:

• Surgery: If the cancer is in one spot (like a tumor), veterinary cancer surgery might be the best option to remove it.
• Pet Chemotherapy: This uses medication to shrink or slow down cancer cells. The good news is that pets generally handle chemo better than people, with fewer side effects like nausea or hair loss.
• Radiation Therapy: This treatment zaps cancer cells with high-energy rays, especially when surgery isn’t possible.
• Immunotherapy: This is a newer treatment option that helps boost your pet’s immune system to fight off cancer.

We’ll talk with you about our recommended treatment option (or combination of treatments) to decide the best fit for your pet.

If your pet’s cancer can’t be treated, we’ll focus on palliative care, which means managing symptoms and keeping them comfortable for as long as possible. We’ll be with you every step of the way to adjust treatments, answer questions, and provide the support you and your pet need.

Pet Cancer Specialist Referrals

Sometimes, we’ll recommend that your pet see a veterinary oncologist. These are specialists who deal only with pet cancer cases, so they have even more advanced tools and treatments. For example, if your pet needs animal radiation therapy or a specific type of surgery, we’ll work with a veterinary cancer specialist to get them the care they need.

We know going to a specialist can feel overwhelming, but trust that your pet will be in the best hands for their case, and we’ll help make the process as smooth as possible. We’ll send all the necessary medical information, stay in touch with the specialist, and keep you up-to-date about your pet’s treatment.

Pet Oncology in Warrior

Dog or cat cancer doesn’t have to mean the end of your pet’s quality of life. With the right care, many pets can continue to enjoy their favorite activities.

Getting a cancer diagnosis for your pet is hard, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our team is here to offer pet cancer support throughout the entire process. If you're looking for veterinary oncology services, call us at (205) 647-8140 or book an appointment below. You can always count on our veterinary team to provide the best possible care for your fur baby.