Few things are tougher than learning your pet has cancer. Cancer evokes fear and anxiety like few other diseases. We face it with you. It falls on us to diagnose and treat cancers such as lymphosarcoma, mast cell tumor, malignant melanoma, carcinoma, sarcoma, and others. Our approach to treating cancer relies on knowledge, cutting-edge technology, specialized training, and compassion.

Compassion & Hope
We’ll give your pet compassionate care and work hard for the best outcome for your pet and you. Always. Giving your pet the best quality of life as long as possible is our overriding objective. In a collaborative, compassionate setting, we’ll discuss your pet’s cancer and the various treatment options.

Understanding Cancer
At its core, cancer consists of aggressive cells that have overcome the immune system, and invade surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to other organs. While numerous cancers affect dogs and cats, veterinary medicine is making wonderful advances in their diagnosis and treatment. We are on the cutting edge of this knowledge.

Treatment Options
Treatment for cancer can include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, or in many cases, a combination of therapies. We will discuss all of your options and what you can expect from a potential treatment plan.

Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy uses medicine to kill or slow the growth and spread of cancer. Chemotherapy takes place singly or in combination with surgery and/or radiation therapy. Pets generally tolerate chemotherapy well, with far fewer side effects than we think of in people. We typically use lower dosages than are used in people, and less undesirable side effects result. Our goal is simple: to maintain the highest possible quality of life for the longest possible period of time.

Immunotherapy
We use immunotherapy to treat malignant melanoma in dogs. This cancer responds poorly to surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy, but has demonstrated significant response to a new vaccine treatment.

Radiation Therapy
Our new Oncology unit, a 2,700-square-feet facility, houses a Linear Accelerator that provides unique Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). Our Linear Accelerator, unique in this region, and amongst only a handful like it in veterinary facilities around the country, uses computer-controlled linear accelerators to deliver precise radiation doses to malignant tumors. IMRT lets the radiation dose conform to the tumor’s three-dimensional shape. It can also focus higher radiation doses to regions within a tumor while minimizing exposure to surrounding areas. This allows for more aggressive treatment with fewer side effects than traditional radiation therapy and again helps to maintain quality of life for our patients.

Surgery
Surgery to biopsy, de-bulk, or remove a tumor is often part of a multi-modal treatment plan. We work closely with surgeons on our campus to design the best possible treatment plan for your loved one.

See the articles in our knowledge center for more information on chemotherapy and specific cancers in pets.