Common Types of Pet Cancer
Our veterinarians have expertise in treating many different types of pet cancers. Both they and our staff, have participated in numerous continuing education training for pet cancer treatments in order to stay on top of the latest trends. Certain pet cancers are more common than others, and we often treat the following:
- Lymphoma, cancer in the lymph nodes
- Melanoma, or skin cancer (usually in the form of mast cell tumors)
- Fibrosarcoma (a type of soft tissue tumor)
- Histiocytoma (skin tumor)
- Osteosarcoma (bone cancer)
- Hemangiosarcoma (a malignant, fast-spreading form of cancer)
Pet Cancer Treatment Options
The two pet oncology services we rely on most are surgery and chemotherapy. These may be used separately or in conjunction, depending on your pet’s type of cancer and their ability to undergo surgery and/or receive chemotherapy.
Surgery
Cancer surgery usually involves the removal of a cancerous mass. Our veterinarians will assess your pet thoroughly to ensure they can endure the surgery. We’ll also determine whether or not chemotherapy is needed first to reduce the size of the mass, which can make the surgery and recovery easier on your pet.
Chemotherapy
Veterinary chemotherapy has come a long way in recent years and is highly effective against many cancers. While chemotherapy is often very taxing for us, our pets seem to handle it much better and often do not have the same severity of side effects that we do. Your pet’s chemotherapy treatments will vary depending on the type of cancer and your pet’s response to treatment. Weekly administrations of the drug and checkups are typical.