OncoLink Vet

Veterinary Oncology Information

The "cancer problem" that many people think of as a human phenomenon also affects the animals that live among us. Roughly half of U.S. households are home to companion animals. Like people, more and more companion animals (i.e. dogs and cats) are living longer due to better quality of life, preventive medical care, and vaccinations. And longer life means an increased chance of developing cancer. A study in the early 1980s indicated that nearly half of dogs that lived past age 10 were likely to die of cancer. Just as most of us can expect to have a personal experience with cancer, whether it affects our friends, relatives, or even ourselves, many of us are likely to encounter this disease through our pets as well.While veterinarians have been treating and studying cancer for some time, it was just a decade ago that veterinary oncology was approved as a board-certified ... read more on So Your Pet Has Cancer

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Articles addressing nutrition, quality of life, survivor stories, useful external websites and book reviews.

Quality of Life Issues: Cancer Treatment in the Companion Animal
The goal of cancer treatment in the veterinary patient is to prolong good quality of life for as long as possible. Quantity of life is meaningless without quality. Because quality issues are vague and changeable, it is easy to focus instead on...

Nutritional Requirements of Dogs and Cats with Cancer
Any illness, be it cancer or a benign disease, will have an impact on the patient's metabolism. During disease, there are many changes in the way the body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is important to realize that, for the most part,...

How the Social Worker can help owners of pets with cancer
The following might be some areas you might want to discuss with the social worker: You need information about hospital procedures. You are having an emotional reaction to your pet's illness, diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. You need...

Diagnosis & Treatment Options

Articles covering biopsy, and treatment options including chemotherapy, radiation and surgery.

Symptoms of Cancer in Pets and Common Terminology
Reviews the common symptoms of cancer in pets and includes a glossary of terminology used in cancer care.

Evaluating Lumps, Bumps, and Swellings in Veterinary Medicine
This article discusses fine needle aspiration and biopsy to evaluate a mass in a companion animal.

Surgery and Cancer Treatment
General discussion of surgery used to treat cancer in companion animals.

Common Veterinary Cancers

Introductions to several of the most common tumors in dogs and cats.

Bone Tumors in Dogs
Tumor types Most primary bone tumors in dogs are malignant, and approximately 85 % are osteosarcomas. Osteosarcomas are highly aggressive tumors, characterized by local invasion/destruction and distant metastasis (spread to other organs)....

Feline Mammary Tumors
Mammary cancer is the third most common cancer in cats. The average age of affected cats is 10-11 years of age. Almost 90% of feline mammary tumors are malignant, meaning they have the potential to spread to other portions of the body. The most...

Lymphosarcoma in Cats
Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in cats. It is a cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of blood cell) and lymphoid tissues. Lymphoid tissue is normally present in many places in the body including lymph nodes,...

Frequently Asked Questions about Cancer in Pets

Expert answers to common questions regarding caring for your pet with cancer.

Companion Animals and Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Do you have any statistics as to how many companion animals are diagnosed with cancer in their life time? What treatments are used? And, what is average cost of treatment? Thank you. Lili Duda, VMD, Editor of the OncoLink Veterinary Oncology Section Menu, responds:

Traveling with a Companion Animal with Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I have a question. My parents have a cat that has cancer of the liver. She is currently getting chemotherapy once every 3 weeks. They are going to be traveling around the country in an R.V. soon with the cat. They are trying to figure out how to make sure the cat receives her chemo treatments as needed.

Clinical Trials for Animals with Cancer
Question Are there clinical trials for pets with cancer? If so, how do you find them? Erika Krick, VMD, DACVIM Veterinary Medical Oncologist, University of Pennsylvania, responds: Answer There are multiple ongoing clinical trials for pets with cancer. You can go to the Veterinary Cancer Society website at vetcancersociety.org for more

Specific Tumor Types

In-depth discussions of numerous tumor types, including descriptions, epidemiology, physical findings and pathology.

Anal Sac Gland Tumors
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...

Apocrine Gland Tumors
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...

Basal Cell Tumor
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...