If your pet has been diagnosed with cancer, your family veterinarian may refer you to the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre's medical oncology service for a consultation with a veterinary medical oncologist. Or if you find a suspicious lump on your pet, you are welcome to call the WCVM Veterinary Medical Centre to book an appointment.
A medical oncologist has completed a residency in internal medicine with a specialization in cancer biology and treatment and has qualified as a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology).
Many cancer patients are referred first to a medical oncologist who performs the initial diagnostics and staging. In consultation with surgeons and radiation oncologists, the medical oncologist then recommends a treatment plan to the pet's owner.
Because of their specialized training, medical oncologists are able to both recommend the optimum chemotherapy treatment plan based on the most current research and to customize the protocol to individual patients if necessary.
Q. When would a pet's treatment plan include chemotherapy?
There are many indications for the use of chemotherapy in cancer treatment. These include:
The aim of chemotherapy in animals is different than that in humans: the primary goal is to achieve a good quality of life, and most animals show few to no side effects from treatment.
Dr. Valerie MacDonald
Associate Professor, Medical Oncology
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