Finding out that your furry family member has cancer can be frightening, confusing and overwhelming. If you’ve taken your pet to your family vet because you noticed unusual signs and symptoms, and they have diagnosed your pet with cancer, it is likely that they will refer you to a veterinary oncologist. At Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital (BBVSH), our board-certified oncologists can provide you with the information and guidance you need to help you and your pet through this journey.
Dr. Sarah Charney, one of our oncologists and co-owner of BBVSH, has been treating pets with cancer since 1999 and has also had her own pets with cancer.
She says, “What motivates me is that I get to help people with something that is incredibly difficult – hearing the diagnosis of cancer has a gut-wrenching emotional response. I’m able to help people deal with that emotional experience in a positive way, help them realize how blessed we are to have the time we have, and that we can buy more good time for those people and their pets, so that they can have more time to enjoy the relationship with their pet.”
Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions clients ask our oncologists about pet cancer and treatment at BBVSH.
What is cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases characterized by uncontrolled cell division leading to growth of abnormal tissue. It is believed that cancers arise from both genetic and environmental factors that lead to aberrant growth regulation of a stem cell population, or by the de-differentiation of more mature cell types.
The uncontrolled and often rapid proliferation of cells can lead to either a benign tumor or a malignant tumor (cancer). Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body or invade other tissues but can sometimes be life threatening as a result of their location (e.g. benign brain tumors). Malignant tumors have the potential to invade other organs, spread to distant locations (metastasize), and become life threatening.
Is cancer in pets common?
The fact that your pet developed cancer is not unusual. As your pet ages, its immune system weakens and cancer becomes a higher risk, just like in humans. You and your pet are not alone during these difficult times.
Cancer is a leading cause of death in pet cats and dogs; 50% of dogs and cats over the age of 10 years die of cancer. Dogs get cancer at about the same rate as humans, while cats have fewer cancers. There are over 100 types of cancers in dogs. Mast cell tumors are the most common in dogs. The most common cancers in cats are leukemia and lymphoma. Most times cancer is found in aging animals, but some breeds have higher rates of cancer than others.
How is cancer treated in pets?
As with cancer in humans, cancer in pets may be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or a combination thereof. There are many types of cancer and the treatment approach will depend on the type of cancer and whether the cancer has spread.
The oncologist will review the treatment options with you and help you decide on the best treatment option for your pet and your family circumstances.
What is a veterinary oncologist?
In addition to completing an undergraduate university degree and four years of veterinary school, veterinary oncologists complete an additional 3-5 years of training in a rotating internship and a residency in the specialized field of oncology, conduct a research project and have the results accepted in a peer-reviewed journal, as well as pass two rigorous examinations to achieve board-certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Why should I seek the care of a board-certified veterinary oncologist?
A board-certified oncologist specializes in the treatment of pets with cancer using therapies such as chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Veterinary oncologists have been specially trained to tailor cancer treatment plans for individual pets. In addition, veterinary oncologists may have access to treatments (such as melanoma vaccine or Tanovea) that are not available veterinarians who are not board-certified.
At BBVSH our oncologists collaborate with our team of complementing specialists including surgeons and diagnostic imaging specialists and have easy access to consult with the team of pathologists at True North Veterinary Diagnostics.
What is chemotherapy for pets? Is it the same as for humans?
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with chemical agents (anti-cancer drugs) designed to kill or slow the growth of cancers. Many of the drugs used to treat cancer are derived from natural substances such as plants, trees, or even bacteria and are often the same drugs used in people.
Fortunately, pets do not have the same experience with chemotherapy as humans. Often, the chemotherapy goal with humans is to cure the cancer or extend the patient’s life as much as possible.
For pets, who have shorter lifespans, chemotherapy drugs do not cure cancer but rather control the cancer by killing cells and slowing the progression of the disease. The primary goal is to give them the best quality of life and the secondary goal is to extend their life. Pets should look and feel good during treatment. If the owner reports that the pet is not feeling well, the chemotherapy protocol is adjusted by modifying the dose of drugs, delaying treatment for a little bit, or changing to a different drug.
What are the side effects of chemotherapy in pets?
Potential side effects of chemotherapy in pets include:
- Gastrointestinal upset – if patients have gastrointestinal upset, they are given medications for nausea and diarrhea, and these are adjusted as needed.
- Thinning of hair coat – dogs that shed do not lose their hair. Dogs that have continuously growing hair will have thinning of their hair coat. It’s a cosmetic thing, and the pets don’t usually seem to mind.
- Low white blood cells – which may put the pet at risk of getting an infection. Regular bloodwork helps monitor any blood cell abnormalities.
While chemotherapy may not be side-effect free, carefully monitoring, preventing, and managing those side effects prevent the chemo from negatively affecting the pet’s quality of life. Multiple clinical studies that surveyed owners of pets on chemotherapy reported that 80-90% of these owners would choose chemo for their pets again.
Is chemotherapy the only treatment option for a pet with cancer?
Cancer is not one single disease – there are many, many different types. Some cancers respond well to chemotherapy, but some don’t. Depending on your pet’s cancer type, where it is, and other factors, other treatment options (I.e., surgery or radiation therapy) may be better.
For pet owners not interested in aggressive treatment, there are palliative care and medical management options. The goal in these cases is to treat clinical signs and maximize quality of life. Ultimately, there are many different options that can be discussed and individualized based on your pet’s cancer, your pet in general, and your goals.
Will my pet’s daily activities have to change during cancer treatment?
Pets continue to live normal active lives during therapy. There are no restrictions on their activities. We have successfully treated police dogs, agility dogs, and assistance dogs who all have continued to perform at a high level throughout their treatment. With this in mind, you should expect your dog to continue to do all his normal activities while undergoing chemotherapy.
Is cancer treatment expensive?
While it is true that chemotherapy isn’t inexpensive, the cost of chemotherapy can vary significantly depending on the protocol that is used. Additionally, financing options or pet insurance may be available to help owners fund their pet’s chemotherapy. Unless an owner has severe financial restrictions that completely remove chemotherapy as an option, an oncology consultation is always a good first step. The oncologist can work with the client to present appropriate treatment options, allowing the client to make an educated decision on the best approach for their individual pet and their financial situation.
Not every client will elect to pursue chemotherapy… and that’s okay! Our job is to present clients with the information they need to make an informed decision.
Does a cancer diagnosis mean that I should euthanize my pet to prevent suffering?
No one wants your pet to suffer, neither you nor your veterinary team, and your pet can still have a good quality of life after a cancer diagnosis. Your veterinary team will help educate you on your pet’s cancer, treatment options, what to expect, and a prognosis, as well as quality of life issues.
It can be very emotional to think about your pet’s death, but we recommend considering when it will be time to choose euthanasia before you’re ready to say goodbye. That way, you can make clearer, more rational decisions regarding your pet’s quality of life. We recommend using a tool like these:
Five Favorite Things Rule
Make a list of your pet’s five favorite things or pastimes.
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- Example: My cat always lies on this spot in the windowsill. My other cats don’t do that, but I know it’s her favorite spot.
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- Example: My dog’s favorite toy is his moose stuffy – he plays with it the most!
When you notice your pet isn’t doing at least three of the five things on your list, it may be time to consider euthanasia. Why three out of five? If we wait until they’re not doing anything on the list, it’s likely that our pet may be experiencing significant suffering.
Quality of Life Scale
Use a Quality of Life Scale to assign your pet a number based on a list of categories such as eating, comfort, pain, and so on. Be honest. Calculate the sum and review the recommendations for that number.
It’s best to do these scales regularly because most cancers don’t cause a consistent and steady decline. That way, you can differentiate between the first bad day after a great week or a bad day at the bottom of a weeklong steady decline.
Know that there’s never a perfect time to say goodbye to your pet. Some clients may think in hindsight that they said goodbye too soon. But just as many (if not more) think they waited too long. If your pet has a disease that is eventually going to make them feel even worse, consider that saying goodbye with their first bad day can be an incredibly loving and selfless thing to do. It’s a way of saying “I will never let you feel any worse than you feel right now.” It’s never wrong to say goodbye.
When you say goodbye on your own terms, you can let your pet enjoy the best day. For Dr. Charney, one of her favorite memories from her dog’s last day was letting her eat pork tenderloin! Dr. Charney was glad her dog felt well enough to eat and enjoy a goodbye meal before saying goodbye.
Final thoughts on Cancer and Cancer Therapy in Pets
If you have questions or concerns about your pet’s lump or bump, cancer, treatment options, or euthanasia, contact your family veterinarian. For those interested in visiting a board-certified veterinary oncologist, ask your family veterinarian for a referral to our oncology service.
If you are concerned about your pet’s condition and cannot wait for an appointment, you can also contact us directly. Without examining a pet in-person, our oncologists cannot give advice directly to you, but they are able to consult with your family veterinarian.
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About Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital
Boundary Bay Veterinary Specialty Hospital is a family owned, veterinary specialty and 24/7 emergency and critical care hospital in Surrey, BC, serving the Vancouver metro area and greater British Columbia.
As a certified VECCS Level I facility and a Level II VetCOT Trauma Centre, we are capable of handling even the most critical, life-threatening emergencies and trauma, with board-certified specialists on staff and on-call to handle any medical or surgical issue.
We offer specialty services in surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, neurology, oncology, dentistry, diagnostic imaging, and animal rehabilitation (dog and cat physiotherapy).