Veterinary Oncology

AVAILABLE AT: All Fetch Locations

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Dogs and cats can be just as vulnerable to cancer as humans. And as hard as it can be to receive such a diagnosis for your own pet, remission and a better quality of life are possible for them.

While cancer is the leading natural cause of death for older pets, it is also highly treatable, especially compared to conditions such as heart failure and kidney failure. Fetch proudly offers a veterinary oncology department of skilled specialists and support staff to diagnose and treat your pet’s cancer. With our knowledge, resources, and experience in managing various types of cancer in dogs and cats, our goal is to give your pet the best quality of life and best possible outcome following treatment.

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Our Medical Oncology Services

Fetch is equipped to provide chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and comprehensive pain management, all of which can be tailored to suit the needs of your pet.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy might be the sole treatment recommended for your pet’s cancer, or it can be combined with radiation therapy, surgery, and/or immunotherapy. Typically, we recommend chemotherapy in situations where tumors have spread to multiple areas, or the tumor or tumors are too large to be removed via surgery.

Chemotherapy is well tolerated by most of our patients, and can be used to treat the following conditions:

We can administer chemotherapy intravenously (through the veins) or orally. Additionally, we can give your pet medication to reduce any side effects they experience during chemotherapy treatment. Fortunately for many dogs and cats, the effects of chemotherapy are not as debilitating as they are in humans. In pets, we typically see side effects such as mild gastrointestinal upset, periods of lethargy and tiredness, and decreased blood cell counts.

As with any other treatment we provide here at Fetch, your pet’s chemotherapy regimen will be tailored to meet their unique needs.

Immunotherapy

Pain Management

Pain management is integral to a good quality of life for your pet in any situation, but especially when they are seeing us for cancer treatment. Fetch uses a variety of high-quality pain relief medications to make your pet’s treatment easier, and their life more comfortable. These include:

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
Steroids
Opioids
Neuromodulators
Neurotransmitters
Bisphosphonates

At Fetch, our goal is to administer medication based on your pet’s needs, with the goal of safely and effectively reducing their pain. In addition to medication, we can utilize acupuncture and/or massage for a better outcome.

Targeted Therapy

Targeted therapy focuses on a specific target within cancer cells, causing less harm to the body's normal cells. This treatment can be applied alone or alongside surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Among the available options for pets, the two primary groups are monoclonal antibodies and small molecule inhibitors like Palladia. Palladia is approved for treating dogs diagnosed with grade II or III recurrent cutaneous mast cell cancer and is also effective for various other tumors in both dogs and cats. Potential side effects include loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, low white blood cell counts, and protein loss through the kidneys.

Top 5 Cancers in Dogs

Cancer can affect dogs at any age, but older dogs tend to be more at risk. At Fetch, we know all too well how challenging it can be to accept a cancer diagnosis for your pet. That’s why we use the most advanced cancer diagnosing technology and treatment modalities to give your pet the best chance at a long, healthy, pain-free life.

Signs of cancer can vary from one dog to another, but we ask that you keep an eye out for these physical changes in your pet:

A strange lump or bump
Swollen lymph nodes
A wound that won’t heal
Lameness
Abnormal bleeding

The 5 most common types of cancer we see in dogs are:

Mast Cell Tumors

Melanoma

There are various types of melanomas that affect dogs and cats. Oral melanoma is a common and highly malignant tumor that can quickly spread to other parts of the body. Melanoma is staged based on the size of the tumor, with a stage 1 tumor being just under 1 inch in diameter; stage 2 being 2-4 cm in diameter; stage 3 being tumors 4 cm or larger; and stage 4 being any tumor with evidence of spread to other organs.

Lymphoma

Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)

Hemangiosarcoma

Top 4 Cancers in Cats

Like dogs, cats are able to live longer with the help of routine veterinary care. However, this also makes them more susceptible to cancer.

Signs of potential cancer in cats include:

Weight loss
Loss of appetite
Areas of abnormal and persistent swelling
Wounds/open sores that don’t heal
Bleeding from any orifice
Odor
Difficulty eating
Difficulty breathing
Difficulty eliminating

The top 4 most common types of cancer found in cats are:

Lymphoma

Mammary Cancer

Skin Cancer (Squamous Cell Carcinoma)

Fibrosarcoma

"Thanks for the wonderful care that you provided Ada. She is on the road to remission. Without you she would not be here."

Alan F. | Fetch Client