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 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:
- Lymphoma
- Hemangiosarcoma
- Soft tissue sarcoma
- Transitional cell carcinoma
- Mast cell tumor
- Osteosarcoma
- Melanoma
- Squamous cell carcinoma
- Mammary gland carcinoma
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.
Electrochemotherapy is an innovative treatment option that combines chemotherapy with the power of electrical pulses (electroporation) to target and treat certain types of cancer in pets. This advanced procedure involves injecting a chemotherapy drug either directly into the tumor or into the vein, followed by brief, controlled electric pulses. This helps the chemotherapy reach the cancer cells locally, improving its therapeutic effects. Electrochemotherapy offers a promising new approach for treating localized or superficial tumors in pets, providing a more precise, targeted solution with fewer side effects than traditional chemotherapy. It’s an exciting step forward in veterinary oncology and Fetch is proud to be one of the few hospitals able to offer this treatment.
As its name suggests, immunotherapy is a treatment that utilizes aspects of the immune system to fight cancer and other diseases. Some of the types of immunotherapies we can administer to our patients include cancer vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
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 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:
A form of skin cancer, mast cell tumors can be found in the connective tissue of the body, particularly the nerves and blood vessels within the skin, lungs, nose, and mouth.
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 is a cancer that targets the lymphoid tissues and lymphocytes (a type of blood cell), which means it can be found in the lymph nodes, liver, spleen, bone marrow, and GI tract.
Bone cancer can affect any dog breed, but large and extra-large dog breeds are most at risk for this type of cancer.
Hemangiosarcoma is a cancer with high malignancy that often affects the heart and spleen. It spreads quickly, and typically is not diagnosed until it has reached an advanced stage.
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:
Feline lymphoma affects the liver, spleen, GI tract, and kidneys. While cats can develop this cancer at any age, and being infected with feline leukemia can increase a cat’s risk.
Older cats can be at risk for mammary gland tumors, especially if they were not spayed before their first heat cycle. Male cats can develop this cancer as well, but this is extremely rare.
Skin cancer tumors can be found on areas with little to no hair, such as the inside of the ears, the eyelids, and the nose. Cats with light or unpigmented areas of skin are most at risk for skin cancer, and greater sun exposure can increase their risk.
Fibrosarcoma is an aggressive type of cancer that affects the fibrous, connective tissues of the body.
"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