Committed to providing high quality veterinary care
     throughout the entire life of your pet.

Care Pet Wellness Group™
3044 Highlands Blvd.
North Vancouver, BC V7R 2X3
(604) 985-0454

 Cancer in Pets

 The word cancer is perhaps one of the scariest in the English language, especially if it is a diagnosis that you or a loved one have received.
There are often many unknowns associated with both the disease and the treatment. The first step in alleviating some of the fear is to find out what we are dealing with.
 
Common concerns include:
  • Causes—how did my pet get cancer?
  • Cost and efficacy of treatment
  • Potential for pain and toxicity (side effects)
  • Time commitment and level of home care required
  • And, above all, the quality of life relative to extending it.
 So, what causes cancer and what can we do to prevent it in the first place?
  • Genetics: certain breeds are more prone to certain types of cancer or even just to developing cancer in general.
  • Nutrition: good nutrition is the basis for good health and a strong immune system which can nullify mutations as soon as they occur—before they cause growth of abnormal cells. Life time optimal weight management is one of the most important things we can do for our pets as well as for ourselves.
  • Environment: pollution, UV radiation, tobacco smoke, pesticides/herbicides and strong electromagnetic fields can contribute—often these are ‘dose dependent’
  • Chronic inflammation or infection: Bartonella and Feline Leukemia Virus for example may also play a role.
 When cancer is suspected, one of the first things that needs to be done is to confirm the diagnosis and find out what type and then the extent of it in the body. Different tumours have different biologic behaviors and degrees of aggressiveness. They can be benign or prone to invading surrounding tissue or tend to spread to other sites. To plan our attack, we need to know the enemy!
 
Comprehensive blood chemistry, complete blood count and urinalysis are essential. Needle aspirates help as a screening test .
Tissue biopsy must to be done, as well as typing if appropriate, to truly define the disease. Other diagnostic tests that are commonly required include: an ophthalmic exam, x-rays of the chest and abdomen, ultrasound of the abdomen, bone marrow aspirate and core, measurement of enlarged lymph nodes, and occasionally a CT scan.
 
Having gone through this staging process, we will then:
  1. have a realistic idea of prognosis,
  2. be able to formulate a treatment plan and
  3. know what parameters to monitor in order to reach complete remission.
 Treatment may involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation or a combination of any of these.
 
As we go through the diagnostic steps and proceed with treatment, our pledge to you and your pet will be compassionate care. We will not allow our patients to hurt, we will prevent vomiting and diarrhea and we will not let them waste away. Excellent medications are available to deal with pain and GI side effects. Dietary requirements will be met with a specifically designed diet, supplements as necessary and often the use of an implanted feeding tube or appetite stimulants.
 
As our goal is always quality of life first and then longevity, we will empower you to treat your pet at home as much as possible. Some cancers can be cured outright, many can be controlled for the long term and all can be palliated to prevent needless suffering. Let us work together to beat it as best we can.
 
Here are some interesting and informative links to help you on this journey