Treating Your Pet's Cancer

Treating Your Pet's Cancer

Cancer is one of the most common diseases you can encounter as a pet owner. Upon hearing this word, many people have feelings of fear and hopelessness when it comes to treatment. We hope this website encourages you to have more confidence in what can be accomplished by today's veterinary medicine in regard to cancer treatment for pets.

A great part of the discouragement about treating an animal's cancer is the fear of the unknown, but veterinarians are working to change that through education.

The truth is, pets today have a much better chance of being successfully treated for cancers than they used to, thanks to advances in medicine and strong treatment protocols. Here at the Veterinary Outpatient Treatment Center, your animal hospital in Medford, you can count on us for top-notch cancer treatment.

Understanding Cancer in Pets

To understand how a veterinarian might arrive at a cancer diagnosis, you first have to understand why we might suspect cancer in the first place.

Upon physical examination, we may inform you of the presence of Neoplasia, or the abnormal growth of cells or tissues often called a "tumor." Some of these are benign, or non-cancerous, while others are malignant and can grow at various rates. In advanced stages, they can spread to other parts of the body.

A veterinarian will use the word "tumor" or "mass" to describe the findings of a physical exam and the appearance of a neoplasm. Only malignant neoplasms are cancers and can be diagnosed through cytology (examining cells under a microscope) following a biopsy, or tissue sample. Additional cytology and biopsies may be needed to determine if the cancer has spread.

Cancer Treatment for Pets

Treatment for cancer in pets often includes a combination of therapies, though each case is different. Our veterinarian may recommend surgery for one patient, and chemotherapy and radiation for another. We may also recommend dietary changes and pain management to help pets better respond to treatment.

Rest assured, we will discuss the best option(s) for your pet along with the risks of treatment and any side effects to be expected.

Your pet may also be eligible for clinical trials to determine if a new test or treatment works and is safe. Clinical trials not only help your pet but can also help others with the disease.

The Success Rate of Cancer Treatment

Because each case is different, there is no general rule on the success rate of cancer treatment in pets. Each animal's response to therapy may vary, but depending on the type of cancer, treatment can be successful for many pets.

If you have questions, call Veterinary Outpatient Treatment Center in Medford at 631-730-6929.

Location

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Christmas Eve-9:30-12:00 / Christmas Day-CLOSED December 26-CLOSED / July 5, 2021-CLOSED

Medford Office

Monday:

9:30 am-2:00 pm

No patients

Tuesday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-2:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed