Your initial visit begins with a thorough examination (nose to tail) and review of your pet’s medical history.  Our detail-oriented team will collect key information to help formulate a diagnostic plan appropriate for your pet’s cancer.

Recommendations for testing are guided based on a number of key factors.  If your pet has already been diagnosed with a specific cancer, specific testing may be recommended to aid in treatment planning.  If your pet’s type of cancer is not yet determined, this will also help tailor our team’s plan.  Diagnostics that are generally performed for initial screening include some of the following:

1. Complete blood count
2. Biochemical profile
3. Urinalysis
4. Thyroid function
5. Radiographs
6. Ultrasound
7. Fine needle aspiration and cytology
8. Tru-Cut and punch biopsies

In some cases, we may recommend advanced diagnostics for treatment planning.  These tests are chosen specifically for your pet based on the cancer type and your family’s treatment goals:

1. Flow cytometry and/or chemotherapy sensitivity testing with ImpriMed for canine lymphoma and leukemia patients
2. Immunohistochemistry stains for biopsy samples
3. Genetic profiling for targeted therapy with FidoCure
4. CT and/or MRI imaging for staging and surgical and/or radiation planning
5. MDR1 mutation testing for at risk breeds to help guide safe chemotherapy protocols
6. CADET BRAF urine testing for canine bladder tumors
7. Nu.Q Vet testing for early detection and/or monitoring of canine lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma
8. Prognostic panels for canine mast cell tumor and melanoma

Every treatment plan is tailor made to your family’s needs based on your pet’s cancer and your goals. Treatments that may be discussed include the following:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Targeted drug therapy
3. Radiation therapy (***consultation only for this treatment is provided; therapy is administered at a separate radiation facility)
4. Surgery
5. Tumor immunotherapy (Torigen autologous vaccines for multiple tumor type, Oncept melanoma therapy)

While our standard of care is traditional chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, we recognize the benefit that alternative therapy can have for many pets.  As a team, supplements and holistic therapies may be discussed and incorporated into your pet’s treatment plan if your family desires.  Nutritional counseling is also available remotely for families interested in providing home-cooked diets for cancer management.

We understand that the decision to treat your pet’s cancer is an important decision.  We are here to help your family make the most educated decisions for your pet.  If collectively we decide that treatment is not appropriate for your family, we offer the following services:

1. Palliative and hospice care
2. Pain management
3. Nutritional support
4. End of life counseling and grief support

Our focus throughout your experience with our oncology service is to provide the best quality of life for your pet.  We love when we can tell you that your pet’s cancer is in remission but hope is not lost if this cannot be achieved.  If your pet and your family are ready to fight cancer, so are we!