The news that your dog or cat has cancer is one of the most upsetting things a pet owner can hear. A cancer diagnosis in the past meant putting the animal to sleep or euthanizing it. A veterinary oncologist, on the other hand, can help a pet owner lessen or even eliminate the animal’s pain and suffering while also extending the animal’s survival time. Furthermore, in many cases, the veterinary oncologist can completely treat and cure the cancer in the pet. As a result, all pet owners should be aware of what a veterinary oncologist does.
Cancer claims the lives of nearly half of all dogs over the age of ten. This is a frighteningly high rate. Current research on pet cancers, knowledge of the role of the veterinary oncologist, and knowledge of the available options, on the other hand, can be quite encouraging for those who receive such a diagnosis for their four-legged companion.
Veterinary oncology is a specialized field of medicine. As a result, compared to a general practice veterinarian, those who choose to pursue a career as a veterinary oncologist receive several additional years of training. She will, however, be up to date on the latest cancer research, as well as the best treatments available, and she will annually examine and treat hundreds of animals who have been diagnosed with cancer.
Examining pets that have either been previously diagnosed with cancer or that owners or the animals’ general practice veterinarians suspect may have cancer is one of the responsibilities of a veterinary oncologist. She will frequently go over tests that have already been completed or recommend additional tests for the animal. She can either take over the care of a cancer-stricken pet or assist a general practice veterinarian sharing knowledge, techniques, or even participating in surgeries and chemotherapy as needed, depending on the needs of the pet owner.
Many of the same technologies that are used to treat cancer in humans are also used to treat cancer in animals. Chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation therapy, and photodynamic therapy, for example, are all possible treatments for cancer in animals. Each method has advantages and disadvantages for a pet, and an experienced oncologist should be able to write a report and explain each method in detail. She should also be able to document the best treatment for the animal as well as the least expensive treatment – for owners who cannot afford expensive procedures.
A veterinary oncologist’s research can also benefit people. For example, osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that is common in dogs, but only a small percentage of people – between the ages of 10 and 20 – develop it. People with osteosarcoma were previously forced to amputate the affected limb; however, thanks to research conducted teams of veterinary oncologists, this is no longer the case.