What are the most common types of cancers in dogs? How many dogs typically get cancer?
My local veterinarian said that my dog/cat has cancer (thinks they have cancer). Now what?
When should I get a second opinion?
What if there are no oncologists in my area/state/country?
Answer: Oncology is a growing specialty area of veterinary care and there are private practices and veterinary schools offering this service throughout most areas of the USA. In some areas this may involve considerable distances to travel to seek out specialty care. Your veterinarian can call specialists at these schools and practices on your behalf to ask about what the best treatment option would be for your pet with cancer. Depending on the nature of the treatment, some therapy may be able to be offered in your local practice or your pet may need to travel for a specific treatment. It is worth asking whether your pet could stay at a center throughout its therapy e.g some radiation clinics will offer boarding facilities for pets during a course of radiotherapy.
VCS has a searchable database for member professionals that you may access. It includes our members in the US as well as Canada and other countries across the world. We recommend that you only put in your state or country to get a list of professionals in your state or country and then determine how far you are willing to travel for a consult or potential treatment. You will want to look for members whose membership type says PROFESSIONAL MEMBER. If you are in Europe, you may email the European Society of Veterinary Oncology (ESVONC) at office@esvonc.org. They will have many more contacts for you in European countries. Japan also has a veterinary cancer society.
How do I find a reputable oncologist in my area? How do I know if they are really qualified? How important is it to consult a “board certified” oncologist?
If I call an oncologist on the phone about my pet, will they talk to me or do I have to bring the pet in?
What should I bring with me to that first appointment with my oncologist?
What can I expect at a first appointment with an oncologist? What tests might they want to do?
Will the veterinary oncologist communicate with my local veterinarian? Will they send reports to my veterinarian?
What should I ask the oncologist when I see him/her?
What resources exist that might help me further understand my pet’s illness?
Answer: The best resource for understanding your pet’s illness is your oncologist. He or she has access to the newest and most innovative information about the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer in animals. He or she also belongs to a large professional network of colleagues whose expertise is shared through regular scientific meetings and an active list-serve.
There are many websites and books available that share information and experiences relating to cancer in dogs and cats. Resources authored by board certified veterinary oncologists usually contain the most reliable information. For instance, the Veterinary Society of Surgical Oncology website contains information specific to many canine and feline cancers.
Because research is ongoing, it is not possible to keep this information up to date at all times and the information may not apply to your pet’s situation. Treatment options and estimates of prognosis often vary significantly between patients depending on cancer subtype, the presence of cancer spread, and treatment option chosen. Please always consult with your oncologist about whether this information applies to your pet’s situation or whether newer information is available.
What does an oncologist do that my own local vet can’t do?
Are there resources available to help me pay for treatment?
What can I expect to pay for an oncology consult? What are typical costs for chemotherapy or other treatment?
When is it too late to get insurance and will it cover cancer treatment?
My doctor feels that my pet should take a drug that we can’t get where I am. How do I find/get it?
Are there herbal or holistic remedies for pets who have cancer? What about acupuncture? Are there any studies about these methods in dealing with pets?
Answer: (Referrence: Robinson NG. Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Cancer: The Good, the Bad, and the Dangerous. In Small Animal Clinical Oncology, 5th ed. Editors: Withrow, Vail, Page. Elsevier, 2013.)
There are many types of “herbal or holistic” approaches to cancer. Pet owners seek out various integrative therapies to enhance their pet’s quality of life. It is very important to seek out Veterinarians who are certified in those modalities (Chinese herbal medicine, Homeopathy, Acupuncture) and that Veterinarian must work closely with the pet’s medical oncologist and primary Veterinarian for optimal results and most important “to do no harm.” Many animals have benefitted from an integrative approach of alternative and complementary medicine along with conventional treatment. Most studies on use of various modalities are from the human literature (ex. See NIH website).
Acupuncture has many indications as adjunctive therapy for treatment of cancer. It is very important to be referred to a boarded veterinary oncologist if possible who will perform appropriate diagnostics, make a diagnosis, and give recommendations for treatment options and provide prognosis of your pet. Acupuncture can be used for multiple aspects of cancer care including pain management, appetite stimulation, control of nausea and a variety of other symptoms. Certified Veterinary Acupuncturists can be found in your area through the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society (IVAS) or the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture. The Chi Institute and IVAS are sources for Veterinarians certified in Veterinary Herbal Medicine.
It is important to let your veterinarian know of all supplements your pet is taking. They must be evaluated to avoid possible serious reactions with drugs that you pet is currently taking!
What are the most common types of cancer in pets?
Are there environmental factors that contribute to cancer in dogs/cats?
The 2011 Report on Carcinogens released by the Secretary of the United States department of Health and Human services listed 240 potential carcinogens. Although there is no report for companion animals, it’s reasonable to assume an overlap in pets.
Environment tobacco smoke ETS (second hand smoke) has been studied in dogs and cats. There is mounting evidence suggesting that ETS increases risk of lymphoma in dogs and cats as well as oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats.
Pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides: Results on studies on herbicide 2,4- dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and incidence of lymphoma in dogs have been mixed. Hayes et al indicated a relationship between disease incidence of lymphoma and number of lawn applications of 2,4-D per year (Environ Res 70:119, 1995). A study in Italy found that living in industrial areas and owner use of chemicals (paints and solvents) was significantly and independently associated with lymphoma (J Vet Intern Med 15:190, 2001). An increased risk of transitional cell carcinoma TCC of the urinary bladder was found in dogs treated with topical insecticides with enhanced risk in overweight dogs (J Toxical Environ Health 28:407, 1989). Bertone et al reported an increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma in cats wearing flea collars (J Vet Intern Med 17:557, 2003). In studies of Scottish terriers, exposure to lawn and garden products containing phenoxy herbicides is associated with increased risk of TCC (J Am Vet Med Asso, 224:1290, 2004). It’s recommended to limit exposure of pets to phenoxy herbicides.
Physical factors:
Sunlight: Light skin pigmentation and chronic sun exposure are associated with development of squamous cell carcinoma SCC on the face, ears, and nose of white or partial white cats. This may also be the case in some skin SCC in dogs. Pets are at greatest risk of exposure to ultraviolet light at midday and should be protected against sun exposure at this time especially if they are light pigmented breed.
Magnetic fields: Extremely low frequency (<60 Hz) magnetic fields are generated by household appliances, industrial machinery, and electric power lines. Potential link between chronic exposure and development of human childhood cancers has been studied extensively. In one study, the risk of development of lymphoma in dogs was found to be highest in dogs from homes with highest exposure to magnetic fields. Risk was related to both duration and intensity of exposure and was highest in dogs spending more than 25% of the day outdoors. The National Research Council reviewed over 500 studies on cancer risk and exposure to electromagnetic fields in humans and concluded that although there is a weak association between childhood leukemia and exposure to electromagnetic fields, there is no clear evidence of true threat to human health. NRC reported that other factors, including air quality and proximity to high traffic density are more likely to cause cancer than low frequency magnetic fields.
Asbestos: Asbestos exposure is a known risk factor for development of mesothelioma in people and a similar association has been found in dogs whose owners have an asbestos-related hobby or occupation. One study revealed more asbestos bodies were found in dogs with mesothelioma than in control dogs. Pericardial mesothelioma has also been reported in 5 Golden Retrievers unrelated to asbestos exposure.
Do most dogs and cats with cancer end up having surgery?
Are there any statistics available regarding numbers of dogs/cats that are diagnosed with cancer each year?
Answer: It is difficult to determine the exact incidence of cancer in dogs and cats because not all pets obtain medical care or even a definitive diagnosis for cancer. It is estimated, however, that almost 50% of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer and approximately 1 in 4 dogs will, at some stage in their life, develop cancer. Generally, there is more information known about cancer in purebred dogs and less information about cancer incidence cats. Below are some articles on this topic.
Review article written in 2013 summarizing the literature on cancer incidence in dogs with a focus on breed specific cancer diagnoses. http://www.hindawi.com/isrn/vs/2013/941275/
Review article written in 1996 summarizing the literature on cancer incidence in dogs. http://epirev.oxfordjournals.org/content/20/2/204.long
Abstract of a publication from 2008 describing cancer incidence in dogs based on a tumor registry in Italy. Data is likely to be different in the US due to higher spay rates, which reduces mammary cancer risk significantly. Access to the full text of the article requires subscription to the Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18564221
Are there breeds of dogs/cats that are more likely to get cancer?
How can I help my pet through cancer related therapy?
How do dogs/cats typically respond to treatment? What should I expect? Will they react like humans do to chemotherapy treatments?
How do I find out if clinical trials that may be available? Will my doctor know of the trials? Is there a fee to participate or is it free?
Answer: Veterinary Colleges that have an oncology department, as well as a growing number of private referral practices, are involved in some of the most up to date research into cancer in companion animals through their clinical trial programs. Your local veterinarian will know the veterinary colleges and practices in your area and details of clinical trials are usually listed on the university or practice website. There should be a summary of the range of clinical trials ongoing with details about what each involves, the criteria that may make your pet eligible to take part in a particular study and what your responsibilities and commitments (including financially) would be.
The Comparative Oncology Trials Consortium is another very useful resource managed by the National Institute of Health-National Cancer Institute’s Comparative Oncology Program. They have a dedicated website describing their work in supporting clinical trials in over 20 veterinary colleges nationwide into new therapies for canine and human cancer.
VCS also has a searchable clinical trials database that you can access.
What organizations exist that actually fund research in veterinary oncology? Who can I donate to that will fund research?
Answer: There are many organizations that fund research in veterinary oncology. The largest of these are listed below and all accept donations from the public. Additionally, most if not all of the US veterinary schools with oncology programs fund veterinary cancer research. Donations directly to these programs can usually be made by visiting the websites of the individual cancer centers or oncology clinics or by contacting the school’s development officer.
- ACVIM Foundation http://acvimfoundation.org/
- Morris Animal Foundation http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org
- AKC Canine Health Foundation https://www.akcchf.org/
- EveryCat Health Foundation https://everycat.org/