Caller Janet wants to know what guidelines there are for catching dog cancer early. Caller Janet has found that in her breed, checking the anal glands every six months after the dog turns six years old can be really helpful for catching anal gland carcinomas early, and wonders if there…
Not sure what a vet tech does at the oncologist office? Listen in for the scoop, plus the story of a patient who changed one tech’s life. When your dog has cancer, there are a lot more people on her care team than just you and the oncologist. Veterinary technicians…
The Darwin’s Ark Cancer Project is a free, easy way that all of us can contribute to dog cancer research for better prevention, detection, and treatment. Have a dog with cancer and wish there was something you could do – right now – to help other dogs avoid this disease?…
The AKC Canine Health Foundation provides funding for a LOT of dog cancer research! Learn how this organization benefits our beloved dogs. The AKC Canine Health Foundation was founded in 1995 and is now an independent organization that gives grants to researchers studying health problems in dogs. Their website also…
Scientists have developed a vaccine to prevent dog cancer, and it is being tested out right now in Colorado, Wisconsin, and California. The Vaccination Against Canine Cancer Study (VACCS) is testing out a vaccine that will hopefully prevent dogs from getting eight of the most common cancers. As of June…
Bone cancer is a brutal disease, but ELIAS Animal Health has an immunotherapy protocol that is making headway. Immunotherapy is becoming increasingly important in human cancer treatment, and more and more companies are bringing this technology over to dogs! The ELIAS Cancer Immunotherapy (ECI) system is still experimental, but they…
Confused about dog cancer staging and grading, and not sure if the tests are worth the cost? Oncologist Brooke Britton explains the ins and outs. When your dog is diagnosed with cancer, suddenly you find yourself dropped into a world of medical jargon. Two terms you might hear are staging…
Until recently, most vets didn’t get any classes on euthanasia in vet school. Learn about the growing focus on hospice and end-of-life care for dogs. Lap of Love is a company dedicated to hospice care and home euthanasia for ill pets. Founder Dr. Dani McVety shares her insight on how…
Oncologist Brooke Britton breaks down what mitotic index means for your dog with cancer, and when having this number can be helpful. Mitotic index is one of the many complicated-sounding medical terms that may be thrown at you after your dog is diagnosed with cancer. At its most basic, mitotic…
Board-certified veterinary nutritionist Lindsey Bullen weighs in on all things dog nutrition, from general rules to follow to customized diets. What’s the difference between a vet and a vet nutritionist? Both have an in-depth knowledge of the diseases that can affect our dogs, but nutritionists focus on food as the…
Dr. Vargas shares her fascinating backstory and how she integrates both traditional cancer treatments and alternative therapies to help her patients. Finding something that works is the first priority of every dog lover who has a dog with cancer. Dr. Mitsie Vargas knows exactly how you feel, both as a…
Can lymphoma really be cured? This intense treatment is not the right fit for every dog, but can have a happy ending. Bone marrow transplants, also called total body radiation, are a fairly common procedure in human cancer treatment. Dogs can benefit from this procedure too! And the results are…
Born in a human drug research company, Tanovea (rabacfosadine) is now making history treating lymphoma in dogs. Lymphoma in dogs is very responsive to chemotherapy, but it also often relapses. Each time a dog comes out of remission, the cancer often gets harder to beat. Because of this, researchers are…
Mutations in your dog’s cancer genotype can point to treatments that will be more effective. Dr. Chon explains how SearchLight DNA works. SearchLight DNA is a test offered by the company Vidium Animal Health. This test sequences the genome of a dog’s tumor, and then compares that genotype to a…
Getting to an oncologist can be difficult. Now, you can consult with a veterinary oncologist online from the comfort of your regular vet’s office. While working in an oncology specialty center, Dr. Rachel Venable kept feeling like there were patients she couldn’t reach – or rather, that couldn’t get to…
Can your dog’s poop help diagnose and treat cancer? It turns out the answer is yes. Dr. Stephanie Culler and the rest of her team have been studying differences in the gut microbiome of healthy people and people with cancer to find biomarkers that can detect or predict cancer development.…
Is it okay to give your dog vitamin E during chemotherapy, or will it make the chemo not work? Dr. Nancy Reese explains. Caller Bevan has a dog with mast cell tumors, and his vet recommended giving vitamin E as part of their treatment plan. Vitamin E is an antioxidant,…
Cancer treatment and diagnosis is expensive… but why? And are there things you can do to help your dog on a budget? Veterinary oncologist Megan Duffy joins us to explain and ins and outs of dog cancer economics. A consult with an oncologist can run a couple hundred dollars… but…
Is there something that you can feed your puppy to prevent him from getting cancer in his life? Dr. Nancy Reese weighs in. Caller John just got a new Sheltie puppy, and he asks a question that many dog lovers have wondered about: can he protect his puppy from cancer…
Worried about paying for dog cancer treatment? Want access to the newest options? A clinical trial might be the right fit for you and your dog. Veterinary oncologist Craig Clifford loves clinical trials. Why? Because they give him early access to some of the newest treatments and therapies, and provide…
Listener Bonnie calls in to see if there are natural alternatives for her dog Bam Bam’s cancer medications. Dog lovers frequently wonder if there is a more natural option that could be used instead of pharmaceuticals to treat their dogs. The answer is… sometimes! Bam Bam has elevated calcium levels…
Your dog is going to see an oncologist. Learn how to prepare for the appointment so that you can get the most out of it. That first oncology consult can be overwhelming. Veterinary oncologist Megan Duffy says to expect the consult to take an hour or more – and most…
If you have leftover dog medications, don’t flush them! Look for a local drug takeback program instead. If your dog has died or just doesn’t need a particular medication any more, you might find yourself with some extra pills. Keeping them around the house isn’t ideal due to risks to…
Caller Shirley’s dog has Stage 3 oral melanoma and she is trying to find their next treatment option. Oral Melanoma is one of the more aggressive cancers in dogs. The gold standard of treatment for this cancer is radiation to shrink the tumor, followed by the canine melanoma vaccine to…