Category Archives: Oncology

Caring Canines: How Pets are Helping Cancer Patients

A woman in a hospital with a therapy dog
November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month and, for the rest of the month, my blogposts will focus on cancer and cancer treatment in pets. Last week, I provided a cancer care roadmap for pet owners following the diagnosis of cancer in their favorite fur person. Today, I am taking a bit of a different approach to cancer and pets. I am looking at some recent studies of how important pets are to people with cancer.

How to Find Cancer Care for Your Pet

A Radiation Oncology procedure
November is National Pet Cancer Awareness Month and, for the rest of the month, my blogposts will focus on cancer and cancer treatment in pets. Last week, I defined the various categories of chemotherapy drugs veterinary oncologists use to treat dogs and cats with cancer. Today, I provide a roadmap for pet owners following a diagnosis of cancer in their favorite fur person.

Pet Cancer Awareness Month 2023: All About Chemotherapy Drugs

Veterinary Technicians working in AMC's Cancer Institute
When I see a new client in the clinic to discuss chemotherapy for their favorite fur-person, the conversation can be long and stressful. We need to cover treatment options, treatment schedule, outcomes, side effects and quality of life. I recently had this conversation with a new client, who stopped me and asked, “What exactly are chemotherapy drugs?” It’s a fair question but not one I’ve had to answer before, surprisingly. Keep reading for my answer.

Merkel Cell Tumors: What can Jimmy Buffett’s Cancer Tell Us About our Pets

Veterinarians examining a cat
The soundtrack of my college years went silent with Jimmy Buffett’s passing over Labor Day weekend. The cause of death was widely reported as a rare form of skin cancer called Merkel cell carcinoma. Animals also suffer from this rare form of cancer, so today I’ll discuss Merkel cell tumors in animals, in honor of Jimmy Buffett.