Does the diagnosis of a tumor in my pet automatically mean it has cancer?

No. Animals can develop both benign and malignant tumors; only malignant tumors are referred to as “cancer.” Benign tumors typically grow relatively slowly, do not metastasize, but can still cause problems depending on the affected organs or body parts. Complete surgical removal of a benign tumor usually results in a permanent cure. Malignant tumors often grow rapidly, can invade neighboring organs or tissues, and can metastasize.

Your veterinarian can refer your pet to us if there is a suspicion that your pet might have a tumor, or if it is already known that your pet has a tumor. We kindly ask that your veterinarian sends us all existing findings and examination results before your appointment. This allows us to better plan your appointment and avoid duplicate examinations.

What happens during a first visit to the Oncology Department at Frontier Small Animal Specialists?

First, we will ask you some questions about your pet’s symptoms. You will have the opportunity to ask questions and express your concerns. After that, a clinical examination of your pet will be conducted. Based on the findings, we will discuss with you which further examinations are appropriate.

Depending on the location of a tumor, the affected organs, and the existing symptoms, various examinations may be necessary.

After a clear tumor diagnosis has been made, various treatment options are considered, which can be used either individually or in combination. Further information can be found further down on this page.

Chemotherapy can be used as a sole treatment, for example, in lymphatic system tumors (lymphomas) or in inoperable bladder tumors.

After the surgical removal of aggressive malignant tumors with a high risk of metastasis, chemotherapy may be administered to delay the onset of metastases.

In some tumors, chemotherapy can be used to shrink an inoperable tumor enough to enable subsequent surgical removal.

For the pharmacological treatment of malignant tumors, various chemotherapy protocols are available. Whenever possible, we strive to conduct chemotherapy on an outpatient basis. The intervals between two chemotherapy sessions depend on the type of tumor and the chosen treatment protocol; some tumors require weekly treatments, while others may have 3-4 weeks between treatments.

Before starting chemotherapy, we will discuss in detail with you the exact procedure and the expected number of visits. Please plan for approximately one hour per chemotherapy session. Initially, your pet will undergo a clinical examination, visible or palpable tumors will be measured, and for tumors of internal organs, an ultrasound examination is often performed to assess the response to therapy. Subsequently, a venous catheter will be inserted into a leg vein, and a blood sample will be taken to ensure that your pet’s white blood cell count is high enough to proceed with chemotherapy. Before administering some medications, liver or kidney function may also be assessed via a blood sample. Most chemotherapy drugs are given intravenously, either as an injection into the venous catheter or as a short-term infusion over 15-20 minutes. Afterward, the venous catheter is removed, and you can take your pet home. Some chemotherapy drugs can also be administered in tablet form.

If the blood test shows that the white blood cell count is too low, chemotherapy may be postponed for 2-3 days. In this case, you will be given a new appointment for a repeat blood test; typically, the white blood cell count normalizes within 2-3 days, allowing chemotherapy to resume. In most cases, the dosage of the chemotherapy drug will then be slightly reduced to prevent further episodes of low white blood cells.

Approximately 80% of all dogs and cats receiving chemotherapy experience no or only very mild side effects. It is possible that pets may show reduced appetite or be slightly tired the day after chemotherapy. Some patients may experience transient vomiting or diarrhea, which are mostly mild and resolve on their own within 1-2 days without treatment. To minimize the risk of gastrointestinal symptoms, your pet receives a prophylactic medication against nausea and vomiting alongside chemotherapy. Additionally, we provide you with tablets for nausea and vomiting to administer at home during the first few days after chemotherapy, in case your pet eats poorly or vomits.

In about 20% of patients, side effects occur within the first few days after chemotherapy that can affect their quality of life, such as repeated vomiting, frequent diarrhea, or refusal to eat. In these cases, the treatment protocol is adjusted to prevent the recurrence of side effects.

Severe life-threatening side effects are very rare. Patients experiencing severe vomiting and/or diarrhea may require hospitalization for intravenous therapy; many of these patients can be stabilized within 12-24 hours and discharged home.

A rare but serious side effect is bone marrow suppression caused by chemotherapy, which can lower the white blood cell count and impair the immune system. This can lead to life-threatening infections requiring intensive care hospitalization. Approximately one in 2000 animals receiving chemotherapy may develop such severe side effects leading to mortality.

Please contact us if you are concerned that your pet may be experiencing chemotherapy side effects.

After chemotherapy, small amounts of the medications are present in all body fluids and excretions of your pet. Chemotherapy drugs are very effective at killing tumor cells but can also have unwanted effects on healthy cells. Studies in human medicine have shown that patients successfully treated with chemotherapy can develop tumors years later that may have been caused by the chemotherapy drugs. Additionally, chemotherapy drugs are known to pose risks to the development of unborn children in the womb. Following general hygiene measures poses no risk to you; please refer to the information sheet “Safety Instructions During Chemotherapy” for details. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about this. Since unborn and young children are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of chemotherapy drugs, we generally advise that dogs and cats undergoing chemotherapy should not have direct contact with pregnant or breastfeeding women or young children.

If your pet exhibits one or more of the following symptoms during chemotherapy, please contact us immediately:

• Severe vomiting (more than 4 times within 24 hours) or severe watery diarrhea
• Noticeable overall discomfort (e.g., lethargy, weakness, severe restlessness)
• Changes in breathing (constant panting, increased respiratory effort)