Oncology
A pet cancer diagnosis is tough; there’s no doubt about it. It’s an emotional journey that can bring many unknowns along with it.
The good news is that advances in veterinary oncology (aka cancer care for pets) offer more options than ever to help your pet live a happy, comfortable life. No matter what, at Brooklyn Veterinary Clinic, we are here to help your pet get the best possible animal cancer care.
What Is Veterinary Oncology?
Simply put, veterinary oncology is the branch of medicine that focuses on diagnosing and treating cancer in animals. Just like people, pets can get various kinds of cancer, whether it’s a lump under the skin, bone cancer, or even lymphoma.
We understand that the idea of cancer is scary, but we’re here to tell you that it’s not a hopeless situation. Veterinary oncology has come a long way and continues to evolve. Many types of cancer can be managed, treated, or even cured. We’ll walk you through the process, answer all your questions, and make sure your furry friend gets the pet cancer care they need.
Diagnosing Cancer in Pets
If we suspect your pet might have cancer, we’ll recommend a few tests to figure out what’s going on and confirm our diagnosis. Here’s what that might look like:
Biopsy: We take a small tissue sample to examine under a microscope.
Bloodwork: We’ll run tests to evaluate your pet’s overall health.
Imaging: This could be an X-ray, ultrasound, or sometimes more advanced scans like a CT or MRI to get a closer look at what’s happening inside your pet’s body.
Once we have all the information, we’ll sit down with you and talk about the results and next steps.
Cancer Treatment For Pets
Every cancer is different, so animal cancer treatment options vary depending on what kind of cancer your pet has and how advanced it is. Here are the most common ways we treat cancer in pets:
Surgery: If the cancer is in one spot (like a tumor), veterinary cancer surgery might be the best option to remove it.
Pet Chemotherapy: This uses medication to shrink or slow down cancer cells. The good news is that pets generally handle chemo better than people, with fewer side effects like nausea or hair loss.
Radiation Therapy: This treatment zaps cancer cells with high-energy rays, especially when surgery isn’t possible.
Immunotherapy: This is a newer treatment option that helps boost your pet’s immune system to fight off cancer.
We’ll talk with you about our recommended treatment option (or combination of treatments) to decide the best fit for your pet.
If your pet’s cancer can’t be treated, we’ll focus on palliative care, which means managing symptoms and keeping them comfortable for as long as possible. We’ll be with you every step of the way to adjust treatments, answer questions, and provide the support you and your pet need.
Pet Oncology in Castle Rock
Dog or cat cancer doesn’t have to mean the end of your pet’s quality of life. With the right care, many pets can continue to enjoy their favorite activities.
Getting a cancer diagnosis for your pet is hard, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Our team is here to offer pet cancer support throughout the entire process. If you’re looking for veterinary oncology services, call us at 303-688-9352. You can always count on our veterinary team to provide the best possible care for your fur baby.
Dr. Arthur, DVM
Oncology Specialist
Dr. Arthur fell in love with both Dr. Doolittle and James Herriot at a young age, and decided she would spend her life telling the amazing stories of animals far and wide. She obtained an undergraduate degree in English from Gettysburg College and just before graduation realized she wasn’t that great of a writer. She then obtained a second undergrad degree in Biology and Genetics from CSU with the intent of heading to veterinary school. Dr. Arthur attended Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine on the island of St Kitts, completed her clinical year at Texas A&M CVM, followed by a one year general internship at Kansas State Veterinary School where she discovered her love of Oncology. A Radiation Oncology Residency at NC CVM was then completed, followed by board certification.
At that time Dr. Arthur realized she was frustrated with not being able to treat her patients with everything that they needed, including chemotherapy. So, she then completed a Medical Oncology Residency at a private practice outside Phoenix, Arizona. The next six years were spent back in NC providing medical oncology services at a large private practice and working with the Duke Comparative Oncology department on several research projects. An opportunity to return to Colorado came up and Dr. Arthur and her family moved back to her favorite state five years ago. She has worked at two private practices in Lafayette and then in Castle Rock since then. While in Castle Rock, Dr. Arthur realized there was a significant need for Oncology south of Denver, with clients coming to see her from as far as New Mexico.
Dr. Arthur’s primary goal as a veterinary oncologist is to be able to provide an amazing quality of life to patients with cancer, while extending the time they have with their families. She encourages any owners faced with cancer in their pets to meet with an oncologist to get all their options outlined. She is fond of saying that there is almost never a case where nothing can be done, and there are always options, ranging from the most intense, to palliative/hospice care.
Dr. Arthur is lucky to have a very supportive husband, two goofy dogs (Lula Mae and Archie) and two handsome cats (Abner and Melvin), who rule the home.
