Bone Tumors
Bones are made of several different cell types, including cartilage, blood cells, fat, fibrous connective tissue and the calcium-depositing bone

Bone Tumors in Dogs
Tumor types Most primary bone tumors in dogs are malignant, and approximately 85 % are osteosarcomas. Osteosarcomas are highly aggressive

Cancer Terminology and Symptoms
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in companion animals. It has been estimated that almost half of the animals that live 10 years or longer

Feline Mammary Tumors
Mammary cancer is the third most common cancer in cats. The average age of affected cats is 10-11 years of age. Almost 90% of feline mammary

Lymphosarcoma in Cats
Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in cats. It is a cancer of the lymphocytes (a type of blood cell) and lymphoid

Lymphosarcoma in Dogs
Lymphosarcoma (lymphoma) is the third most common cancer diagnosed in dogs. It is a cancer of lymphocytes (a type of blood cell) and lymphoid

Making Treatment Decisions for Your Pet
The "cancer problem" that many people think of as a human phenomenon also affects the animals that live among us. Roughly half of U.S.

Tumors of the Nasal Passages in Dogs
Tumors of the nasal passages and sinuses account for 1-2% of all cancers in dogs. These tumors tend to grow into surrounding tissues, but have a low

Common questions regarding caring for your pet with cancer.

Companion Animals and Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," Do you have any statistics as to how many companion animals are diagnosed with cancer in their life time? What treatments are used? And, what is average cost of treatment?   Thank you. Lili Duda, VMD, Editor of the OncoLink Veterinary Oncology Section Menu, responds:

Traveling with a Companion Animal with Cancer
Dear OncoLink "Ask the Experts," I have a question. My parents have a cat that has cancer of the liver. She is currently getting chemotherapy once every 3 weeks. They are going to be traveling around the country in an R.V. soon with the cat. They are trying to figure out how to make sure the cat receives her chemo treatments as needed.

Clinical Trials for Animals with Cancer
Question Are there clinical trials for pets with cancer? If so, how do you find them? Erika Krick, VMD, DACVIM Veterinary Medical Oncologist, University of Pennsylvania, responds: Answer There are multiple ongoing clinical trials for pets with cancer. You can go to the Veterinary Cancer Society website at vetcancersociety.org for more

Veterinary oncology news from OncoLink and Reuters Cancer News.

Great Vets
Excerpted with permission from Philadelphia Magazine, February 2000, Volume 91, Number 2 A menagerie of extraordinary caregivers and researchers in theworld of fur, fins and feathers. What makes a vet great? The adoration of pets and...

Articles address biopsy for determining diagnosis of veterinary tumors.

Evaluating Lumps, Bumps, and Swellings in Veterinary Medicine
Any new mass (lump, bump, or swelling) that is found on a companion animal should be evaluated in a systematic fashion. With very few exceptions, the diagnosis of malignancy (that is, determination of benign versus malignant) CANNOT be done by...

The Biopsy
A biopsy is the surgical removal of a piece of tissue from your animal, and is recommended by your veterinarian in order to establish a tissue diagnosis. The diagnosis is determined by the examination of this tissue under a microscope by a...

Articles addressing nutrition, quality of life, survivor stories, useful external websites and book reviews.

How the Social Worker can help owners of pets with cancer
The following might be some areas you might want to discuss with the social worker: You need information about hospital procedures. You are having an emotional reaction to your pet's illness, diagnosis, treatment, or prognosis. You need...

Nutritional Requirements of Dogs and Cats with Cancer
Any illness, be it cancer or a benign disease, will have an impact on the patient's metabolism. During disease, there are many changes in the way the body uses proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. It is important to realize that, for the most part,...

OncoVet Survivor Story: The Mystery of Mast Cells
It was a lump, marble sized and firm to the touch, that changed my dog's life forever. Could be a bug bite, mused the vet. It might be a splinter trying to work its way out. It could be a cyst or a skin irritation. It could, of course, be a...

Articles covering general treatment with chemotherapy, radiation and surgery and treatment for specific tumors.

Chemotherapy in Veterinary Medicine
The diagnosis of cancer is stressful for pet owners, and the prospect of chemotherapy treatments can be equally difficult. However, the fear that animals will spend most of their last days sick from chemotherapy treatments is unwarranted. Knowing...

Limb Sparing in Dogs
"Limb sparing" (also known as "limb salvage") is a surgical procedure that provides an alternative to amputation in selected dogs being treated for bone tumors. Most dogs function very well with an amputation—dogs are not burdened by the...

Palliative Radiation Therapy
Palliative therapy can be thought of as "comfort care". It is treatment intended to maintain a good quality of life for patients in which long-term cancer control is not possible. Palliative radiation therapy can be used to control the...

In-depth discussions of numerous tumor types, including descriptions, epidemiology, physical findings and pathology.

Anal Sac Gland Tumors
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...

Apocrine Gland Tumors
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...

Basal Cell Tumor
Michael H. Goldschmidt, MSc, BVMS, MRCVS, Diplomate ACVP Professor and Head, Laboratory of Pathology and Toxicology Chief, Surgical Pathology Department of PathobiologyFrances S. Shofer, PhD, Adjunct Associate Professor of Epidemiology and...