It should also remind us to think about the furry members of our family.
Tumours on a dog
Yes, our pets get cancer too and because they have a shorter lifespan cancer can appear much more quickly than you expect in your dog or cat. Please take 4 minutes to remind yourself of 10 key signs of cancer in your pet.
If your dog or cat is showing any of these signs book a visit with us and we will check it out. With cancer early detection gives your pet the best chance for a successful outcome. Grandma was right when she said “A stitch in time saves nine!”
Cancer can take many forms and dogs in particular can develop many lumps in or under the skin. About 90% of these are benign meaning that they are typically harmless. But that still leaves 10% that are harmful or dangerous. How can you know which is which? That is where a tumour map comes in. Think of this as a Mole Map for your pet.
Cytology helps us to identify cells
We insert a very fine needle into the lump to collect a sample of cells. We put this on a glass slide, colour the cells with special dyes and examine the slide under the microscope at high power. Most of the time we can identify right away just what the lump is. If it is malignant – a cancer that will grow or spread quickly – we will discuss the best course of action with you. More than 50% of malignant skin and subcutaneous (under the skin) cancers can be cured by surgery. Early detection boosts that percentage.
Canine tumour map
Benign lumps still need action. We (usually) don’t have to remove them but we do need to chart them on a tumour map so we know which lumps have been tested. You are emailed a copy of this so you also know which lumps we have tested and identified. Now you can regularly check if new lumps develop and monitor if charted lumps are growing in an unexpected way. Keeping your pets healthy is a partnership between us.
Feline tumour map
If you find a lump on your pet or one of the 10 signs of cancer take action! Grandma also said “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” but when it comes to cancer she was wrong!
To encourage you to take action on any lumps you find in your dog or cat we are offering a Daffodil Day special. A half-price consultation fee whenever we do a tumour map, saving you $33. A consultation and tumour map for 1-2 lumps usually costs $148 (just $115 with the discount) and can be done with you present in a 40 minute appointment. Pets with multiple masses to be checked are usually admitted as day patients. The cost is dependent on the number of lumps to be tested. We can give you an estimate of the likely cost. Offer applies to all tumour map bookings made before September 1st.
To take advantage of this offer please:
- Check your pet all over for lumps
- Make a list of the location of any lumps
- Phone us to make an appointment, letting the receptionist know how many lumps there are.
- Mark each lump on your pet with a dab of bright nail polish before you bring your pet.
PS Please remember that watching and waiting to see how fast a lump grows can be a deadly strategy with cancer.
Recent Comments