Menu
  • Services
    • Dog Training
    • Euthanasia
    • Grooming
    • Kennels/Boarding
    • Microchipping
    • Preventative Care
      • Bloodwork
      • Dental
      • Parasite Prevention
      • Spaying or Neutering Your Pet
      • Vaccines
      • Wellness Care/Checkups
    • Radiology
    • Surgery
  • Patient Center
    • Print Forms
    • Payment Options
    • Pet Wellness Program
    • Tour Pet Hospital
  • About Us
    • AAHA Accredited Practice
    • Meet the Team
    • Community Involvement
    • Testimonials
  • Resources
    • Blog
  • Contact
    • Appointment Request
  • Pet Portal
  • Online Store
Healthy Pet Hospital
Healthy Pet Hospital
  • Home >
  • Articles >
  • Video Newsroom >
  • Health Topics >
  • Battling Canine Cancer

Battling Canine Cancer

  • Created in Video Newsroom, Health Topics
Image of fluffy dog panting.

Every day, Cindy Fleischner lines up her crew of cuddly canines for breakfast. As the four other dogs eat, Cindy pulls Katy, her 12 year old Shepherd mix aside for a peanut butter treat. Katy is battling lymphoma and this treat hides her daily dose of chemotherapy drugs. Katy is not alone in this war. Canine cancer is one of the leading causes of dog deaths. Of the more than 100 million dogs in North America, about two in four will develop cancer and one in four will die from some form of this dreaded disease. In some purebred dogs, the percentages could be even higher.

Adopted from the Denver Dumb Friends League, Katy was no stranger to hospitals. As a licensed Therapy Dog, she spent many hours at a local hospital, bringing comfort and joy to patients.However, Fleishner began to notice that Katy, a normally sweet dog, became distracted and that something was not right. A physical examination found a growing mass on Katy's throat. Further testing and surgery would determine that the lump was thyroid cancer.

Fleishner found that the whole process of determining the best course of action was confusing. After surgery, Katy underwent radiation therapy for the thyroid tumor at Colorado State University. She was able to win this battle, but her war against cancer wasn't over yet. Katy was again diagnosed, this time with a lymphoma, requiring more treatments and time with a cancer specialist. Eventually, these treatments saved her life. Fleishner knows she's lucky. In her metropolitan area, she had the choice of visiting a veterinary teaching hospital or a specialty center with a veterinary oncologist. Unfortunately, not all owners are as lucky. Sadly, cancer will claim almost 50 percent of dogs over 10 years old, leaving their owners bewildered and unsure of what to do. And of the almost 9,000 veterinary specialists, less than 200 specialize in veterinary oncology. A new collaboration, however, may help provide some answers - and options.

The Morris Animal Foundation, www.morrisanimalfoundation.org has launched the Canine Cancer Campaign in an attempt to stop cancer in our pets with a goal to cure this deadly disease within the next 10 to 20 years. Another immediate priority of the foundation is collaborating with cancer specialists ensuring pet owners have access to treatment options and advice. A new service through Oncura Partners, a well-known oncology specialist group is paving the way for owners to receive a free consultation through their veterinarian. Additionally, the MAF Canine Cancer Campaign brings together research scientists, industry leaders and 44 million dog-owning households throughout the nation in an effort to eradicate canine cancer.

Already, multiple scientific endeavors are working towards this end. A canine cancer tissue bank has been created due to a generous $1.1 million donation from Pfizer Animal Health. The Golden Retriever Foundation has promised $500,000 towards research for early detection. This will be money well spent since approximately 60% of Golden Retrievers die from cancer. Fleishner happily reports Katy is doing well with her lymphoma treatments, and her sweet, good-natured personality has returned.

Beyond helping our dogs with new innovative therapies, the Canine Cancer Campaign offers benefits for us as well. Many breakthroughs happening in this research will help fuel further prevention, treatment and even cures for human cancers. Remember, there is hope for dogs and their owners - despite a cancer diagnosis. Like Katy, pets can tolerate cancer treatments. Your veterinarian will work with you, local specialists and national resources to ensure your pet receives the best outcome possible. To learn more about the Canine Cancer Campaign, visit www.curecaninecancer.org.

Our Location

Location

Find us on the map

Office Hours

Our Regular Schedule

Healthy Pet Hospital

Monday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Tuesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Thursday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

9:00 am-6:00 pm

Saturday:

9:00 am-5:00 pm

Sunday:

Closed

Featured Articles
  • February Newsletter: Weird Things Your Cat Does and What They Mean

    Looking for an explanation for your cat's strange behaviors? ...

    Read More
  • February Newsletter: Where to Start When Training Your Puppy

    Is your puppy ready to be trained? ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: National Bird Day

    Got any plans for National Bird Day? ...

    Read More
  • January Newsletter: Don't Forget to Vaccinate Your Pets this Year

    Is pet vaccinated? ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Cold Weather Tips for Your Pets

    Are your pets ready for winter weather? ...

    Read More
  • December Newsletter: Pets and the Holidays: What to Know before Feeding Your Pet Table Scraps

    Could holiday table scraps cause health woes for your pets? ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: How arthritis can affect your pet

    Could your pet have arthritis? ...

    Read More
  • November Newsletter: National animal shelter appreciation week

    Looking for ways to support your local animal shelter? ...

    Read More
  • Three Reasons to Always Microchip Your Pets

    Wondering if microchipping is right for your pet? ...

    Read More
  • Bad Breath Can Indicate Your Pet Needs Dental Care

    Could bad breath mean that your pet has a dental issue? ...

    Read More

Newsletter Signup

Sign up for more articles

Testimonials

Testimonials

  • "The most important thing, of course, is the care my dog received, and by that measure I have nothing to complain about. However, every time I've been to Pet Hospital, I've had to wait long periods of time--a long time to drop my dog off, and a long time to pick him up. In both cases, it was over a half-hour, and given that I had to notify my job twice while I was waiting that I would be later than anticipated, that is much too long."
    Peter W.
  • "Everyone is very friendly and supportive. A calm climate for my anxious little guy!"
    Suzanne V.
  • "Always a positive experience at Pet Hospital. The office staff loves seeing the dogs, and the dogs are actually excited to go there."
    Tom W.
  • "Incredible service!! I needed a same morning minor emergency appointment and was seen in 15 min. The doctor and vet techs go out of their way to make the examination as stress free as possible. I drive from Costa Mesa to this hospital."
    Kathryn A
  • "Enjoyed meeting Dr. K...He is a wonderful addition to the staff.
    Exam and grooming went off without a hitch.
    Thank you"
    Anonymous
  • "Pet hospital is prompt, friendly, and professional in all aspects of care for my pet and toward me as a owner. Gracie is family to me and her care is paramount. I am never disappointed at the way she is loved and treated here. I wouldn't take her anywhere else.!"
    Anonymous