Oncology
Following a physical exam and diagnostic testing your veterinarian may suspect that your pet has cancer. Depending upon the type of tumor suspected, a procedure maybe recommended to obtain a sample of the tumor through a fine needle aspiration, a punch biopsy, a tissue biopsy or a full excision biopsy. In some cases, an exploratory surgery or ultrasound guidance may be needed. We will send the sample to a specialized laboratory for examination by a veterinary pathologist.
Based on the histopathology results, there may be several options for your pet. The most common and often most effective treatment is surgical removal of the tumor. For tumors that are too big or too numerous to be removed or that are in inaccessible locations, other treatments can be considered. These include drugs (chemotherapy), immunotherapy (specific or non-specific stimulation of the immune system), and radiation.
At Gruda Veterinary Hospital, we have several avenues depending upon the type of cancer, patient assessment and owner wishes. For all oncology protocols performed in-house, our veterinarians consult with Colorado State University Oncologists.
For more specialized cases or if the owner requests we refer these cases to an oncology specialist.