![]() I would urge owners to have their veterinarians contact the specialist and simply ask for a quote for services. Some owners are dissuaded from pursuing consultation with a veterinary oncologist because either they, or their veterinarians, feel the expense is too great. Should those pets be denied life-extending treatments because there are no oncologists nearby? I’ve heard extreme stories of a general vet colleague who administered chemotherapy to pets on the kitchen floor of their homes in what I will keep as an unnamed rural location of Canada. Our numbers, though growing, are not large, and distance can be a burden for owners. Of course not every owner has access to a board-certified specialist simply due to geography. I find there are two main reasons why owners ask about pursuing treatment locally: either because of distance or because of finances. This would be the “opposite of cookbook” argument I try and use. We are required (and driven) to stay on top of new developments and therapeutics. ![]() Chemotherapy drugs are not only toxic to cancer cells, but to normal cells, and accidental or unknown exposure to pets and people can occur through many different routes, namely during the reconstitution and “drawing up” of the drugs.Īnother key point is that board-certified veterinary oncologists often participate in clinical chemotherapy/immunotherapy trials, offering the highest and most advanced level of care for pets with cancer. If the specialized knowledge in the diagnosis of cancer, staging of tumors, development of treatment plans, and experience monitoring patients during the course of their treatment isn’t enough, maybe the most important one would be the fact that board certified oncologists have advanced training in the safe handling and administration of chemotherapy. So what’s the benefit of visiting a veterinary oncologist when your pet is diagnosed with cancer? The administration is fairly straightforward as drugs are typically given either through an intravenous or oral route. Doses are standard and can easily be found in any veterinary textbook. Any veterinarian can purchase the drugs as easily as they can antibiotics or vaccines. ![]() In fact, one could argue it’s a “cookbook” type of science. Muddying the waters even more is the fact that (as I always say) there is no magic behind chemotherapy. They also don’t necessarily mean I’m good what I do, that I’m a nice person, or that I have a drop of bedside manner or compassion compared to another veterinarian. All the qualifications and diplomas in the world may not be impressive enough to “convince” an owner to pursue treatment with me. Only board certified individuals can list this credential after their names.īut really - big deal. Once these “tasks” are accomplished, individuals are granted the status of Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine and will list the initials “DACVIM (oncology)” after his or her DVM degree. During this time, candidates must also pass two separate rigorous specialization exams, and publish at least one original research study within their field. ![]() They also are required to complete rotations in other specialties such as radiation oncology, radiology, surgery, internal medicine, neurology, etc. During this time, residents spend thousands of hours obtaining direct experience in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cancer cases. Residency programs are offered at veterinary teaching hospitals under the direct supervision of some of the most renowned experts in the field. Residency programs are completed following graduation from veterinary school, and after completing a one-year general internship program. Board certified oncologists are veterinarians who have completed an approved residency training program in medical oncology. There are objective measurements one can make to “argue” that a board certified veterinary oncologist is more qualified to do oncology than a non-boarded person. On the other hand, I have a rather unassuming personality and it’s hard for me to describe the benefits without feeling as though I’m “showing off.” It’s not an easy conversation to have with the average pet owner and I struggle with remaining neutral in my dialogue. I recognize that I know more than most veterinarians about oncology because it’s all I do. On the one hand, as a specialist I believe what I do is exactly that, specialized. From time to time I’m asked, “Can my regular veterinarian do the treatments?” Or, “What’s the difference between what you do and what my regular vet does?” It’s difficult to provide an unbiased answer.
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