November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, millions of dogs and cats are diagnosed with cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of death in pets beyond middle age. Knowing what to look for can help with early detection, and as with people, make a difference. Following are the top 10 warning signs of cancer […]
November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month. Our goal is to help all pet families learn about the prevalence of cancer in companion animals and to share tips for prevention, early detection, and treatment. Learn more about treatment options here and share your new knowledge with other pet lovers. Depending on the type of cancer, the […]
As members of a land-grant institution, we believe it is our responsibility to share our knowledge and expertise. To fulfill that commitment, the Flint Animal Cancer Center Consult Service offers a free resource connecting pet parents and referring veterinarians with our oncology specialists. The program answers approximately 2,000 requests for oncology information annually. The service […]
“He’s my little hero.” That’s how Erin Hicks describes her best feline friend, Tico Junior. Like his dad, Tico Senior, both cats were born in the Dominican Republic while Hicks served in the Peace Corps. Both offered her protection, but in different ways. “Tico Senior saved me from tarantulas, insects, and rats while I was […]
Grendel joined her forever family along with her brother Beowulf at eight weeks old. “We could tell right away she had a mischievous streak and was destined to get her brother in trouble,” said Marcia Bohannon, Grendel’s human. The littermates have been devoted to each other from the start, which made Grendel’s illness devasting not […]
At the Flint Animal Cancer Center, we often say cancer doesn’t care if you have two legs or four. It’s also true that cancer doesn’t care if you have wings, scales, or tiny claws. “I see cancer daily, if not multiple times a day,” said Dr. Matt Johnston, associate professor of avian, exotic, and zoological […]
With technology borrowed from human medicine, the radiation oncology team at the Flint Animal Cancer Center recently treated its first pet patient using superficial radiation therapy. The new radiation machine, originally acquired through a collaboration with the James L. Voss Teaching Hospital’s ophthalmology service to treat squamous cell carcinomas on the eyelids of horses, is […]
In 2019, thanks to a generous award from the Petco Foundation and Blue Buffalo Cancer Treatment Support Fund, 28 pet patients received lifesaving financial grants. The award was the first of a two-year, $150,000 investment to support oncology patient care at the Flint Animal Cancer Center. The fund allows the Flint Animal Cancer Center to […]
After pivoting to address the crisis caused by the global pandemic last spring, the team at the Flint Animal Cancer Center is thinking of the future and reimagining what is possible for cancer research, treatment, and prevention. “Despite the pandemic, cancer hasn’t taken a break and neither has our team,” said Dr. Rodney Page, director, […]
While many pet owners and veterinarians are interested in the interaction between diet and cancer, most current recommendations for the nutritional management of cancer in dogs and cats have limited evidence or are based on data taken from people. Nonetheless, a variety of websites and books offer strategies on what to feed a pet with […]
Five years cancer-free. It’s a milestone for all cancer patients, but especially for our canine friends. While survival rates vary based on many factors, including the type of cancer and treatment, considering a dog’s lifespan, five years is cause for celebration. Last month, Flint Animal Cancer Center patient, Elbee, a sweet, shy border collie, celebrated […]
Bone cancer is a common cancer in dogs, especially in large and giant breeds. Approximately 85 percent of canine bone tumors are osteosarcomas (osteo = bone, sarcoma = cancer). Osteosarcomas are highly aggressive tumors, characterized by painful bone destruction where the tumor grows. Osteosarcoma commonly affects the limbs of dogs but can also occur in […]