Oncology

• Molecular Diagnostics – Diagnostics such as flow cytometry, PARR, and immunohistochemistry helps us to diagnose certain types of cancer.

• Digital Radiography – Digital radiography provides highly detailed images that can be modified or enhanced. The exceptional resolution of digital radiographs provides much greater ability to identify disease.

• Diagnostic Ultrasound – Ultrasound is a technique where sound waves are used to image soft tissues of the body. Ultrasound allows us to see inside a solid organ, distinguishing changes within the tissue. The ability to distinguish changes inside a solid tissue organ (e.g., the liver), along with the ability to guide a needle into an abnormal area, enables tissue samples to be obtained.

• CT Scans – CT allows us to better diagnose and treat cancers in the brain, spinal cord, spine, abdomen, chest, and pelvis than ordinary x-ray. CT scans are much more sensitive in identifying cancer or spread of cancer to the lungs or other tissues.

• Histopathology – Histopathology is a technique where tissue biopsies are stained, sectioned, and viewed under a microscope by a pathologist to describe disease. Biopsy with histopathology is the method of diagnosing and differentiating cancers from other diseases.

• Bone Marrow Aspirate/Biopsy – Bone marrow aspirate is performed by placing a needle into a bone to extract marrow. This is done to diagnose various types of bone marrow cancer. Extracted bone marrow is stained and viewed by a pathologist allowing description of the specific type of bone marrow cancer.

Chemotherapy is a drug treatment used to destroy cancer cells or slow their growth. Many of the medications used in veterinary oncology are the same as those used in human medicine. Chemotherapy may be recommended for cancers that have spread, cannot be effectively treated with surgery or radiation alone, or when it can enhance the effectiveness of other treatments.

Unlike human cancer treatment, the goal of chemotherapy in pets is to control cancer while maintaining an excellent quality of life. Treatment protocols are carefully designed to minimize side effects, allowing most pets to continue their normal daily activities throughout treatment.

While chemotherapy does not cure every cancer, it can often slow disease progression, improve comfort, and extend both survival and quality of life. Treatment typically involves a series of scheduled sessions followed by ongoing monitoring.

At IndyVet, chemotherapy medications are prepared using specialized safety equipment and administered in a dedicated treatment area to ensure the safety of our patients, clients, and staff.

Targeted therapy is a type of cancer treatment that selectively attacks specific molecules involved in cancer cell growth and survival. By focusing on these targets, targeted therapies can help slow or stop tumor growth while minimizing effects on normal, healthy cells.

Unlike traditional chemotherapy, which affects rapidly dividing cells throughout the body, targeted therapies are designed to act on specific cancer cells. Depending on the type of cancer, targeted therapy may be used alone or in combination with other treatments.

An example of a targeted therapy commonly used in veterinary medicine is Palladia®.

Immunotherapy is a type of cancer treatment that harnesses the body's immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells. The goal is to stimulate or enhance the immune response against tumors while minimizing damage to normal tissues.

While immunotherapy options in veterinary medicine are currently limited, this field is rapidly evolving and remains an active area of research. An example of immunotherapy used in veterinary oncology is Oncept®, a therapeutic vaccine approved for the treatment of canine melanoma.

Palliative care focuses on improving quality of life and maximizing comfort for pets living with cancer. While it is not intended to cure the disease, palliative care can help manage symptoms, reduce discomfort, and support overall well-being.

Palliative and supportive care may include pain management, nutritional support, medications to control nausea or other symptoms, and therapies designed to improve comfort and mobility. This approach can be used alongside cancer-specific treatments or as the primary focus of care when curative treatment is not possible or desired.

Our goal is to help pets maintain the best possible quality of life while supporting families in making informed, compassionate decisions throughout their pet's cancer journey.