- Remember, your pet is an individual not a cancer diagnosis.
- When attending your first consult with a veterinary oncologist, ask a friend to come along to help listen carefully and provide moral support.
- Always bring along a way to take notes like pen, paper, or the notes section of your phone, because emotion can make you forget details you’ll need later.
- Don’t be afraid to seek a second opinion if it makes you more comfortable and gives you peace of mind.
- If your veterinary oncologist or veterinarian does not welcome a second opinion, find a new veterinary professional.
- You can find veterinary oncology specialists in your area by visiting ACVIM, Veterinary Cancer Society or vetspecialists.com
- You and your veterinary professionals should team up for the benefit of your pet.
- Write down the ten things your pet LOVES doing and do them!
- Activity is a key component of wellness, just monitor for changes.
- Keep a journal on your pet’s journey through cancer treatment, as it will help reveal important information to your veterinary team.
- Cancer is a serious diagnosis, but always remember you did NOT cause your pet’s cancer.
- Lots of discussion, but only a little science, exists on the use of supplements in human and veterinary cancers – seek professional advice because too little, or too much, could be harmful to your pet.
- If you feel overwhelmed by a pet’s diagnosis, treatment, or loss, ask your veterinary professional for a referral to a pet grief counselor who can help.
- Make your commitment to support research in comparative oncology because that’s how new treatments will be developed, and science research reveals new knowledge about cancer as a disease.