Summary

Cancer is all too common in adult animals and is especially prevalent in senior pets. Diagnosing, staging, and treating cancer in dogs and cats and establishing a collaborative local or virtual relationship with veterinary oncologists for patient referrals and consultations are essential offerings in most full-service veterinary practices. Identifying the tumor type and stage are vital when selecting treatment and supporting clients as they weigh their options. Chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, adjunctive treatments, and RT may be used alone or in combination depending on patient needs and client preferences. Therapeutic response must be assessed in the context of whether the original therapy was intended as cure or palliation. Managing quality of life in veterinary patients is especially meaningful for everyone involved and includes anticipating and preventing or minimizing discomfort and cancer treatment side effects, providing regular patient follow-up assessments, and maintaining transparent, relationship-focused communication with clients.

The 2026 AAHA Oncology Guidelines for Dogs and Cats are generously supported by CareCredit, Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Merck Animal Health, and Zoetis.