Home / In The News / Helping Dogs & Cats With Cancer During COVID-19 Pandemic

Helping Dogs & Cats With Cancer During COVID-19 Pandemic

COVID-19 is Affecting the World including Our Pets

As the global pandemic has much of the country on an unprecedented lockdown, both people and pets are being affected in countless ways. Everyone wants to do the right thing and stay home to avoid spreading COVID-19. Non-essential businesses have been ordered closed in many states, including universities, schools, restaurants, shopping malls, corporations and more. And much of the world has been rapidly adopting virtual working technology, including the medical field – both human and veterinary.

Don’t Worry – Cancer Consultations & Treatments Are Continuing

If your pet was recently diagnosed with cancer or cancer is suspected, you might be feeling nervous about your pet’s future and how you’re going to get your pet treated safely. And now that much of the country is under a lockdown, pet parents are concerned about how to get their beloved cats and dogs the treatment they need and deserve. After all, some veterinary clinics and pet oncology centers have been forced to temporarily close their treatment centers.

Don’t worry. PetCure Oncology is committed to helping pets, their families and veterinarians maintain access to the treatments they need in these uncertain times.

We’ve Expanded Telemedicine to Better Serve Pets and their Families

Because PetCure Oncology sees patients from all over the country, we have had a telemedicine infrastructure in place for years. Due to the COVID-19 outbreak and the restrictions that are being imposed, we made the decision to expand our telemedicine capabilities – and we’re doing it for free.

PetCure Telehealth Visits are now available free of charge to any parent of a pet with cancer looking to have a virtual visit with one of our board-certified specialists. All PetCure specialists are either board-certified in radiation oncology or double-boarded in radiation and medical oncology. If your dog or cat has been diagnosed with cancer, you don’t have to wait for the life-saving care they need. Reach out to one of our Pet Advocates at hope@petcureoncology.com or 833-PET-HERO to schedule your free PetCure Telehealth Visit.

PetCure Oncology Treats a Wide Variety of Cancer in Dogs and Cats

At PetCure Oncology, we’re known for our cutting edge stereotactic radiation (SRS/SRT) treatment. This is the same treatment made available to humans, where highly targeted beams of radiation are used to destroy cancer cells. Benefits of SRS/SRT include:

The goal of remission, rather than just easing symptoms
The ability to treat some tumors previously considered “inoperable” – including many brain tumors and others in complex anatomic locations
Radiation delivered with sub-millimeter precision in a noninvasive, nonsurgical manner
Reduced risks and side effects that are commonly associated with conventional radiation
Far fewer treatment sessions (only one to three) and anesthetic events than other therapies

And lastly, cats and dogs that are good candidates for stereotactic radiation tend to experience less stress and heal more quickly than with other more invasive or systemic treatments.

What Types of Pet Cancer Do We Treat?

Every pet and every cancerous tumor is different. If your vet has made a preliminary diagnosis, it is imperative to have your pet evaluated by a cancer specialist. If your vet suspects there may be cancer present, encourage them to contact a PetCure specialist to identify the appropriate next steps. You will want to understand the type of cancer, its location and grade. At that juncture you’ll be able to discuss and consider treatment options including stereotactic radiation.

Stereotactic radiation is appropriate for a wide variety of cancers and tumors in pets. Some of the most common forms of cancer that we treat in both dogs and cats include nasal cancer, oral cancer, neurological tumor/brain cancer, sarcomas, mast cell tumors, osteosarcoma/bone cancer, carcinomas, melanomas and many other cancers in dogs and cancers in cats.

Don’t Wait. Get in Touch. It’s Free.

In these trying times, we want to make it as easy as possible for you to get your dog or cat the care that they need and deserve. Setting up your PetCure Telehealth Visit is free and easy:

Get in touch with a Pet Advocate by emailing hope@petcureoncology.com or call 833-PET-HERO . The Pet Advocate will ask you a series of questions and prepare you with the appropriate next steps for you and your pet.
If a PetCure Telehealth Visit is scheduled, you’ll be sent a link to join the video conversation with one of our board certified oncologists.
Feel free to ask as many questions as you have. And don’t worry, we’ll send you a copy of the visit for your records so you can review the information at your leisure and with your primary care veterinarian.
After your PetCure Telehealth Visit we hope you’ll feel more confident about your pet’s cancer treatment options and have the information necessary to make the best decision for your pet.

We know how scary and stressful a cancer diagnosis is. And your stress is only compounded by the pandemic sweeping the globe and keeping all of us inside our homes. We hope that our free telemedicine option will empower you to move forward with your pet’s care plan and will help you and your pet at this difficult time. Want to learn more? Visit our web page dedicated to the COVID-19 outbreak to see how PetCure Oncology is helping pets and their families during this difficult time.