There’s no denying it. We LOVE our pets. And when a pet gets sick, we’re willing to do just about anything to see it restored to health.
But where pet cancer is concerned, until recently there’s been precious little to do – except keep the animal comfortable and, eventually, relieve it of its misery.
That’s changing, however, with the establishment of animal hospitals that specialize in cancer treatment. There are now five in the country, according to Dr. Stephanie Correa, founder and lead oncologist at Animal Cancer Care Clinic right here in South Florida.
“It’s a different concept and a different model, but cancer in our pets is something that many, many different people have dealt with and need to find a specialist to get help,” Correa said on the show.
Dr. Correa grew up in South Florida, and after her training she returned because she knew there’s a huge pet population here that needs this kind of care.
There are many symptoms of cancer in an animal, she said:
– Poor appetite.
– Slowing down on a walk.
– A growth under the skin or perhaps even in the mouth.
“My job is to sit down and look at the whole pet. How old is the pet? What is the cancer? And then we talk about what options are available. And I’ll tell you, dogs and cats get the same cancers that people get,” Correa said.
Animal Cancer Care Clinic also engages in research and clinical trials of cancer drugs, including immunotherapy.
“Often, our dogs and cats get the treatments first. And if they work, and if they’re safe, and if they’re efficacious, then these treatments end up going to people,” the doctor said.
Animal Cancer Care Clinic only does oncology – no general veterinary work, Correa said. But the emphasis is on caring for the animal and the owner.
“Care would be the operative word in our name, because clients that are coming with their beloved pets are scared when they get a diagnosis of cancer,” she said.
“We want to be the medical resource, but we also want to provide support for the client and help them go through the process.”
You can learn more about the clinic and its services online at http://www.animalcancercareclinic.com.
Click here to listen to the full interview with Dr. Stephanie Correa of Animal Cancer Care Clinic.
