Preventive Care for Pets Reimagined: Elevating Early Cancer Detection Standards
Cancer screening fits naturally into the comprehensive preventive care approach veterinarians already take during wellness exams. Just as we routinely recommend fecal exams, vector-borne disease (VBD) testing, CBCs, chemistry panels, urinalysis, and GI parasites, we now have the tools to include cancer screening, especially for senior and at-risk patients.
New diagnostic advancements enable us to test for certain cancers using non-invasive, affordable, and repeatable methods. For example, it's now possible to detect lymphoma in dogs earlier than traditional methods. These tools offer valuable insights into a pet's health status before clinical signs appear, providing families and veterinarians with more time to consider treatment options and improve outcomes.
Early detection can mean the difference between stabilization and immediate treatment, or limited options and palliative care. Cancers such as lymphoma, mast cell tumors, and hemangiosarcoma often progress rapidly. When caught before clinical signs emerge, we're in a much stronger position to act, offering better prognoses, more treatment choices, and greater peace of mind for pet owners.
Additionally, regular screening can be part of a long-term monitoring plan, helping detect recurrence or the development of new disease in high-risk breeds.
The Prevalence of Canine Cancer
According to the AVMA and the Veterinary Cancer Society, approximately 1 in 4 dogs will, at some stage in their life, develop cancer. This is the same incidence rate of cancer among humans. Cancer is the leading cause of mortality in senior dogs. Some breeds or families of dogs have a higher incidence of developing cancer at an earlier age, but in most cases, it's a disease found in aging animals.
Below is a table from The National Canine Cancer Foundation of the five most common cancers and the breeds more at risk of developing them:
|
Mast Cell Tumors |
Melanoma |
Lymphoma |
Osteosarcoma |
Hemangiosarcoma |
|
Beagles Boxers Boston Terriers Bull Terriers Cocker Spaniels English Bulldogs Golden Retrievers Labrador Pugs Schnauzers Shar Peis Staffordshire Rhodesian Ridgebacks Weimaraners |
All Breeds |
Basset hound Beagle Bernese mountain dog Bouvier des Flandres Boxer Bulldog Bullmastiff Cocker spaniel Doberman pinscher German shepherd Golden retriever Irish wolfhound Labrador retriever Rottweiler Saint Bernard Scottish terrier |
Doberman German Shepherd Golden retriever Great Dane Irish setter Rottweiler Saint Bernard Irish wolfhound Scottish Deerhound Borzo Greyhound |
Golden Retrievers German Shepherds Portuguese Water dogs Bernese Mountain Dogs Flat Coated Retrievers Boxers Skye Terriers |
Bringing the Team on Board
Successful implementation of new diagnostics begins with your team. Every member of the practice—from front-desk staff and veterinary assistants to technicians and clinicians—should understand the purpose and value of early cancer screening. Education and training on these new diagnostics, like the new lymphoma test, can help your team feel confident in their recommendations. Encourage open discussion and ensure consistent messaging throughout the client experience. This helps build trust and reinforces your practice's commitment to comprehensive preventive care.
When the entire team is aligned, conversations about new services feel natural and confident, making it easier for clients to understand the benefits and say yes to screening.
Helping Clients Understand the Value of Preventive Screening
Educating pet owners about cancer risk and screening doesn't have to be difficult. The key is to present the information clearly, relevantly, and compassionately.
- Support in-practice conversations with client-friendly materials: Handouts, posters, and even QR codes linking to trusted resources or videos can help pet owners absorb and revisit information after the visit. Visual tools, such as dental charts, microscope images, or body condition score diagrams, can reinforce your message.
- Technology can help you stay connected: Use social media, email, and text messages to share preventive care tips, educational videos, or patient stories. These touchpoints help keep cancer screening top of mind and normalize the conversation.
- Real patient success stories can be powerful motivators: With client permission, share these stories through your website, newsletter, or social platforms. These stories are especially impactful when they demonstrate how early detection led to timely treatment and better outcomes.
- Analogies to human medicine are also effective: Most pet owners understand the value of regular check-ups, blood work, and cancer screenings for themselves. Similarly framing preventive care for pets makes the message more relatable and easier to accept.
- Consider incorporating cancer screening into your existing wellness plans: This not only simplifies pricing for clients but also reinforces the idea that early detection is a standard part of lifelong care. Highlight what's included and how the plan supports the pet's long-term health and comfort.
- Address financial concerns with empathy and clarity: Acknowledge that adding a new test involves cost, but emphasize the long-term value of avoiding late-stage diagnosis or emergency care.
The Future of Preventive Care Starts Now
As veterinary professionals, we have the tools and opportunity to identify diseases before they become life-threatening. By incorporating new cancer diagnostics into preventive care, particularly for at-risk dogs, we're embracing a more proactive, compassionate standard of care.
