"Cancer" can be one of the scariest words to hear coming from your veterinarian. Fortunately, veterinary oncology is more advanced than ever before. For many types of cancer, there are numerous treatment options available, which may range from medications administered at home to extensive in-clinic treatments with a veterinary oncologist.
Finding the right care option for your pet will involve closely working with your pet’s veterinary healthcare team. Asking informed questions can help you find the best care option for your family.
Here are some important questions to ask your veterinary healthcare team, as well as some you should consider yourself.
What kind of cancer is this?
Not all cancers are the same. Some offer a good prognosis with surgery or medications, while others are more difficult to treat and could require radiation, chemotherapy or a combination of therapies. Other cancers may be too aggressive to be effectively treated.
Before making health care decisions, it’s important to understand what you’re up against. How advanced is the disease, and what areas of the body are typically affected?
What resources are available to get me up to speed on this cancer?
While it’s tempting to jump on the internet for answers, there’s a great deal of inaccurate information out there. Having your veterinary healthcare team point you to reliable veterinary information will help you not only to understand the diagnosis, but also help with follow-up questions you may have about treatment options.
You might also choose to meet with a veterinary oncologist—a cancer specialist who can help you learn more about your pet’s disease—who will work with your veterinarian to create a customized plan for your pet.
If there are treatment options, what are they?
Veterinary medicine is very advanced when it comes to treatment options for cancer. Ask questions about where treatment would be administered and how often, any possible side effects and the associated costs can help you make an informed decision.
Many treatments can be given by your veterinarian, while others will require visits to a specialty center or a college of veterinary medicine. Be sure to ask how many visits will be required for a treatment, and how difficult that experience will be for your pet.
What are the expected outcomes and side effects?
Veterinary healthcare teams will often be able to provide a prognosis for different types of cancer and the benefits and risks for the varying treatment options, knowing that each individual pet can respond differently.
Is my pet comfortable traveling or being handled by a veterinary care team?
While some pets naturally love meeting new people and going anywhere, other pets are miserable when away from familiar surroundings or terrified when handled by people they don’t know. Talk with your veterinary healthcare team about your pet’s daily activities, which will help you determine how your pet’s quality of life will be affected by different types of treatments.
Can I reasonably handle at-home care?
Are you comfortable medicating your pet or providing physical assistance lifting them? In some cases, your veterinary healthcare team can adjust your pet’s medications and provide guidance on modifying your home environment to make your pet more comfortable throughout their cancer journey—if possible, you’ll have to decide if at-home nursing is something you can do.
What will be asked of me in terms of time and resources?
The amount of time needed to take pets for repeated veterinary visits or travel to a specialist can add up. Knowing what to expect as a time commitment can help you determine if your work and personal life will accommodate it.
What will various treatment options cost, and how will I pay for them?
Cancer treatment for pets can be very expensive. Pet insurance exists to help pet families manage costs associated with veterinary treatment, but bills can still run into the thousands of dollars even after reimbursement. No one wants to think about not being able to afford care, but what you can afford will need to factor into the decision-making process.
The only “right” decision is the one that’s best for you and your pet. No matter what, you will be able to work with your pet’s veterinary healthcare team to ensure the very best quality of life for the longest period possible. By asking the right questions you’ll be in the best position possible to know what those choices should be. And no matter what you choose, Nationwide is here to support you and your pet.
Take advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new petTake advantage of your multi-pet discount when you add a pet to your policy. When covering two or three pets, you can receive a 5% discount. When covering four or more pets, you'll save 10% on your base premium. Visit the member portal to add a pet.
Enroll a new pet