Pets need specialists too, but many pet owners are not aware we exist for dogs and cats. I am thrilled to recently be nominated to join the Marketing & Communications Committee (MCC) for the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
The MCC plays a prominent role in promoting veterinary specialists to pet owners and the public. This is one of my passions, along with raising cancer awareness and promoting early detection. I am honored to serve on this committee.
My mission is to raise cancer awareness and promote early detection in dogs and cats. That’s why I am launching a campaign called See Something, Do Something with the help of VCA Hospitals and my colleagues.
What is See Something Do Something (SSDS)?
“See Something Do Something” is a set of guidelines for you and your veterinarian to help identify the best management strategy for skin and subcutaneous masses in dogs and cats.
See Something: When a skin mass is the size of pea or larger or has been present for 1 month,
Do Something: Aspirate or biopsy, and treat appropriately!
Why am I doing this? Many dogs and cats have lumps and bumps. But not all of these masses are malignant (cancerous) tumors. In fact, most tumors are benign (not cancer). Masses must be sampled and evaluated under a microscope to determine what they are. The sooner we determine whether a mass is cancerous and should be removed, the better for your pet. Most skin and subcutaneous (under the skin) tumors can be cured when diagnosed early when masses are small.
Early detection saves lives.
Take Myles. (Oh, how I love Myles!)
He was diagnosed with lymphoma last April. His family chose single agent doxorubicin – a good alternative to multi-agent CHOP protocol. So remember there are treatment options – please discuss options with an oncologist. Even if you decide not to treat, make an informed decision. Live longer, live well!
Amazing day with an amazing crew! Last week, I was part of the filming of a documentary that will feature my patient Paul Newman. It’s called My Friend: Changing the Journey. The documentary is the work of an inspiring organization called CLEAR – Canine Lymphoma Education Awareness and Research. It was an honor to be part of this and I love the opportunity to educate pet owners that lymphoma is treatable and there are options. Live longer, live well!
PetsPage VetPro Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), “Dr Sue Cancer Vet” Proposes National Standard of Care Cancer Guidelines – “Bumps and Lumps – See Something, Do Something” to Educate Veterinarians and Pet Owners
PetsPage VetPro Dr. Susan Ettinger, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), “Dr Sue Cancer Vet” has proposed a set of national standard of care guidelines for diagnosing and treating superficial skin and subcutaneous (below the skin) masses or tumors in dogs and cats to the Veterinary Cancer Society. The initiative is called “Bumps and Lumps – See something, Do something.” Read more…
Outlook Television to Produce PetsPage Educational Documentary on Veterinary Medicine Specialists for Public Television
Karen Bostick, creator and CEO of PetsPage.com announced today that Outlook Television, which produces educational programming for Public Television, will produce a PetsPage educational documentary to help bring awareness of veterinary medicine specialists. The program will begin airing on PBS stations in all 50 states in early 2014. Read more…
Learn more about Dr Sue's early cancer detection program at WhyWaitAspirate.com
On The Pet Cancer Vet Dr Sue Ettinger takes pre-arranged calls from pet owners with a dog or cat with cancer to give information, support and hope. Click here to listen on The Radio Pet Lady Network.
I am really looking forward to this awesome event with my favorite nonprofit Paws4Potter! Paws4Potter's mission is to educate and empower pet owners with information about early diagnosis and treatment options for pets with cancer. I'm honored to share information on the Top 10 Signs of Pet Cancer, and thrilled for my friend and fellow dog lover Rob Thomas 🎶 to make a special appearance! Please join us for this FREE virtual event Tuesday, September 22nd at 08:00 PM EST. You have to register below to attend, but it's free! Learn, have fun, and celebrate helping our pets live well, longer!
👉 Register here: bit.ly/2ZHwTqQ
us02web.zoom.us
One out of every three dogs and one out of every 4 cats will develop cancer at some point in his/her lifetime. Early cancer detection often leads to more and better treatment options and sometimes eve...🥃 Are you a glass half-full person? Or half-empty? I try to be positive and look for the positive.
What is positive thing of Covid-19 and all these in-person veterinary conferences being cancelled (trust me, that makes me so sad)? The conferences are going virtual, and we have this amazing opportunity to do them from the comfort of our own home or veterinary hospital.
For this first time, the Banfield Pet Healthcare Industry Summit is online, 🆓 and open to us all. Yes it is FREE!
So register ASAP. It’s tomorrow Monday September 14 and it’s live. The lineup is amazing. I’m honored to be doing a roundtable with @ericgarciafl & @adam_christman And check out the other speakers including @drcourtneydvm @vettechkelsey @drandyroark and @drdavenicol @mollsmcdvm @rebeccarosecvt And I so excited to hear Dan Heath, author of Two of my favorite books, Made to Stick and The Power of Moments
Hope to see you there! #banfieldindustrysummit
🎥 Sneak peek for my latest vlog 🎥
What You Need To Know When Your Dog Has Lymphoma
🖥 You can watch the full video on YouTube
youtu.be/FFX7jRuDO6o
In this vlog, I tell you the most important things you need to know when your dog is diagnosed with lymphoma. Then for each tip, I provide links to my other vlogs with even more information.
1️⃣ If you feel enlarged lymph nodes, or your veterinarian does, expect a lymph node aspirate right away.
• Where are my dog’s lymph nodes?: youtu.be/sQTn4BfqlCg
• Lymph Node Aspirates?: youtu.be/mcxWocJw4ac
2️⃣ Live longer: Chemotherapy significantly improves survival times and there are high response rates
3️⃣ Live well: Chemotherapy is well-tolerated
• What Side Effects Do Pets Feel with Chemotherapy: VLOG 93: youtu.be/vgoo_lAfuCY
4️⃣ There are lot of treatment options for first-line protocols and relapse, including the new chemotherapy drug called Tanovea
• Dog Lymphoma Chemotherapy Options Part One Vlog 87 youtu.be/FppPDmPDCPo
• Dog Lymphoma Chemotherapy Options Part Two Vlog 88 youtu.be/vAcr4fy6Hng
• Your Dog's Lymphoma Has Relapsed, Now What? Vlog 61 youtu.be/xK_jA2kJe4Q
5️⃣ Do not start steroids (prednisone) yet. I explain why
• Veterinary Advice on Steroids and Cancer: VLOG 79 youtu.be/JTAfwVaBL5w
• Veterinary Advice on Steroids and Cancer Part 2: VLOG 80 youtu.be/kbOjtuODcbY
6️⃣ What is the most important test you should consider?
• Lymph Node Aspirates? youtu.be/mcxWocJw4ac
7️⃣ Bonus: How can you get a teleconsultation for your pet with Dr Sue? I explain how at
www.fiduvet.com
• What is Fidu and How to find the Right Specialist: VLOG 119 youtu.be/bYB1NgVnIPY
▶️ Do you want more info? Check out my lymphoma and chemotherapy playlists for all my videos in one place on YouTube:
• Chemotherapy Playlist www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvGBJ56IQLG-f_zzztoRM5_aVnw6J8wqY
• Lymphoma in Dogs Playlist www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLvGBJ56IQLG8Od2OlPRge-00uDB5z2UDv
Please subscribe on YouTube so you do not miss an episode.
Thanks for watching! xo #kickcancersbutt
A new study debunks dog years 📋
You may have heard that every dog year is like 7 human years, so my 11 year old Matilda is 77, and 3 year old Penelope is 21, right?
Researchers at UC San Diego claim their genetic formula is more accurate than the traditional ratio if 1 to 7. I will be honest, the study is based on epigenetics - not my favorite topic (the study of gene expression). But they looked at a methylation-based formula and this epigenetic clock helps determine the age of the cell, tissue or organism. And the results are super interesting IMO.
Dogs age more rapidly especially when they are young, so a 1-year dog is more similar to a 30-year old person. I guess that makes sense when we remember a 9-month old dog can have puppies.
A 4-year old dog is similar to a 52-year old person. Then by age 7, dog aging slows.
Thanks to by JAVMA news for covering this. The article was published in the online journal Cell Systems if you want to check it out and you like epigenetics more than I do. What do you think? Drop a comment below. 👇🏼 @ Asharoken, New York
