Cancer Treatment and Chemotherapy for Dogs and Cats in Evansville, Indiana
A cancer diagnosis can leave families feeling frightened and uncertain about what comes next. At VSP Evansville, our specialty team provides thoughtful evaluation, advanced diagnostic support, and individualized cancer care for dogs and cats.
From confirming a diagnosis and determining the extent of disease to discussing chemotherapy, surgery, minimally invasive procedures, and comfort focused care, we help families understand their options and make informed decisions for their pets.
Expert Care
For Complex Cases
Working Hours:
Wednesday - Thursday
7:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Advanced Oncology Support for Pets
Expert Guidance Throughout Your Pet’s Cancer Care
Our team evaluates dogs and cats with suspected or confirmed tumors, abnormal blood results, unexplained swelling, persistent symptoms, or changes identified during diagnostic imaging. A complete cancer evaluation may include laboratory testing, cytology, tissue biopsy, ultrasound, radiographs, CT imaging, or another focused procedure.
After reviewing the available information, our specialists explain the diagnosis and discuss treatment options based on the type of cancer, its location, the patient’s age and health, and your family’s goals. Treatment may involve chemotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy, minimally invasive procedures, symptom control, or palliative care. Our priority is to provide meaningful medical support while protecting your pet’s comfort and quality of life.
Pet parents can learn more about our advanced veterinary diagnostic imaging or request a consultation with the specialty team.
Why Families Choose Veterinary Specialist Partners (VSP) for Cancer Care
Trusted specialty expertise, modern diagnostics, and compassionate communication come together to support pets and their families throughout the cancer journey.
A Connected Medical Team
Cancer may affect several organs or require more than one type of veterinary expertise. Our internal medicine specialists collaborate with veterinary professionals involved in diagnostic imaging, surgery, minimally invasive treatment, and continued medical management.
Diagnostics & Treatment Options
Accurate diagnosis and staging help the veterinary team understand what type of cancer is present, where it is located, and whether it has spread. Our diagnostic approach may include cytology, biopsy, laboratory testing, ultrasound, radiographs, CT imaging, and image guided sampling.
Comfort Focused Care
Cancer treatment is not only about addressing the disease. It is also about helping your pet feel comfortable and continue enjoying meaningful time with your family. Our team considers appetite, energy, pain, mobility, treatment tolerance, and emotional well being when making recommendations.
Chemotherapy and Cancer Care Close to Home
VSP is a veterinary cancer treatment center in the Evansville region, and we have been caring for Evansville pets since 2018. Families can start with a consult here in Evansville, where we confirm the diagnosis, explain every option including chemotherapy, and build a plan that fits your pet and your family. Chemotherapy is given right here in Evansville every week, with each dose prepared safely by a pharmacy and delivered in closed delivery systems. Our new hospital will add an on site chemotherapy suite designed to OSHA safety standards, so we can prepare customized doses right here instead of relying on an off site pharmacy. That means faster access to treatment and lower costs for Evansville families. When staging calls for CT, our new hospital at 1120 Professional Blvd will have both a GE VCT 64 slice CT and a cone beam CT when it opens in early December.
Complete Cancer Treatment Through One Team
Cancer care services may include:
- Advanced diagnostic imaging for tumor evaluation, staging, and treatment planning
- Cytology and tissue biopsy to identify the type of abnormal cells present
- Customized chemotherapy protocols based on the diagnosis and treatment goals
- Pain control, symptom management, and palliative support to protect quality of life
- Specialty surgery when removal of a mass or affected tissue may be appropriate
- Interventional radiology procedures for selected cancers that may benefit from minimally invasive treatment
Individualized Cancer Treatment for Every Patient
No two cancer cases are exactly alike. Even pets with the same type of tumor may need different treatment plans based on the location of the disease, whether it has spread, their other medical conditions, and how they respond to care. Some pets may need only continued monitoring after a benign mass has been removed. Others may benefit from chemotherapy, surgery, or another focused treatment intended to slow disease progression and reduce symptoms.
Available treatment approaches may include:
Surgery, Chemotherapy, and Immunotherapy: Surgery may be recommended when a tumor can be removed safely and doing so is expected to improve comfort or disease control. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy may be used for cancers that affect several areas of the body or have a higher risk of spreading.
Minimally Invasive Cancer Procedures: Selected urinary or internal tumors may be managed through image guided or endoscopic procedures.
Cryosurgery: Cryosurgery uses controlled freezing to destroy selected abnormal tissues.
Tumor Specific Electroporation (TSE) - A focused electrochemotherapy option for tumors on the skin and near the surface of the body. Coming to our new Evansville hospital. Learn more about TSE.
Throughout treatment, our team explains what each option is intended to accomplish, what side effects may occur, and how your pet’s response will be monitored.
When Should Your Pet See a Cancer Specialist
Cancer symptoms can vary widely depending on the affected organ or tissue. Some signs appear gradually, while others may be mistaken for aging or a less serious illness. Schedule a veterinary evaluation when you notice a persistent or unexplained change in your pet’s health. Possible warning signs include:
- Swelling or enlargement of the abdomen
- Bleeding from the nose, mouth, urinary tract, or another body opening
- Difficulty breathing, swallowing, or eating
- A new lump, bump, or discolored area of skin
- A wound that does not heal normally
- Recurring vomiting or diarrhea
- Sudden or unexplained weight loss
- Persistent pain, warmth, swelling, or lameness
- A visible or rapidly growing mass
- Reduced appetite or energy
- Changes in urination or bowel movements
- Unusual bruising or abnormal bleeding
Understanding Treatment Goals and Possible Outcomes
The expected outcome of cancer treatment depends on several factors, including the tumor type, its location, how quickly it is growing, whether it has spread, and which treatment options are available. Benign tumors are often easier to manage when identified early.
However, even a noncancerous mass can cause serious problems when it presses against the brain, blocks normal urine flow, interferes with breathing, or affects another important structure. More aggressive cancers may not always be curable. In these cases, treatment may still slow disease progression, reduce discomfort, improve daily function, and give families more meaningful time with their pets. Treatment recommendations can change as the disease or your pet’s needs change. Continued communication and follow up testing allow the medical team to evaluate progress and adjust the plan when appropriate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Veterinary Oncology, and Why Might My Pet Need It?
Veterinary oncology focuses on identifying, staging, treating, and managing cancer in animals.
A cancer evaluation may be recommended when your pet has an abnormal mass, unusual diagnostic results, unexplained weight loss, persistent symptoms, or a confirmed cancer diagnosis.
Our specialists work with pet parents and primary veterinarians to create an individualized plan that considers disease control, treatment tolerance, comfort, and quality of life.
Which Types of Cancer Commonly Affect Pets?
Dogs and cats can develop many types of cancer, including:
- Lymphoma
- Mast cell tumors
- Soft tissue sarcomas
- Bone cancer
- Bladder and urinary cancers
- Liver or spleen tumors
- Mammary tumors
- Blood and bone marrow cancers
- Skin tumors
- Oral and nasal cancers
The appropriate treatment depends on the cancer type, location, stage, and overall health of the patient. Diagnostic sampling and staging help the team understand the disease before making recommendations.
Is Chemotherapy Safe for Dogs and Cats?
Many pets tolerate chemotherapy better than people expect.
Veterinary chemotherapy is generally planned to control cancer while protecting quality of life. Medication type, dosage, and treatment frequency are adjusted according to the diagnosis, patient size, overall health, and response to treatment.
Some pets may experience temporary appetite changes, digestive upset, tiredness, or changes in blood cell counts. Our team explains possible side effects and provides guidance about what to monitor at home.
Can a Pet With Cancer Still Have a Good Quality of Life?
Yes. Many pets continue enjoying food, family time, gentle activity, and familiar routines during cancer treatment.
Quality of life is considered at every stage of care. The veterinary team monitors comfort, appetite, energy, mobility, breathing, treatment tolerance, and disease progression.
When the burden of treatment is expected to outweigh the benefit, our specialists discuss alternative options focused on symptom relief and comfort.
Is a Referral Required for a Cancer Consultation?
Many patients are referred by their primary veterinarian, who can provide medical records, laboratory findings, imaging reports, medication history, and information about previous treatment.
A referral may not be required for every consultation. Pet parents may contact our specialty team directly for appointment guidance.
Having complete records available before the visit can help the specialist prepare and reduce unnecessary repeated testing.
Will My Primary Veterinarian Remain Involved?
Yes. Specialty cancer care is intended to support the relationship you already have with your primary veterinarian.
Our team can share diagnostic findings, treatment recommendations, medication information, and follow up plans with the referring practice. Routine monitoring or supportive care may sometimes be completed by your regular veterinarian between specialty visits.
Veterinary professionals can access available documents through the appropriate VSP patient portal.
Where can I get cancer treatment for my dog in Evansville, Indiana?
Veterinary Specialist Partners Evansville offers cancer care close to home for dogs and cats, including chemotherapy, and is a veterinary cancer center in the region. Call (502) 901 7990 to schedule. No referral is needed, though we will gladly work with your family veterinarian.
Can my pet get chemotherapy near Evansville?
Yes. VSP gives chemotherapy for dogs and cats at our Evansville location, so most treatments happen close to home. We will explain the plan, expected side effects and costs before treatment begins.
Your Partner Throughout Your Pet’s Cancer Care
A cancer diagnosis can bring difficult questions, unfamiliar decisions, and uncertainty about the future. Our specialty team is here to explain the medical findings, discuss available treatments, and help you understand what each option may mean for your pet.