Should I Ask For A Referral To A Veterinary Oncologist?

Yes. In most cases, it is reasonable to request a consultation with a board-certified veterinary oncologist when your dog has been diagnosed with cancer or when cancer is strongly suspected.

Meeting with an oncologist does not mean that you are committing to chemotherapy, radiation, surgery, or any other treatment. A consultation is an opportunity to better understand the diagnosis, determine whether additional testing is necessary, review all available options, and make an informed decision for your dog.

The Veterinary Cancer Society encourages pet parents whose animals have cancer, or are strongly suspected of having cancer, to seek evaluation by a veterinarian who is board-certified in oncology so they can receive current information about diagnostic and treatment options (Veterinary Cancer Society, n.d.-a).

What Is A Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist?

A board-certified veterinary oncologist is a veterinarian who has completed advanced education and supervised clinical training in veterinary cancer medicine beyond veterinary school.

This generally includes:

• A veterinary degree

• A rotating internship or equivalent clinical experience

• A multi-year oncology residency

• Advanced training in cancer diagnosis and treatment

• Research or scholarly work

• Successful completion of specialty certification requirements and examinations

In the United States, medical oncology specialists are commonly certified through the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. The ACVIM is an organization recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association to train and certify specialists in veterinary oncology and several other areas of veterinary medicine (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, n.d.-a).

Not every veterinarian who treats animals with cancer is a board-certified specialist. When searching for an oncologist, look for credentials such as DACVIM (Oncology) following the veterinarian’s name.

What Can A Veterinary Oncologist Do?

A veterinary oncologist can help:

• Confirm or clarify the diagnosis

• Interpret cytology and biopsy results

• Recommend appropriate staging tests

• Determine whether the cancer has spread

• Explain the cancer’s expected behavior

• Review prognosis and survival statistics

• Develop a personalized treatment plan

• Administer or supervise chemotherapy

• Coordinate radiation therapy or specialized surgery

• Recommend supportive and palliative care

• Monitor treatment response and side effects

• Discuss relevant clinical trials

• Collaborate with your primary veterinarian

Veterinary oncology services may offer comprehensive consultations, advanced diagnostic testing, cancer staging and individualized treatment planning. They frequently work with surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, internists and other specialists when a dog’s care requires several areas of expertise (Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, n.d.-a).

When Is A Referral Especially Important?

An oncology referral may be particularly valuable when:

• The diagnosis is uncertain or complicated

• The biopsy report recommends additional testing

• The tumor is aggressive or high grade

• The cancer may have spread

• Chemotherapy is being considered

• Radiation therapy may be needed

• The tumor could not be completely removed

• The cancer returned after treatment

• Several treatment options are available

• Your veterinarian is uncertain about the best next step

• You want a clearer prognosis

• You would like a second opinion

• Your dog may qualify for a clinical trial

• You want to discuss palliative care with a cancer specialist

A referral may also be helpful before surgery. In some cases, the first surgery offers the best opportunity to remove a tumor completely. Consulting the appropriate specialist before the operation may help determine the recommended surgical margins, staging tests and treatment sequence.

Should I See An Oncologist Before My Dog Has Surgery?

When possible, consider asking whether an oncology or surgical consultation would be beneficial before a suspicious mass is removed.

This may be particularly important when:

• The tumor is large

• The mass is in a difficult location

• Wide surgical margins may be required

• The cancer type has a high risk of recurrence

• Reconstruction may be necessary

• Imaging could help plan the surgery

• Chemotherapy or radiation may be recommended before surgery

• The surgery could affect your dog’s mobility or organ function

This does not mean every lump requires an oncology consultation. Many masses can be appropriately evaluated and removed by a primary-care veterinarian. However, asking before surgery can help prevent a situation in which the tumor is removed with inadequate margins and a second procedure is needed.

Does A Referral Mean My Veterinarian Cannot Treat My Dog?

No. Specialty care is usually collaborative.

The ACVIM describes an ideal “Triad of Care” involving the pet parent, primary-care veterinarian and board-certified veterinary specialist. The oncologist may develop or oversee the cancer-treatment plan, while the primary veterinarian continues providing routine care, monitoring, laboratory testing and management of other medical conditions (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, n.d.-b).

Depending on the treatment, some medications, examinations or blood tests may be completed through your regular veterinary clinic. Communication between both veterinary teams helps ensure everyone has updated information.

Does Seeing An Oncologist Mean My Dog Will Receive Chemotherapy?

No. An oncology appointment is a consultation, not a commitment to treatment.

After reviewing your dog’s records and performing an examination, the oncologist may discuss:

• Surgery

• Chemotherapy

• Radiation therapy

• Targeted medications

• Immunotherapy

• Active monitoring

• Palliative treatment

• Hospice care

• A combination of approaches

You may decide to pursue the full treatment plan, select only certain treatments, focus on symptom management or decline cancer-directed treatment altogether.

The purpose of the consultation is to understand your options and the likely benefits, risks, costs and burdens associated with each one.

Can An Oncologist Help If I Do Not Want Aggressive Treatment?

Yes. Veterinary oncologists do more than administer chemotherapy.

They can also help create a comfort-focused plan involving:

• Pain management

• Nausea control

• Appetite support

• Management of inflammation

• Treatment of bleeding or digestive symptoms

• Breathing support

• Mobility assistance

• Monitoring recommendations

• Hospice planning

• Quality-of-life assessment

Advances in veterinary cancer care include improvements in supportive and palliative management, giving families more options even when cure or long-term remission is not possible (Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, n.d.-b).

What Should I Bring To The Appointment?

Ask your primary veterinarian to send the oncology clinic your dog’s complete medical records before the consultation.

Helpful records include:

• Cytology reports

• Biopsy and histopathology reports

• Bloodwork and urinalysis results

• X-rays, ultrasound images, CT or MRI studies

• Surgical reports

• Treatment records

• Current medications

• Current supplements

• Previous medical history

• Details about recent symptoms

Bring a written list of everything your dog receives, including prescription medications, over-the-counter products, vitamins, herbs, mushrooms, CBD products and nutritional supplements.

You may also want to bring:

• A notebook

• A list of questions

• Photos showing changes in a visible mass

• A symptom or quality-of-life log

• Information about your budget and travel limitations

• A trusted family member or friend

Cancer consultations can involve a large amount of information. Taking notes or asking whether you may record the conversation can help you review the discussion later.

Questions To Ask The Veterinary Oncologist

Consider asking:

• What is my dog’s exact diagnosis?

• Do you agree with the original pathology interpretation?

• Is additional testing needed?

• What grade and stage is the cancer?

• Has the cancer spread?

• What treatment options are available?

• What is the goal of each treatment?

• Is a cure possible?

• What is the likelihood of remission or control?

• What is the expected prognosis with treatment?

• What may happen without cancer-directed treatment?

• What side effects are most likely?

• How often will my dog need appointments?

• How will treatment affect daily life?

• What symptoms require urgent veterinary care?

• How much will each option cost?

• Are payment plans or financial resources available?

• Are there clinical trials that may be appropriate?

• Can some treatments or monitoring be completed by my regular veterinarian?

• What palliative or hospice options are available?

What If There Is No Oncologist Near Me?

Access to veterinary oncology can be limited in some regions. Ask your veterinarian about:

• The nearest specialty or university hospital

• A traveling veterinary oncologist

• Teleconsultation between your veterinarian and an oncologist

• Remote record review

• Treatment protocols that can be administered locally

• Periodic specialist visits combined with local monitoring

Some services allow a board-certified oncologist to consult remotely with the primary veterinarian and pet parent. However, teleconsultation rules and the treatments that can be provided remotely vary by location.

The Veterinary Cancer Society provides resources for locating veterinary oncologists and information about cancer-care services (Veterinary Cancer Society, n.d.-a).

Can I Contact An Oncologist Without A Referral?

This depends on the hospital or oncology practice. Some clinics allow pet parents to schedule consultations directly, while others require a formal referral from the primary veterinarian.

The ACVIM recommends obtaining a referral whenever possible because it supports the transfer of relevant medical records and communication between the primary veterinarian and specialist (American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, n.d.-c).

Contact the oncology clinic to ask about its scheduling requirements. Even when a formal referral is not required, the clinic will usually need your dog’s medical records and diagnostic results.

What If I Cannot Afford Specialist Treatment?

You can still ask about the cost of an initial consultation. Even when advanced treatment is financially out of reach, one appointment may provide valuable information about:

• The diagnosis and prognosis

• The most useful next test

• Lower-cost treatment alternatives

• Medications your primary veterinarian can manage

• Palliative options

• Expected symptoms

• Emergency warning signs

• Financial-assistance resources

• Clinical trials that may offset some costs

Be honest about your financial limits. Ask the oncologist to separate recommendations into essential, strongly recommended and optional steps.

You can also request written estimates before agreeing to tests or treatment.

How Can I Find A Qualified Veterinary Oncologist?

You may begin by:

• Asking your primary veterinarian for a referral

• Searching the Veterinary Cancer Society directory

• Using the ACVIM veterinary-specialist directory

• Contacting a veterinary teaching hospital

• Calling a regional specialty hospital

Confirm that the veterinarian is board-certified in oncology or is an oncology resident working under the direct supervision of board-certified specialists.

The Veterinary Cancer Society maintains a search resource for pet parents looking for veterinary oncology care, while the ACVIM provides resources for identifying board-certified veterinary specialists (Veterinary Cancer Society, n.d.-a; American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, n.d.-b).

The Most Important Takeaway

Requesting an oncology consultation is usually worthwhile when your dog has cancer or a strong suspicion of cancer.

The consultation does not obligate you to pursue aggressive treatment. It gives you access to specialized information about the diagnosis, staging, prognosis, treatment options, comfort care and likely outcomes.

Your primary veterinarian and veterinary oncologist can work together. The goal is not simply to pursue every possible treatment, but to help you choose the plan that best supports your dog’s comfort, quality of life and individual needs.

References

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. (n.d.-a). About ACVIM. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.acvim.org/about-acvim

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. (n.d.-b). Animal owners. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.acvim.org/resources-tools/animal-owners

American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. (n.d.-c). FAQs. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.acvim.org/about-acvim/faqs

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.-a). Oncology. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.vet.cornell.edu/hospitals/services/oncology

Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. (n.d.-b). Cancer care at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/sprecher-institute-comparative-cancer-research/cancer-care-cornell-university-hospital-animals

Veterinary Cancer Society. (n.d.-a). Find a veterinary oncologist. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://vetcancersociety.org/resources/pet-owners/find-a-veterinary-oncologist/

Veterinary Cancer Society. (n.d.-b). Pet owner resources. Retrieved July 16, 2026, from https://vetcancersociety.org/resources/pet-owners/pet-owner-resources/