A cancer diagnosis for a beloved pet can be an overwhelming experience for pet owners. As general practitioners (GPs), you are often the first point of contact, the ones delivering the news and helping families navigate their options. Although all cancer cases may benefit from referral to a specialist, some are more critically time sensitive than others. Additionally, referring the client to the right specialist can significantly affect the pet’s outcome.
The veterinary profession is already stretched thin, with demand for services far outweighing supply. As GPs, you should be empowered to feel confident in your role as a patient’s primary veterinarian while acknowledging what you know, recognizing where additional expertise is needed, and understanding that guiding pet owners through this journey is as much about communication as it is about medicine.
Challenges facing the GP
The reality is that GPs manage diverse cases, from dermatology to cardiology to orthopedics to behavior. Expecting any GP to be fully up to date on every cancer treatment is unrealistic.
Some pet owners may have researched their pet’s specific cancer more thoroughly than their primary care veterinarian has had time to, and that is not a failure; it is simply the nature of modern veterinary medicine and the information age in which we live.
One of the biggest challenges facing GPs is knowing when and where to refer. Sending a case to the wrong specialist or delaying a necessary referral can negatively affect the patient’s outcome. For example, suppose a patient with a soft tissue sarcoma is sent to a medical oncologist instead of a surgical or radiation oncologist. In that case, 2 months might be lost waiting for an appointment, time that could have been used for definitive treatment.
Additionally, access to specialists is a growing concern. Medical oncologists often have long appointment wait times. With fewer than 150 active diplomats certified in veterinary radiation oncology by the American College of Veterinary Radiology,1 pet owners may need to travel significant distances for treatment, making early decision-making even more critical.
Top hurdles pet owners face after a cancer diagnosis
Reasons to Prep Your Patients Prior to a Cancer Referral
- Every day counts and the sooner the patient can be prepped, the quicker they can make treatment decisions.
- In addition to getting more information faster, your patient will appreciate spending less time and money on consults that they may need from other local specialists.
- Your office benefits from providing care in-house, you stay involved in your patient's treatment journey and it helps strengthen the relationship you have with your client and patient.
- The specialty clinic can work faster at providing treatment options when they receive a pet who has already been diagnosed and worked up.
For pet owners, the cancer journey is not just a medical one; it is emotional, financial, and logistical. Some of the biggest challenges pet owners face include the following:
