Veterian Key

11 The anaemic cancer patient Anaemic animals can have many underlying conditions causing the problem, so it is vital that a logical, stepwise clinical approach is taken to ensure an…

1 How to obtain the perfect biopsy Obtaining a diagnosis is one of the most important steps in the management of the cancer patient. Obtaining a biopsy before the surgical…

5 The cancer patient with sneezing and/or nasal discharge Nasal neoplasia accounts for 1% of tumours in dogs, is considered less common in cats and has also been reported in…

7 The coughing and/or dyspnoeic cancer patient Coughing is a clinical sign associated with tracheal or lung pathology and therefore is suggestive of intrathoracic neoplasia in a cancer patient, whilst…

13 The haematuric/stranguric/dysuric cancer patient Haematuria is defined as the presence of excessive numbers of erythrocytes within the urine and therefore from a cancerous disease viewpoint, haematuria can be caused…

14 The lame cancer patient The identification of an animal being lame due to a neoplastic disease usually causes owners significant distress as they face the possibility of considering amputation…

8 The dysphagic/gagging/regurgitating cancer patient Dysphagia is defined as painful or difficult swallowing and can usually be subclassified as oral dysphagia, pharyngeal dysphagia and cricopharyngeal dysphagia. Dysphagia, therefore, generally refers…

2 Principles of cancer surgery In most cancer patients, obtaining a preoperative diagnosis before contemplating surgery is desirable. Knowledge of the type and possible grade of the tumour will allow…

9 The vomiting and/or diarrhoeic cancer patient Vomiting is the active expulsion of material from within the stomach and/or upper small intestine. Vomiting should always be differentiated from regurgitation either…

12 The polydipsic cancer patient INTRODUCTION Polydipsia is defined as when an animal drinks in excess of 100 ml/kg/day, although a high degree of suspicion for polydipsia can be reached when…