Grantline Veterinary Hospital has been honored to serve our community, providing compassionate care for your pets. It is with a heavy heart that we must announce that our practice must temporarily close, effective December 22nd. The nationwide labor shortage has hit the veterinary industry hard, and we are unable to keep our hospital open without a doctor on site.

While we are actively recruiting for a new veterinarian, we cannot provide medical treatment or authorize prescription refills without a provider onsite. However, our phone lines will remain open to help you. If you need medical care in our absence, we can assist in referring you to another hospital and transferring your pet’s medical records there.

While we cannot provide a timeline for reopening at this time, we want to thank you for the trust you have placed in Grantline Veterinary Hospital over the years, and we hope to see you again soon!

5 Myths about Cancer in Pets

How much do you really know about cancer in pets? There’s a lot of information about cancer in pets out there, but our team at Grantline Veterinary Hospital would like to use this time to reveal the truth behind common myths about cancer in pets and spread awareness. Learn what really happens when a pet develops cancer and undergoes treatment as we debunk some pet cancer misconceptions.

Myth: A cancer diagnosis means a poor prognosis for my pet

Truth: Not all cancers are highly aggressive, nor do they always spread to other locations. Many types of cancers grow slowly, are non-aggressive, do not metastasize, or go into remission with treatment.

Myth: Only older pets develop cancer

Truth: While older pets are more likely to develop cancer for a multitude of reasons, young pets are not immune. A weakened immune system and environmental and hereditary factors can all play a role in cancer development, which means young pets can be at risk.

Myth: The only form of cancer treatment for pets is chemotherapy

Truth: Although most cancer treatment plans include some form of chemotherapy, other options are available, such as:

  • Surgical excision
  • Radiation therapy
  • Immunotherapy

A veterinary oncologist will provide you with the best treatment plan to manage or cure your pet’s cancer.

Myth: Chemotherapy will cause debilitating side effects in my pet

Truth: When people think of chemotherapy, they often think of the negative side effects associated with the treatment. However, chemotherapy doses are lower for pets than for people and typically do not cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, and hair loss seen in humans. 

Myth: Cancer in pets is impossible to prevent

Truth: While many cancers cannot be prevented, you can be proactive in helping your pet avoid some of them. For example, you can spay or neuter your pet to prevent or reduce the risk of mammary, uterine, prostate, and testicular cancers. You also can protect your light-colored pet from the sun to reduce their risk of squamous cell carcinoma, a type of skin cancer.

No pet owner wants to hear that their pet has cancer, but keep in mind that their quality of life can still be maintained with an early diagnosis even if your pet develops cancer. Contact our team if you notice anything amiss in your furry pal, like a new lump or bump or a non-healing sore.