PetHealth
by Maria Canfield
According to the 2017-2018 National Pet Owners Survey, 68 percent of U.S. households own a pet. The survey counted all types of pets, from freshwater fish to reptiles to horses. But (of course) cats and dogs lead the pack, with over 94 million felines and nearly 90 million canines enjoying their place as beloved family members.
It’s terribly difficult for all concerned when a pet gets sick, especially with a serious disease such as cancer. Dr. M.J. Hamilton, the owner of Private Veterinary Specialties L.L.C., is committed to providing an unprecedented level of medical care during a pet’s cancer journey. In support of that mission, he has designed a “mobile” care model, which makes oncological services both more accessible and more personalized.
Dr. Hamilton calls this model the “mobile department.” He has a specialty vehicle, built to his exact specifications; think bloodmobile but much more sophisticated. On any given day, it is parked at one of 10 “host locations”—animal hospitals—in Central New Jersey. (One of the locations is dedicated to treating horses with cancer.) The newest host location is in Stockton, a stone’s throw from several cities in Bucks County, including New Hope, Solebury, and Lahaska.
In addition to being a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), Dr. Hamilton is a board-certified veterinary oncologist; the specific credential is DACVIM(O) and it means that he has completed an approved residency training program in vetinary medical oncology and has achieved board certification.
“This is the first time that mobile cancer care services have been provided for pets,” Dr. Hamilton says. “We are making it much more convenient for owners to get treatment for their pet, by eliminating the need to travel long distances.” The preliminary meeting and examination take place in the host location, but all cancer care takes place in the vehicle. This care includes diagnostic procedures, lab services, and the administration of treatment.
As intriguing as the mobile aspect of Dr. Hamilton’s care model is, he sees it as just one component of what differentiates his practice. “We provide specialized, personal, private care,” he says. “When pet owners call during our operating hours, they get me or a nurse—there is no ‘press 1 for this, press 2 for that’ phone tree to struggle through. We make sure no one gets lost in the shuffle.” And—somewhat unusually—only one pet is scheduled for each appointment time. “It’s not a cattle call, where pets are lined up and we go from one to another. We see one pet at a time and give them our undivided attention,” he says.
Another differentiator: the technicians who work with Dr. Hamilton are “Fear Free” certified. They have gone through a program, developed by board-certified veterinary behaviorists, designed to teach techniques (including “gentle-handling”) that prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets as they are undergoing examinations or treatment.
About half of dogs over the age of 10 will develop cancer. Dogs and cats can develop many of the same cancers that are seen in humans, but some types are much more common than others. Lymphoma (a type of blood cancer) is frequently seen in both dogs and cats, as is melanoma and other forms of skin cancer. There is a high incidence of osteosarcoma (bone cancer) in dogs, and fibrosarcoma (a tumor that develops from connective tissue) is common in cats.
The warning signs of cancer in dogs and cats are similar to those in people; for example, a lump or bump, a wound that won’t heal, swelling, enlarged lymph nodes, or abnormal bleeding. Pet owners should contact their vetetinarian as soon as any of these signs appear, or if their pet simply doesn’t feel well or doesn’t seem “quite right.”
Dr. Hamilton is a medical veterinary oncologist, which means he does not perform surgery or administer radiation therapy. He does counsel owners on whether their pet’s type of cancer is likely to respond to radiation and will facilitate appointments at a local radiation facility and provide long-term support and monitoring of the pet’s health.
Chemotherapy and immunotherapy are the primary types of treatments that Dr. Hamilton provides in his practice. These drugs function a similar way in pets as they do in people. Chemotherapy kills cancer cells by stopping the ability of the cells to grow and divide, while immunotherapy harnesses the immune system as a way to fight cancer. Less common is the use of targeted therapy, a newer treatment approach that focuses on specific molecules and cell mechanisms thought to be important for cancer cell survival and growth.
Advancements in treating cancer in pets are occurring. “There are new drugs for lymphoma and bone tumors that have improved survival,” Dr. Hamilton says.
Dr. Hamilton speaks enthusiastically about the “One Health” concept, exemplified by the collaboration of multiple researchorganizations. In light of the fact that humans and dogs develop similar cancers, those organizations are funding research in “comparative oncology”—a field that integrates the cancers seen in dogs into studies of human cancers.
“We love what we do,” Dr. Hamilton says. “It is both humbling and gratifying to be able to help pets and their owners at such a challenging and emotional time.”
For more information about Private Veterinary Specialties visit their website at www.pvspetcancer.com.
Maria Canfield is a local freelance writer and the co-founder of Your Words Your Story, a memoir and pet-tribute creation service.