Cancer is a genetic disease, a gene anomaly that controls cell growth and leads to their excessive proliferation.

Cancer can affect 25% of the canine population and leads to the death of 50% of dogs and cats that are more than 10 years of age. By treating this disease, we hope to ensure patient confort and prolong life.

SERVICES AVAILABLE
  • Chemotherapy treatment protocol for the HVRS as well as for referring veterinarians
  • Complete on-site laboratory
  • Surgeries
  • CT Scan
  • Radiology
  • Ultrasonography
  • Endoscopy
  • Biopsies
  • Fine needle aspiration and cytology
  • Bone marrow aspiration

For more information,
please click on the following links.

1. Diagnosis and Therapies

2. Chemotherapy

After a B.Sc. degree from McGill University in 1991, Dr. de Lorimier obtained his DVM from the Université de Montréal in 1996. Following 4 years of small animal general practice in Montréal, he enrolled in a medical oncology training program at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in 2000. Upon completion of his residency in 2003, he stayed on as clinical assistant professor until 2007.


Dr. de Lorimier is a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) in Oncology, and joined the team of specialists at Hôpital Vétérinaire Rive-Sud in July 2007. He sits on several oncology-related committees and boards, is an oncology consultant on the Veterinary Information Network (www.vin.com), and collaborates with veterinary and comparative oncology networks. 


Author or co-author of fourty scientific papers and 12 book chapters, his main interests include novel cancer therapeutics, comparative oncology, pain control, and palliative and supportive care aiming to improve his patients’ quality of life.


CONFERENCE
June 2009, Montreal
 Dr. de Lorimier discusses
2 of his patients during the
"Animal Survivor" event.

WATCH THE VIDEO



 

 


Diagnosis
When we suspect cancer, the first step is to establish a precise diagnosis; then it is important to determine the extent of the disease.

We have many means to achieve this:

  • Radiology
  • Ultrasonography
  • Endoscopy
  • Biopsy
  • Axial tomography (CT scan)
  • Fine needle aspiration and cytology
  • Bone marrow aspiration

THERAPIES
Different methods are possible to treat cancer : chemotherapy, oncological surgery and radiation therapy.

The adopted strategy depends on numerous factors including the type of cancer, its location, the extent of the disease and the condition of the animal.


It is possible to establish with the referring veterinarians the best treatment plan for their patients.
 
Chemotherapy

We use chemotherapy when the cancer is disseminated or if it presents dissemination potential.

Chemotherapeutic agents used exist in many forms. Some drugs have to be administered intravenously, others orally or subcutaneously.

A drug can be administered alone or in combination according to a pre-established protocol.

The choice of a drug or of a protocol depends on the animal’s general state, the type of cancer and on the client’s financial possibilities.

Treatment duration varies depending on the drug used and can take from 5 minutes to one day. Prolonged hospitalization is seldom necessary.

Side effects associated with chemotherapy vary, and depend on the drugs used and the animal’s individual susceptibility.

In general, these side effects do not last long and disappear without too much intervention. Less than 5% of patients are hospitalized following treatment and less than 1% dies from its consequences.

Our first priority is to ensure that our patients will have a good quality of life by minimizing the occurrence of major side effects.

Animals treated at our hospital are placed under the care of a technician specialized in oncology. This person makes sure the animals receive all the specific care they need.

Because we know the amount of stress that owners of cancer-suffering animals are under, we do everything in our power to reassure them.