Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine & Oncology (AVIMO)

At Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine & Oncology, we understand that treating cancer in pets is not just about extending life—it’s about preserving its joy, comfort, and dignity. Throughout every step of the process, your pet’s quality of life remains our highest priority. We will work closely with you to ensure that every decision is made with your pet’s well-being at heart.

Finding the Right Balance

Our hope with treatment is always to control or cure the cancer, while helping your pet feel as happy and comfortable as possible. In some cases, a cure is not realistic. When that happens, our focus shifts toward helping your pet live well for as long as we can. We believe that time together is meaningful—but only if it feels good for your pet and your family.

Quality of life means something different to every family. For some, it’s seeing their dog still eager for walks or their cat curled up in their favorite sunny spot. For others, it may be as simple as eating well, resting comfortably, and not being in pain. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, which is why your role as your pet’s advocate is so important. You know your pet best, and your insight is essential in helping us assess how they’re doing.

Understanding and Measuring Quality of Life

Because our pets can’t tell us how they’re feeling, we rely on changes in their behavior, appetite, energy, and comfort to help us evaluate their quality of life. That’s why we often encourage families to think about what a “good day” looks like for their pet and to identify personal benchmarks—such as appetite, interest in play, ease of movement, or social interactions—that matter most.

Sometimes, changes happen gradually and can be harder to notice day to day. That’s why we suggest writing down your pet’s “minimum standards” at the start of treatment. These might include things like whether they’re eating, walking comfortably, interacting with the family, or sleeping peacefully. Having this reference can make it easier to notice shifts over time.

Veterinary professionals also use structured tools, like quality-of-life scales, to guide conversations. These often include five key areas:

• Mental alertness

• Appetite

• Body weight and condition

• Activity level

• Elimination habits

These tools help us track how your pet is doing and guide adjustments to their care when needed.

Managing Side Effects

Cancer treatments like chemotherapy or radiation are intended to target cancer cells, but they can sometimes affect healthy tissue too, leading to temporary side effects. In veterinary medicine, we focus on gentle, well-tolerated protocols. Most pets experience only mild side effects, such as fatigue, nausea, or decreased appetite, and fewer than 10% require hospitalization due to treatment-related complications.

If our goal is long-term disease control or remission, we may tolerate more significant short-term side effects. But when our focus is on comfort and maintaining day-to-day happiness, we work even more carefully to minimize discomfort. We will always discuss potential side effects with you in advance, and together we’ll determine what level of risk is acceptable for your pet. Your values and your pet’s comfort help guide every treatment decision we make.

When Palliative Care Is the Best Choice

Palliative treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and keeping your pet as comfortable as possible when a cure is unlikely or when your family decides not to pursue aggressive therapy. Even though the intent of palliative care is not to extend life, it often allows pets to enjoy more good days, simply because they feel better.

Palliative options may include pain management, anti-nausea medications, appetite stimulants, or other supportive therapies. These treatments can often be administered at home and are designed to cause minimal stress for both pets and their families.

Navigating End-of-Life Decisions

There may come a time when, despite our best efforts, a pet’s quality of life declines and further treatment is no longer in their best interest. These are never easy conversations, but they are a necessary and compassionate part of caring for animals with serious illness. If your pet reaches this stage, we will talk openly and supportively with you about options, including humane euthanasia.

For families who prefer not to pursue euthanasia, we can offer comfort care and, when appropriate, referrals to veterinary hospice providers. If euthanasia is chosen, we are here to make that process as peaceful and gentle as possible—for your pet and for you. We believe this final act of love is one of the kindest gifts we can give to the animals who have given us so much.

At Atlantic Veterinary Internal Medicine & Oncology, we are honored to be part of your pet’s care team. Whether we are exploring curative treatments, offering palliative support, or helping you navigate the final stages of your pet’s journey, we are here to listen, guide, and walk alongside you with compassion.

If you have questions about quality of life, treatment options, or what to expect, we invite you to reach out. You and your pet are not alone—we’re here every step of the way.