February 4 marks World Cancer Day, a moment to reflect on how cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment continue to evolve across veterinary medicine. One recent example is the FDA’s 

 of verdinexor tablets (Laverdia; Anivive Lifesciences), an oral therapy that expands treatment options for dogs with lymphoma.

To mark the day, we’ve rounded up a couple dvm360 articles, podcasts, expert interviews, and Shorts with quick takeaways. Together, they offer practical guidance on staging, diagnostics, and treatment decisions in general practice, alongside disease-specific insights in canine and feline cancer, emerging therapies, and the human experiences that shape oncology care.

Understanding oncology diagnostics and therapeutics

Written by two leading veterinary oncologists, this in-depth article breaks down how primary care teams can approach cancer staging, diagnostics, and treatment. It highlights in-house staging essentials, emerging noninvasive tests, and oncology therapies now accessible in general practice, clarifying when to treat, when to refer, and how to better guide client conversations.

Feline small cell GI lymphoma: A cancer that overlaps with IBD

A practical overview of recognizing, diagnosing, and managing this often elusive cancer, including why this slow-moving cancer is frequently missed, how it overlaps with irritable bowel disease, and emerging treatment options.

Practical tips for canine lymphoma diagnostics, screening, and treatment

A slideshow with must-know tips from oncology specialist Pamela Jones, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), on canine lymphoma care that veterinarians can apply immediately.

Oncology resources for the general practitioner

A curated list of practical oncology resources for primary care veterinarians, shared by Ann E. Hohenhaus, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology, SAIM), director of Pet Health Information at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center in New York, New York, during a lecture at the 2025 New York Vet Show.

Oncology specialist Rachel Venable, DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology), highlights common diagnostic and surgical pitfalls in veterinary cancer care and explains how proper cytology, histopathology, and staging can change outcomes.

Veterinary oncologist overcomes cancer herself

, Renée Alsarraf, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), reflects on how her own cancer diagnosis reshaped her perspective as a veterinary oncologist, from the emotional dynamics of the waiting room to what companion animals can teach us about coping, connection, and care.

Bone marrow transplantation at the intersection of human and veterinary medicine

At the 2025 ACVIM Forum in Louisville, Kentucky, physician-scientist Frederick R. Appelbaum, MD, traced the development of bone marrow transplantation, from its origins in canine research to its role in modern human oncology, and discussed how advances in immunotherapy may eventually translate back to veterinary patients.

Clinical insights into feline mast cell disease

Feline mast cell disease isn’t just a smaller version of the canine disease. At the 2025 dvm360 Fetch National Harbor conference, Zachary Wright, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), explains how mast cell disease in cats differs biologically and clinically from dogs, highlighting why cutaneous tumors are often benign, and what clinicians should watch for when visceral disease is the real concern.

Why pet cancer treatment isn't one-size-fits-all

No two lymphoma cases are the same. In 60 seconds, Pamela D. Jones, DVM, DACVIM (Oncology), explains how veterinarians must tailor therapy for each patient, like a chef perfecting a recipe.

Rebecca Windsor, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) addresses a common myth in regenerative medicine: can stem cell therapy cause tumors? Watch this minute-long video to learn the answer.

Articles

A curated roundup of reporting, expert insights, and conversations examining how veterinarians are diagnosing, treating, and rethinking cancer care today.

What to read, watch, and listen to in veterinary oncology this World Cancer Day

For years, the decision to spay or neuter a pet was considered a straightforward milestone of responsible ownership. However, a recent "explosion" of literature has sparked a heated debate, often leaving pet owners caught between the anecdotal advice of breeders and the clinical recommendations of their veterinarians.

 following his lectures at the 2026 Veterinary Meeting & Expo, Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology), shares insights into the current landscape of research regarding spay and neuter and the cancer risks associated with the procedures. Throughout the interview, Bergman shares some intel on the actual risks based on current research, and how it can vary, educating clients, and the disconnect between what breeders are telling clients, and what clients are listening to from their veterinarians.

Below is a transcript from the interview, edited lightly for clarity

 Why do you think there has been an “explosion” of publications investigating a possible connection between cancer and spay/neuter?

Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology): 

I think there's several reasons. One, I think breeders felt very strongly about this because of what they were potentially seeing with them and their clients and the folks that were buying those dogs and cats from them. And often science slowly catches up with what's happening anecdotally. Part of why I started doing this talk, it was probably 5 or 6 years ago, so just before the pandemic, was 1) there was an explosion of literature. And some of that scientific literature wasn't very good, to be honest, and it was often the studies that a lot of breeders were quoting, and that kind of bothered me, because I felt like, at least up here in the northeast, we're north of New York City, we often will have these clients that will walk in with a stack of paper from their breeder that says to do this and not do that. And it bothered me that they owned that conversation with the owner.

I felt like [veterinarians] should actually be the ones that own that conversation. It's fine if they want to have input, but veterinarians are much more trained to evaluate the scientific literature. I quickly learned that my PhD, even though I have various projects that I was working on, was really to train me how to read the scientific literature. 

That was kind of eye-opening when I finally realized that during the PhD, they were sinking a huge amount of time, energy and focus into training me how to evaluate the literature, and so some of the articles that the breeders were really staunchly part of showed a 3 to 5 fold increase in lymphoma, mast cell, and hemangiosarcoma and being a clinician scientist, I started to look at the literature more closely before I developed the lecture. And it became very apparent to me that while I think there could be some truth in the hemangiosarcoma side of things, based on some of the other scientific literature out there, especially the Golden Retriever Lifetime Study that shows that—at least at that time, and it's likely even more now—8% of those golden retrievers were being diagnosed with hemangio, which is frightening when you think about it, because that that's on my Top 5 hated list of tumors. We struggle to know how to treat those effectively.  And if you look outside of hemangio the very best studies that are out there are with 1000s of dogs so it becomes infinitely more trustable whereas the breeder-specific studies that they were talking about. Those would often have 10 dogs for each specific type of tumor. And that’s hard for me to hear, because you're making global recommendations based on 10 dogs with lymphoma, 10 dogs with hemangio, 12 dogs with mast cell, etc.

Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology)

So in the context of lymphoma, there's a study out there that I think is very trustable, that shows there's about a 30% increase in risk for female dogs that are neutered. But interestingly, that same exact study showed that there was about a 40% decrease in male dogs. So, it can go both ways, but that's very different than the 3 to 5 fold that we talked about that the breeders like to quote.

The other one that was eye-opening to me when I started to dig into the data was on mast cell tumors, so something that oncologists see left and right. 

There were 2 very important studies in some of the very best studies, which again had thousands of dogs in them, so were infinitely more trustable than some of the other data that we just talked about. There was one out of North Carolina State, and another one that was being done with Antech that showed that there was about a 2.5 fold reduction in risk associated with neutering, not a 3-to-5-fold increase. So it was the exact opposite.

What I then started to realize was I need to make a continuing education lecture about this to basically arm veterinarians with the data and what I really try to do in that talk, and I really like it, because, one, it's changing over time as new data comes in, but veterinarians have so far been super appreciative of that, because that took me probably a week to put all of that information together—what general practitioner is going to take that amount of time to research something like that? 

So I felt like my job was to pass that information on to the veterinarian, and then they make that review of whether it makes sense or not. And so I walk people through in a very evidence-based medicine way to talk about the literature.

I characterize the data as strongly beneficial to research. I then do moderate level of trust, and then start to get down to the ones that I don't trust because there's so few patients and basically the summary was that it does appear to be an increase in hemangio, and that's trustable. There is an increased risk associated with urothelial tumors, so things like transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, that's trustable as well. And then the hemangio data that we just talked about, whereas nearly everything else, and there's, I should also add osteosarcoma probably to that list, but the vast majority of that work is in Rottweilers, so we don't know if that can extrapolate over to other breeds.

And so I spent a lot of time reviewing that literature in that lecture. Then I also point out there's a lot more literature in the context of osteoarthritis, intervertebral disc disease, cruciate ligament rupture, that type of thing. And so when you're trying to make patient-specific recommendations, I tried to show a sense of urgency to say, slow down if you're going to make those decisions based on cancer, because the data is not as good as some of the data that's out there with, again, osteoarthritis, cruciate ligament, intervertebral disc disease.

That said what you can glean from the literature is: Rotties that are neutered early do appear to have very significant increases in osteosarcoma, and that is work out of Purdue University. Again, it looks like there is a neuter association for Golden Retrievers with hemangiosarcoma. But this global thought that, again, breeders keep perpetuating of 3-5-fold increases in hemangios based on the total extent of publications that are out there.

So, long-winded answer to say, it's complicated, like most things in biology.

Do you know what current research says about spay/neuter and its possible link to cancer? 

Q&A with Philip Bergman, DVM, MS, PhD, DACVIM (Oncology)

Veterinarians are uniquely positioned to provide practical guidance to clients on the uncomfortable truth about pets and the climate, yet the profession has largely ceded this terrain to marketing departments and social media influencers. As companion animal ownership accelerates globally, with the US dog population alone surging from 52.9 million in 1996 to 89.7 million in 2024, the time for professional silence needs to end.

Over the past decade, a growing body of life-cycle assessments has revealed that dogs and cats carry a far larger environmental “paw print” than most owners imagine.

 In the US, Gregory Okin estimated that feeding companion animals releases around 64 million tons of carbon dioxide equivalent gases each year, which is comparable to the annual offset of roughly 13.6 million cars.

 The analysis suggested dogs and cats account for roughly one-third of the environmental impacts of all animal-based food production in the country, including land use, water, fossil fuel, and biocide.

The scale becomes startling when reframed. If American dogs and cats were a nation, they would rank fifth globally in meat consumption, behind Russia, Brazil, US, and China.

An average-sized cat produces approximately 310 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent annually, while a medium-sized dog generates around 770 kilograms per year.

 Larger dogs can emit upwards of 2,500 kilograms annually, which is twice the emissions of an average family car. A typical pet dog’s lifetime climate impact, therefore, can span several tons of CO₂ equivalent, with food production affecting almost every environmental impact category.

Subsequent global studies reveal that worldwide dry pet-food production results in an additional 56 and 151 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is the annual equivalent of roughly 1 to 3% of all agricultural emissions.

Pet waste is another major but overlooked issue. In the US alone, 163 million dogs and cats produce about 5.1 million tons of feces each year, which is the equivalent waste of 6.63 million people. The EPA classifies dog waste as an urban pollutant containing pathogens and nutrients that can contaminate soil and water, yet less than half of the owners tend to pick it up.

Cat litter, on the other hand, is non-biodegradable and often sourced through strip mining, causing erosion and habitat loss, and silica gel litter is even more carbon-intensive, requiring about 5 tons of coal for every ton of crystals.

Pet food, and moral blind spots in communication

FAO estimates that global food systems are responsible for roughly one-third of anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, with livestock and feed production contributing a disproportionately large share.

 In this context, the pet-food sector becomes highly relevant since it is closely tied to livestock agriculture through dedicated meat streams, co-products, and rendered by-products, which amplify pressures on other natural resources. A 2018 study by Poore and Nemecek, published in Science, found that meat sources can have 10-100 times higher emissions than most fish, highlighting that protein choices hugely determine emissions.

Yet public discussion of “sustainable pets” often drifts into moral panic about whether one is allowed to love animals at all in a warming world, rather than confronting concrete decisions about species, size, diet and numbers. Some commentators respond by downplaying the issue altogether, framing concern over pet-food emissions as a modern tragedy or a niche obsession of environmental extremists. Such narratives are convenient for an industry built on ever more premium, meat-heavy formulations, even as independent analyses repeatedly confirm nontrivial climate impacts from pet diets and suggest clear mitigation options.

Complicating the discourse further is a psychological paradox as revealed by recent climate communication research. A 2025 study by environmental psychologist Danielle Goldwert, PhD student in psychology at New York University, published in PNAS Nexus, found that people vastly underestimate the impact of decisions like pet ownership while overestimating low-impact behaviours such as recycling.

 When the study’s findings were linked into a narrative for pets by the media, the backlash was fierce, with social media users accusing publications of “attacking” pets and ignoring the role of major polluters. This backlash signals that climate messaging about pets can trigger defensiveness and reduce willingness to engage in collective action. This reality is also why veterinary leadership matters in reframing the narrative from accusation to practical partnership.

One Health demands professional leadership

Major veterinary bodies are already on record that climate change is a professional concern. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) declared climate change an emergency and endorsed the One Health approach to tackle it.

 Whereas the World Veterinary Association’s One Health position statement explicitly acknowledges veterinary responsibilities in addressing drivers of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.

 Academic commentaries on ‘Climate Change and Veterinary Medicine’ go as further as describing veterinarians as frontline defenders of environmental and public health who must integrate climate adaptation and mitigation into routine practice and education.

Companion animals, therefore, are a logical first arena in which to enact those commitments. Everyday choices ranging from diets and overfeeding to pet numbers and waste directly shape carbon emissions and resource use. Adapting the “3 Rs” of replacement, reduction and refinement, as in for use of lab animals, could be replicated for pet keeping while protecting welfare.

What climate-smart pet ownership can look like

For clinicians wary of moralizing, the first reassurance I’d provide is that climate-smart pet ownership is not a code for shaming clients or forcing carnivores onto poorly designed vegan diets. Rather, it is about using existing scientific tools in nutrition, behavior, population medicine and ethics to minimize harm while preserving the human-animal bond.

Choice of species and size matters. Life-cycle assessments suggest that larger dogs generally have substantially higher lifetime emissions than smaller dogs, and tend to have higher footprints than cats because of body size and diet quantity. While no clinician should prescribe a particular species purely on climate grounds, it is reasonable to discuss with prospective owners how housing, finances, and activity levels intersect with both welfare and environmental impacts.

Feeding for health rather than excess is another clear win. Studies show that the same animal can be associated with very different annual emissions depending on formulation and energy density.

For example, a medium-sized dog fed only wet food could be responsible for several times the annual greenhouse gases of the same dog on nutritionally equivalent dry food. In 2022, the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention revealed that nearly 60% of all pets in the US were obese or overweight.

 Counselling owners against overfeeding, unnecessary “indulgence” treats and ultra-premium, high-meat diets in cases without clinical indication is simultaneously good for health, environment, and economics.

Diet formulation itself offers multiple levers. The pet-food industry already relies heavily on rendered byproducts, which, when safely and appropriately used, can lower net waste from human food chain reducing the need for dedicated livestock production. Emerging research on plant-forward dog diets also suggests substantial potential reductions in resources, although these options must always be evaluated against rigorous nutritional and welfare evidence rather than ideology. Encouragingly, sustainable seafood options in pet food, with smaller offsets, have grown dramatically and will only increase over the next 5 years.

Population ethics is another aspect to consider seriously. Unplanned litter and high shelter intake often cause preventable suffering and aggregate environmental footprint from additional animals. Spay and neuter programs, promotion of adoption over commercial breeding, and client education about lifetime commitments all sit squarely within existing veterinary roles while advancing climate equity goals.

If veterinarians do not lead this conversation right now, others with narrower interests will gladly fill the vacuum. Already, some industry messaging emphasizes “eco-friendly” packaging and carbon-offset schemes while sidestepping the basic question of how much high-impact animal protein is being fed, and to how many animals. Only profession-led transparent guidance can help owners distinguish genuine emissions reductions from greenwashing.

Yes, professional organizations are moving, but far more in terms of continued education on climate and food systems should be mainstreamed, besides the optional webinars. Veterinary curricula must treat sustainability as a core competency rather than an elective. National associations such as the AVMA and global bodies like the World Veterinary Association (WVA) are well placed to issue evidence-based guidelines on climate-smart pet ownership, including standards for environmental labelling of pet foods based on independently verified life-cycle assessments.

Finally, veterinarians must insist on incorporating climate narratives in their messaging. Companion animals provide invaluable mental-health and social benefits, particularly for people who are isolated, disabled, or economically precarious, even as climate impacts fall hardest on the poorest communities. That reality argues for practical, non-judgmental advice instead of framing it as an indulgence reserved for the wealthy.

Climate-smart pet conversation will happen with or without veterinary leadership. The only question is whether it will be shaped by science and ethics, or by sentimentality and sales targets. By bringing the best available evidence into everyday consultations, veterinarians can help clients keep the animals they love while living within planetary limits.

Ajay Sawant is a veterinary intern at Apollo College of Veterinary Medicine. He is also a marine conservationist and science communicator. Sawant serves as the president of ThinkOcean Society, a global non-profit active in over a dozen countries and working towards ocean literacy, restoration projects, and policy advocacy.

An Explorers Club 50 honoree, Sawant has previously written conservation commentaries for Mongabay, Current Conservation, Earth.org and National Geographic Society, among many others. He is a DVM360 student ambassador. Learn more at www.ajaysawant.com

Larkin M. Pet population continues to increase while pet spending declines. American Veterinary Medical Association. November 6, 2024. Accessed January 12, 2026. 

https://www.avma.org/news/pet-population-continues-increase-while-pet-spending-declines

Transition St Andrews. Paw print, your pet's carbon footprint. March 27, 2019. Accessed January 12, 2026. 

https://transitionsta.org/2019/03/paw-print-your-pets-carbon-footprint/

Okin GS. Environmental impacts of food consumption by dogs and cats. PLOS ONE 12(8): e0181301. 

https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181301

Rachel Nuwer. Dogs, cats, pets, and the environment impact. New York Times. July 29, 2025. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/climate/dogs-cats-pets-environment-impact.html

Jessica Han. The environmental impact of pets: Working towards sustainable solutions. Earth. May 25, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://earth.org/environmental-impact-of-pets/

Lucy. Carbon pawprints: Are pets bad for the planet?. Climate Essentials. June 9, 2021. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.climateessentials.com/articles/carbon-pawprints-are-pets-bad-for-the-planet

Alexander P, Berri A, Moran D, Reay D, Rounsevell MD. The global environmental paw print of pet food. Global Environmental Change. 2020;65:102153. doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2020.102153

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Food systems account for more than one third of global greenhouse gas emissions. March 9, 2021. Accessed January 12, 2026.

https://www.fao.org/newsroom/detail/Food-systems-account-for-more-than-one-third-of-global-greenhouse-gas-emissions/en

1.Poore J, Nemecek T. Reducing Food’s Environmental Impacts through Producers and Consumers. 

. 2018;360(6392):987-992. doi:https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aaq0216

Wall T. 5 trends shape the global pet food industry in 2022. Pet Food Industry. 2022. Accessed January 12, 2026. 

https://www.petfoodindustry.com/news-newsletters/pet-food-news/article/15468927/5-trends-shape-the-global-pet-food-industry-in-2022

Goldwert D, Patel Y, Nielsen KS, Goldberg MH, Vlasceanu M. Climate action literacy interventions increase commitments to more effective mitigation behaviors. 

. 2025;4(6):pgaf191. Published 2025 Jun 9. doi:10.1093/pnasnexus/pgaf191

American Veterinary Medical Association. Convention sessions, statement touch on environmental impact of veterinary medicine. AVMA News. June 28, 2023. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://www.avma.org/news/convention-sessions-statement-touch-environmental-impact-veterinary-medicine

World Veterinary Association. WVA position statement on One Health. March 2024. Accessed January 12, 2026. https://worldvet.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/WVA-PS-on-One-Health.pdf

Kramer CG, McCaw KA, Zarestky J, Duncan CG. Veterinarians in a Changing Global Climate: Educational Disconnect and a Path Forward. 

. 2020;7:613620. Published 2020 Dec 17. doi:10.3389/fvets.2020.613620

Hubrecht RC, Carter E. The 3Rs and Humane Experimental Technique: Implementing Change. 

. 2019;9(10):754. Published 2019 Sep 30. doi:10.3390/ani9100754

Scientific Reports. Cat and dog owners: feeding pets dry food reduces their environmental impact. SciTechDaily. November 17, 2022. Accessed February 4, 2026. https://scitechdaily.com/cat-dog-owners-feeding-pets-dry-food-reduces-their-environmental-impact/

Association for Pet Obesity Prevention. New survey reveals alarming rates of pet obesity in the US. May 9, 2023. Accessed February 4, 2026. 

https://cdn.ymaws.com/www.movma.org/resource/resmgr/files/_2022_apop_state_of_us_pet_o.pdf

Facts and Factors. Fish-based pet food market analysis and forecast. Accessed January 11, 2026. https://www.fnfresearch.com/fish-based-pet-food-market

Climate-smart pet ownership will be defined either by science and veterinary ethics or by marketing and denial, and the profession must choose now.

Veterinarians must lead the climate-smart pet ownership conversation

Five practical ways to reduce physical and mental strain, and stay in the profession longer.

The Vetspan 5-lever framework for a lasting veterinary career

Veterinary medicine can take a toll on the body and mind, especially during long, physically demanding clinic days. In this episode of 

The Resilient Vet: Mind and Body Strategies for Success

, hosts Aaron Shaw, OTR/L, CHT, CSCS, and Jennifer Edwards, DVM, ACC, CPC, ELI-MP, outline the 5 levers of durability—5 practical upgrades veterinary professionals can begin incorporating into their daily routines. Drawing on Shaw’s concept of “Vetspan,” the conversation covers clinic-ready strategies aimed at supporting longer, more sustainable veterinary careers—from protecting the spine during long hours on the floor to fueling the body to avoid midshift energy crashes and resetting the nervous system between appointments.

 podcast, where we help vets and their teams build lasting, fulfilling careers through sustainable mind-body strategies. Hi, I'm Dr Jennifer Edwards—veterinarian, former practice owner, and now leadership and energy coach and speaker. With [more than] 25 years in this profession, I understand how hard it can be to deal with all of the things we have to deal with every single day. Through the lens of conscious leadership, I love to help veterinary professionals and leaders bring intentional, mindful possibility to their lives so they can create and live exactly how they want to. My cohost, Aaron Shaw, is here with me today.

 Hi there. My name is Aaron Shaw. I am an occupational therapist, health and wellness coach, and founder of Project VetSpan and the VetSpan Collective. I am married to a veterinarian, so I've seen firsthand the physical and emotional challenges and demands of veterinary medicine. If anything, I would say that I love talking about durability—durability in vet medicine.

 Aaron, I hear you talk a lot about durability. In fact, I've heard you mention "5 levers of durability." So, if a vet pro wants to feel better in the next 30 days, where should they even start?

 Great question. Thank you for the setup. I would say the good news is that you don't need a major life overhaul to really feel more physically and emotionally resilient and durable in vet medicine. I'm going to give you 5—let's call them "little upgrades." Each one of these upgrades I label as a lever or a pillar.

I'm going to hit these in fairly rapid fire. The term I want to give everybody is “vetspan.” We know lifespan is how long we live; vetspan is how long we have a thriving career. These levers help us expand our vetspan.

Transcript has been lightly edited for improved clarity.

Videos

The 5-lever framework for a lasting veterinary career

Image Credit: © Алекс Ренко | stock.adobe.com

Can dogs truly sniff out hemangiosarcoma (HSA)? We sat down with 2 researchers on the team behind a recent study in 

—Cynthia M. Otto, DVM, PhD, DACVECC, DACVSMR, and Clara Wilson, postdoctoral research fellow at Penn Vet’s Working Dog Center—to get the story behind the data. Following up on our 

, this Q&A tackles the practical aspects of their research, such as how to handle samples, what that 70% accuracy really means, and how close we are to a viable clinical test.

Can you describe exactly how serum samples were collected, processed, and stored, and how sensitive the detection signal is to preanalytic variables such as hemolysis, time to freezing, or storage temperature?

Samples were collected during routine veterinary visits across 4 sites/biobanks and stored at −80 °C, with no more than 2 freeze-thaw cycles. For testing, 100 µL of serum was aliquoted into vials, and [the] dogs evaluated the headspace volatiles via an automated olfactometer. We did not directly test preanalytic variables such as hemolysis, time to freezing, or minor temperature deviations. One advantage of the dogs is their remarkable ability to cut through background noise and focus on the biologically relevant signal, whereas analytical instruments such as GC-MS [gas chromatography mass spectrometry] can struggle with complex, noisy volatile organic compound [VOC] mixtures. Understanding how preanalytic factors influence those signals is therefore of strong interest to us as we work toward recreating this detection using an electronic nose [e-nose] or chemical analysis methods.

Do you have any data or hypotheses about the specific VOCs or chemical classes responsible for the dogs’ alerts?

Specific VOCs were not identified in this study. However, we have recently funded new work through the Morris Animal Foundation, in collaboration with Texas Tech University, to analyze these serum samples and define which VOCs are associated with [HSA] and are distinct from both healthy dogs and dogs with other diseases. That work has just begun and is a key next step.

How should clinicians interpret the roughly 70% accuracy observed in this study in terms of potential clinical use? What sensitivity and specificity thresholds would you consider appropriate for a screening or adjunct test for HSA in practice?

The dogs are not being proposed as the final clinical tool, so the 70% accuracy should not be interpreted as defining clinical performance thresholds for a future blood test or e-nose device. Those sensitivity and specificity targets will be determined as the technology develops. The core question addressed here was whether HSA produces a recognizable VOC profile at all, and the dogs’ performance, well above chance, demonstrates that it does. That said, we currently don’t have a diagnostic test for HSA, and the potential for accuracy as high as 70% would be incredibly valuable.

What were the biggest limitations you encountered, especially regarding the number and diversity of HSA cases, tumor sites or stages, and control selection, and how will you address those issues in follow-up studies?

Limitations included limited breed diversity, challenges in tightly matching samples for age, and difficulty accumulating appropriate splenic disease controls for HSA. Our next phase of work focuses on direct VOC analysis using [GC-MS] and solid-phase microextraction, and we are very interested to see what patterns emerge. Replication by other groups with larger data sets is always important, but we believe our matched triad design, double-blind testing, and use of analytical models to avoid inflated results provide a promising foundation.

What is the envisioned pathway to translate this proof of concept into a reproducible, clinic-ready assay or sensor? What validation steps, sample sizes, regulatory considerations, or industry partnerships do you see as necessary next steps, and on what timeline?

The next critical step is defining the specific VOCs and chemical patterns associated with HSA. After this, we can look to validating them across larger, independent cohorts. Only after these steps have been taken can [the] development of a reproducible sensor or assay move forward. We envision translation into a commercial, clinic-ready test as a longer-term process that will require substantial validation, regulatory planning, and likely industry partnerships rather than a rapid transition.

Overall, our goal with this work was to provide preliminary evidence that VOCs may represent meaningful biomarkers for the detection of canine cancer.

For transparency, it should be known that I am a founding member of a company called VOC Health, which has been working on an e-nose for the [past] 8 to 10 years but hopes to start evaluating clinical samples in the near future.

Wilson C, Holden S, King J, Mallikarjun A, Buis M, Otto CM. Trained dogs can detect the odor of hemangiosarcoma in canine blood samples. 

 Published online November 29, 2025. doi:10.1016/j.tvjl.2025.106522

Alaburda B. Dogs can sniff out hemangiosarcoma in blood samples, early study shows. 

. January 27, 2026. Accessed February 4, 2026. 

https://www.dvm360.com/view/dogs-can-sniff-out-hemangiosarcoma-in-blood-samples-early-study-shows

Lead researchers at Penn Vet explain how the samples were handled, what the dogs’ roughly 70% accuracy means for clinicians, and the next steps needed to translate the finding into a clinical test.

Researchers answer top questions on the hemangiosarcoma VOC study

As veterinary medicine continues to evolve, so too do the expectations placed on new graduates, early-career veterinarians, and specialists. Today’s practitioners must be clinically skilled, emotionally intelligent, and adept at guiding clients through complex, value-laden decisions. One of the most effective, and often overlooked, ways to develop these competencies is through comparative clinical rotations, externships, or internship/residency electives in veterinary hospice and palliative care settings.

Although hospice and palliative care rotations are sometimes perceived as niche or narrowly focused, the reality is quite the opposite. These experiences offer durable clinical, communication, and professional skills that translate directly into improved patient care, stronger client relationships, and greater career sustainability across 

Why complete a clinical rotation in hospice and palliative care?

Clinical rotations are structured educational experiences, often ranging from 1 to 4 weeks, embedded within third- or fourth-year student externships, rotating or specialty internships, or residency electives. For hospice and palliative care practices, these rotations typically include participating in the following:

In-home hospice and palliative care consultations

Quality-of-life assessment and monitoring

Interdisciplinary collaboration with veterinary technicians, client care coordinators, and grief support professionals

Unlike traditional, hospital-based rotations that emphasize diagnostics and intervention, hospice and palliative care rotations emphasize 

: tailoring care plans to the patient’s medical condition; the family’s goals, values, and resources; and the realities of the human–animal bond. A survey of veterinary schools revealed that, on average, less than 3 hours were devoted to training euthanasia methods and techniques.

Despite the lack of extensive training, facilitating euthanasia was considered a day 1 core competency by all veterinary schools responding to that survey.

 It was also noted that there is no requirement for a veterinary student to perform or be present for a euthanasia procedure before graduation; much of it is left up to chance regarding the cases students are assigned to and their outcome. Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine has recognized this shortfall and now dedicates more than 30 hours of end-of-life training to its veterinary students.

Student perspectives from hospice and palliative care rotations

The value of hospice and palliative care rotations is perhaps best illustrated through the experiences of students who have completed them. Ethan, a student extern from the Ontario Veterinary College, reflected on the diversity and depth of exposure they received during a week with an in-home veterinary hospice and euthanasia service provider.

“I had the luck to shadow 5 different doctors. It was very valuable to see the different approaches to the anesthetic and euthanasia protocols, as well as excellent communication and client care to help ease the owners’ grief,” they said.

Similarly, Alex, an extern from Colorado State University, emphasized the confidence and preparedness they gained through hands-on observation and mentorship with the same organization. “I chose to do this because I don’t feel that we get enough euthanasia experience as students, and I was so glad I chose to do this to gain more of that. I truly feel that the shadowing that I did during this externship will help me immensely as a doctor—not only the communication skills that I observed, but the dosage and medication protocols and body care [handling techniques] afterward were so invaluable,” Alex said.

These reflections highlight a common theme among participants: exposure to compassionate, individualized approaches to end-of-life care that are rarely emphasized in traditional veterinary curricula yet profoundly shape clinical confidence and professional identity.

Clinical skills that translate across practice types

One of the greatest long-term benefits of a hospice and palliative care rotation is the clinical confidence it builds in communicating with families and managing chronic and complex diseases, which are frequently seen in older and geriatric patient populations. Participants gain hands-on experience with the following:

Multimodal pain management (including opioids, adjuvant analgesics, integrative therapies, and nonpharmacologic strategies)

Management of end-stage conditions such as cancer, advanced osteoarthritis, heart failure, renal disease, and neurologic disorders

Recognizing and responding to subtle changes in comfort and function

Balancing pet and caregiver treatment burdens with patient welfare

These skills are directly applicable in general practice, emergency medicine, internal medicine, oncology, and specialty care, particularly when curative options are limited, have been exhausted, or are no longer aligned with the client's goals for their pet.

Perhaps the most transformative aspect of a hospice and palliative care rotation is exposure to high-quality communication around quality of life, suffering, and end-of-life decisions. Trainees learn how to do the following:

Use validated quality-of-life and pain assessment tools

Facilitate shared decision-making without coercion or judgment

Address uncertainty and emotional distress with professionalism and empathy

Reframe “nothing more can be done” into “there is still much we can do”

Veterinarians report higher visit-specific satisfaction when appointments are augmented through the use of communication that builds relationships with clients.

 That satisfaction is also associated with degrees of veterinarian empathetic concern and veterinarian self-esteem. Learning these skills, therefore, is critical to overall job satisfaction and its potential link to the holistic health and well-being of veterinarians.

From a practice management perspective, veterinarians with training in hospice and palliative care are uniquely positioned to enhance client trust and loyalty. Clients remember how they were supported during their pet’s most vulnerable moments. A clinician who can confidently guide families through end-of-life care strengthens the reputation of their practice as compassionate, thorough, and client-centered. Graduates who have completed these rotations can become informal leaders within their clinics, mentoring colleagues, improving euthanasia protocols, and advocating for better pain management and follow-up care.

Building emotional resilience and career longevity

Veterinary burnout and compassion fatigue remain pressing concerns. Hospice and palliative care rotations offer structured exposure to emotionally challenging cases with mentorship and support. Trainees learn practical strategies for the following:

Recognizing caregiver burden (on the part of both client and clinician)

Sustaining clinical empathy without self-sacrifice

These skills are critical for long-term career sustainability, regardless of practice setting. Visiting veterinary students and house officers are also exposed to support networks and interdisciplinary approaches for client grief support, as well as internal professional support networks and resources.

A strategic investment in future practice

Clinical electives with Caring Pathways or similar end-of-life care practices are focused on expanding competence. They prepare veterinarians to meet the realities of modern practice: aging pets, informed clients, ethical complexity, and the need for compassionate, individualized care.

Whether a veterinarian plans to enter general practice, emergency medicine, specialty care, or pursue advanced training, a rotation in hospice and palliative care would be a valuable experience that equips them with the tools to shape how they practice medicine for decades to come.

In the long run, the ability to care well, especially at the end of life, is not an optional skill. It is a defining mark of clinical excellence.

Tyler Carmack, DVM, CVA, CVFT, CHPV, CTPEP, CVPP

, is the director of hospice and palliative care at Caring Pathways, a national at-home end-of-life veterinary practice. She founded Hampton Roads Veterinary Hospice, based in Virginia, in 2011 and has developed a special interest in integrative approaches to palliative pain management.

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Students can explore experiential learning opportunities in hospice and euthanasia, and practices can use them to strengthen their businesses in the long run.