November is Pet Cancer Awareness Month, an initiative dedicated to informing pet owners and veterinary professionals about the prevalence of cancer in companion animals.
While often underestimated, cancer is one of the leading causes of death in dogs and cats. Yet, with early detection and regular veterinary check-ups, we can greatly improve outcomes and quality of life.
Volition’s Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is an affordable, accessible, and easy-to-use blood test to aid early detection of cancer in dogs.
The test is performed on healthy, asymptomatic dogs who have disease but have not shown symptoms yet. Screening is the first step in catching disease early, allowing for better treatment outcomes. The test can be easily integrated into preventive care programs and used alongside other routine bloodwork during regular wellness visits.
The test requires just a small amount of blood and the results are typically available within one to three days (reference laboratory), or 6 minutes (point-of-care, using Antech’s Element i+ analyzer).
Dr Sue Ettinger, aka Dr Sue Cancer Vet says:
The Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is for healthy pets. Much like how humans are advised to have mammograms or colonoscopies to screen for cancer once they reach a certain age, we recommend screening dogs as they get older. All dogs should be screened twice a year from the age of seven, with breeds that are at a higher risk of cancer tested from the age of four.
“I say to owners that testing biannually may seem like a lot, but dogs age quickly. Every six months to them is like you or I going to the doctor every three years or so.”- Dr. Sue Ettinger
If you want to know more about our test, how to collect a sample and how to interpret the results, read our brochure
The science behind the test:
In peer-reviewed and published case series of 662 dogs with seven most common cancers, the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test detected 76% of the systemic cancers and 50% of all the cancers researched, with 97% specificity. This extremely low false-positive rate will spare owners from worry and expense, and their pets from undergoing other testing unnecessarily.
The test was particularly good at picking up lymphoma (77% sensitivity) and hemangiosarcoma (82% sensitivity). These two cancers make up almost a third of the cancer cases diagnosed by veterinarians.
“What I love about this test is that it gives owners time. That could be time to choose from the spectrum of treatments that are available, time to come to terms with not treating the cancer or simply time to process everything that is going on.”– Dr Sue Ettinger
Benjamin, a nine-year-old Labrador, had finished treatment for splenic hemangiosarcoma when an ultrasound raised concerns about peritoneal metastasis. An abdominal ultrasound picked up an unusual retroperitoneal mass, and his Nu.Q® result was in the high-risk category.
Ben did really well for two or three months before developing vomiting and lethargy. His Nu.Q® score was higher than before, CT scans showed he had diffuse metastatic disease, and he was euthanised two weeks later. His owners were heartbroken and, two months later, they requested that their other dog, a six-year-old Labrador called Boomer, be screened for cancer, too.
To their huge relief, he was given a clean bill of health, including a low-risk Nu.Q® score. Boomer, who is now eight, has a new companion, a puppy called Baxter. Baxter is still too young for screening, but Boomer is having a Nu.Q® every six months, with the aim of keeping him in the low-risk zone.
“Thanks to Dr Sue Ettinger and the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test, we were able to provide Ben with the best possible treatment and have a few extra precious months with him. This experience showed us the importance of early detection, and we now use the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer test proactively twice a year for our eight-year-old black Lab, Boomer. We plan to do the same thing once our one-year-old chocolate Lab, Baxter, is old enough.”– Rebecca and Gary Fagahn, Holmes, New York
If you are a veterinary professional interested in learning more about our Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test and the importance of canine cancer screening, watch our new webinar series here.
The Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is now available in the USA, Europe, Asia, and Australia. Click here for more information.
