When a pet is diagnosed with cancer, distraught owners face difficult questions about survival times and quality of life for their beloved animal companion. The Animal Cancer Center at the Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley (VSCHV) in Wappingers Falls, New York, assures pet owners that cancer is a treatable disease.
Because of recent advances in the specialized field of veterinary oncology, more treatment options are available than ever before. Millions of animals benefit each year from newer, more effective therapies designed to help our furry best friends. The goal is to extend survival times and improve quality of life so that owners will be able to enjoy more time with their cherished pets.
Two such new and effective therapies are now available at the Animal Cancer Center at VSCHV. The Telomerase Vaccine and Electrochemotherapy bring new hope to dogs and cats with common and possibly fatal cancers.
Telomerase Vaccine Available in New York Only at VSCHV
VSCHV is the first veterinary hospital on the East Coast—and currently the only one in New York—where the Telomerase Vaccine is available. Used extensively and successfully in Europe, the Telomerase Vaccine is leading to increased survival times for dogs with lymphoma, a very common and terminal disease with only a three-percent cure rate when standard therapies, such as chemotherapy, are used. Without any form of treatment, there’s a very short life expectancy, as little as an average of six weeks after diagnosis.
The Telomerase Vaccine’s efficacy is evident in the case of Blue, a much-loved, nine-year-old Golden Retriever owned by Angela and Bob Finkle of the Albany, New York, area. An adored patient at VSCHV, Blue received standard of care chemotherapy along with the Telomerase Vaccine and he continues to remain in remission nearly 20 months after his initial diagnosis. This immunotherapy allows the patient’s immune system to battle the illness, an important arena for new cancer therapies in both animals and people.
Electrochemotherapy Available First at VSCHV
VSCHV is also the first veterinary practice on the East Coast to offer Electrochemotherapy (ECT). A progressive and successful cancer treatment option from Europe, ECT can extend survival times and improve quality of life for pets with cancerous tumors when surgery isn’t an option. VSCHV has the most advanced ECT unit available in the U.S. to treat pets with cancer.
ECT works by allowing a chemotherapy drug to be targeted directly into the tumor so that the cancer cells are killed but the normal tissue around the tumor is spared. Performed under a short anesthesia, ECT typically requires a single session similar to localized radiation therapy but without the radiation side effects and need for multiple sessions.
ECT led to an excellent response for Sassy, a lovely four-year-old feline who is cherished by her owner, Jacqueline Meltzer of Goshen, New York. VSCHV diagnosed Sassy with a cancer above her left eye. Surgery would have required complete removal of the eye. With ECT treatment, Sassy’s eye was saved and she remains a beloved member of the family.
Dr. Joseph Impellizeri, board-certified veterinary oncologist and Medical Director, administers the Telomerase Vaccine and Electrochemotherapy at VSCHV, the only veterinary specialty and 24-hour emergency facility in Dutchess County, located just one hour north of New York City. Having completed extensive medical-surgical training and rigorous academic testing to achieve his credentials as a cancer specialist, Dr. Impellizeri is one of only 325 board-certified veterinary oncologists in the world.
He states, “We’re thrilled to be making such a difference by offering these two innovative cancer therapies that aren’t yet widely available anywhere else. Pet owners need to know, just like in human medicine, that it’s crucial to get the correct diagnosis and most appropriate treatment right from the start.”
Some Warning Signs of Cancer in Pets
Some of the more evident signs of cancer in pets include lumps or bumps that don’t go away after one month, enlarged lymph nodes, and bleeding from the nose. If your pet shows any of these symptoms, it’s crucial to seek veterinary medical attention immediately. For more information, visit www.vschv.com, call 845-632-3200 or email info@vschv.com.
Located at 1285 Route 9 in Wappingers Falls, New York, the Veterinary Specialty Center of the Hudson Valley is a premier 24-hour specialty center, uniquely equipped and staffed to meet the special needs of patients, clients, and veterinary colleagues.
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