On the day of chemotherapy, your pet can eat breakfast and be walked, unless directed otherwise.

If your pet is not feeling well, needs sedation or anesthesia, or is having diagnostic imaging done, please do not feed them after 10 p.m. the night before their appointment.

If your pet requires morning medication, you may give your pet a small amount of food (such as a meatball or treat) to take their medications in.

To accommodate all chemotherapy patients seen daily at the Veterinary Medical Center, your pet will be dropped off at their scheduled appointment time. At drop-off, an oncology technician, assistant, or veterinary student will discuss your pet’s condition and obtain your contact information for updates throughout the day. Please bring a list of all your pet’s medications (with dose and frequency)—even if those medications were not prescribed by us.

Please inform the technician if our pet needs any medication refills at the time of drop-off.

• Pet is weighed. Any lab samples needed are obtained and submitted to the lab. (Test results may take 1–3 hours.)
• The oncology doctor will review your pet’s history and current medications and perform a physical exam.
• Lab tests will be closely evaluated to ensure that chemotherapy can be safely administered to your pet.
  • If the neutrophil (a type of white blood cell) count is too low, treatment will be delayed. In some cases, antibiotics may be prescribed. In rare cases, hospitalization may be recommended.
• The chemotherapy dose is calculated by two oncology team members. Your pet’s chemotherapy is drawn up using thorough safety standards.
• The oncology team will then administer your pet’s chemotherapy treatment.

If diagnostic tests are pursued, your pet will accompany our veterinarian to the treatment area. Your pet will be supplied with their own kennel or run (depending on their size) along with a bowl of water. All attempts are made to provide quiet, sick, or sensitive pets, such as cats, with as quiet a space as possible.

Testing and treatments are performed with an effort to create as little stress as possible for your pet, and to be completed expediently. Some tests or treatments may need to be arranged in advance.

You will be contacted when your pet is ready to go home, usually 2–4 hours after drop-off. Please check in at the front desk when returning to pick up your pet. A technician will bring your pet to you. Oncology staff are available to discharge your pet until 4 p.m. You will receive a discharge report containing appointment details and follow-up information via email typically within 12–48 business hours.

At check-out, the next chemotherapy appointment will be scheduled. Please call if you need to reschedule. Please note that if you change your appointment time after you pick up your pet, the date on your discharge report may not reflect the new appointment date.

Oncology doctors rotate on and off service. Over the course of a chemotherapy protocol, you and your pet will work with several doctors. All of our doctors and technicians work closely together to ensure the best care for all patients.

Find information here.

Hours: Monday–Friday from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Phone: (517) 353-5420
Email: cvm.oncinfo@msu.edu

Due to patient obligations, the oncology team may be unable to answer phone calls and emails immediately. Please leave a message and expect to hear back as soon as possible within 24–48 business hours.

If you are calling about an urgent situation, please call (517) 353-5420 to be helped by a client services representative.