Advanced Cancer Care. Compassionate Guidance. Close to Home.
A cancer diagnosis can be overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. West Texas Veterinary Specialists provides oncology services for dogs and cats through our longstanding collaboration with board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Avenelle Turner. Through our established teleoncology program, WTVS combines local specialty evaluation and advanced diagnostics with board-certified oncology expertise to help diagnose and stage cancer, evaluate treatment options, and develop individualized care plans for pets throughout West Texas and the surrounding region. As our oncology service expands, WTVS plans to offer chemotherapy locally, allowing more patients to receive cancer treatment closer to home while continuing to benefit from collaboration with Dr. Turner and their primary veterinarian. Our goal is to help families understand their pet’s diagnosis, available treatment options, and expected outcomes so they can make informed decisions that prioritize both quality of life and their individual goals.
What Is Veterinary Oncology?
Veterinary oncology is the specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in animals. Board-certified veterinary oncologists have advanced training in understanding how different cancers behave, how they spread, and which treatment options may provide the greatest benefit for each patient. Not every cancer requires chemotherapy, and not every patient benefits from aggressive treatment. An important role of veterinary oncology is helping families understand the available options so they can make informed decisions that align with their pet’s medical needs and their family’s goals.
Why Choose a Board-Certified Veterinary Oncologist?
Board-certified veterinary oncologists complete extensive postgraduate training focused specifically on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, including advanced clinical training through internship and residency programs and rigorous specialty certification requirements. This training provides advanced expertise in cancer diagnosis and staging, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, treatment planning, and long-term cancer management.
Our Oncology Philosophy
Every cancer diagnosis is different, and treatment decisions should reflect not only the type and stage of cancer, but also the individual patient and the goals of their family.Our approach emphasizes individualized treatment planning, quality of life, and clear communication. We help families understand their pet’s diagnosis, available treatment options, expected benefits, and potential limitations so they can make informed decisions about their pet’s care. Care is coordinated closely with the referring veterinarian to ensure that each patient’s treatment plan remains connected to their overall medical care.
Oncology Services
Teleoncology Consultation
WTVS collaborates with board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Avenelle Turner through our established teleoncology program. Diagnostic findings, pathology results, advanced imaging, and treatment options can be reviewed collaboratively to help develop individualized recommendations for each patient.
Cancer Diagnosis & Staging
Determining the type and extent of disease is an important part of developing an appropriate treatment plan. Diagnostic evaluation and staging may include laboratory testing, ultrasound, CT imaging, cytology, biopsy, and other procedures based on the individual patient.
Individualized Treatment Planning
Treatment recommendations are tailored to the type of cancer, stage of disease, overall health of the patient, and the family’s goals. Depending on the diagnosis, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapies, palliative care, or a combination of approaches.
Chemotherapy — Planned
WTVS plans to offer chemotherapy at our Lubbock specialty center as our oncology service expands. Our goal is to allow appropriate chemotherapy treatments to be administered locally while maintaining collaboration with Dr. Turner and the patient’s primary veterinarian. Additional information regarding chemotherapy availability will be provided as the service develops.
Palliative & Supportive Care
When curative treatment is not possible or not elected, maintaining comfort and quality of life becomes the priority. WTVS works with pet owners, Dr. Turner, and referring veterinarians to develop individualized recommendations focused on comfort, symptom management, and quality of life.
Advanced Diagnostic Technology
Accurate diagnosis and staging are essential for effective cancer treatment. West Texas Veterinary Specialists will provide advanced diagnostic capabilities to support oncology patients, including:
- 64-slice helical CT with 128-slice reconstruction
- Diagnostic ultrasound
- Ultrasound-guided aspiration and biopsy
- Endoscopy
- Fluoroscopy
- Comprehensive laboratory evaluation
These capabilities can provide important diagnostic and staging information used to develop individualized treatment recommendations.
When Should Your Veterinarian Consider Referral?
Referral for oncology consultation may be appropriate when your pet:
- Has been diagnosed with cancer
- Has a mass requiring advanced evaluation or treatment planning
- Requires cancer staging before treatment or surgery
- Has recurrent or metastatic cancer
- Has an uncommon or complex tumor type
- May benefit from collaboration between multiple specialty services
- Requires guidance regarding treatment options or quality-of-life decisions
Our Collaborative Approach
West Texas Veterinary Specialists is a referral-only specialty practice. Our oncology service is built on collaboration between Kirk Sears, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Avenelle Turner, and the patient’s primary veterinarian. Diagnostic findings, imaging, pathology, and treatment options can be reviewed collaboratively to help develop an individualized care plan. Reports and recommendations are communicated with the referring veterinarian so that ongoing care remains coordinated.This collaborative teleoncology model allows many pets throughout West Texas to receive specialty oncology evaluation and advanced diagnostics locally while benefiting from board-certified oncology expertise.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a board-certified veterinary oncologist?
A board-certified veterinary oncologist is a veterinarian who has completed extensive postgraduate clinical training focused specifically on diagnosing and treating cancer in animals and has met rigorous specialty certification requirements.
How does teleoncology work?
West Texas Veterinary Specialists partners with board-certified veterinary oncologist Dr. Avenelle Turner through our established teleoncology program. Diagnostic findings, pathology results, imaging studies, and treatment options can be reviewed collaboratively to develop individualized recommendations. This allows patients to benefit from board-certified oncology expertise while receiving many aspects of their specialty evaluation and diagnostic care closer to home.
Will my pet have to travel for cancer treatment?
Our teleoncology program allows many aspects of oncology evaluation, diagnostic testing, treatment planning, and follow-up care to be coordinated locally while benefiting from the expertise of a board-certified veterinary oncologist. Some treatments may require referral to another specialty facility depending on the individual patient’s needs. WTVS plans to offer chemotherapy locally as our oncology service expands, which will allow more cancer care to be provided closer to home.
Does my pet need a referral?
Yes. West Texas Veterinary Specialists is a referral-only specialty practice. Your primary veterinarian will coordinate the referral and provide relevant medical history, laboratory results, pathology, imaging, and other diagnostic information.
Does every pet with cancer need chemotherapy?
No. Depending on the type and stage of cancer, treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, palliative care, or a combination of approaches. Treatment recommendations are individualized based on the diagnosis, overall health of the patient, and the family’s goals.
Will chemotherapy make my pet sick?
Veterinary chemotherapy protocols generally prioritize quality of life while treating the cancer. Many pets tolerate chemotherapy well and continue their normal activities during treatment. Side effects can occur and vary depending on the medication and individual patient, and patients receiving chemotherapy are monitored closely so treatment can be adjusted when necessary.
Will my pet stay overnight?
WTVS is an outpatient specialty referral center and will not provide overnight hospitalization or 24-hour ICU care. If hospitalization or continuous care becomes necessary, an appropriate care plan will be coordinated based on the individual patient’s needs.
Will my pet continue seeing my regular veterinarian?
Yes. Our goal is to complement—not replace—the relationship you have with your primary veterinarian. WTVS communicates relevant findings and recommendations with the referring veterinarian and coordinates ongoing care with them whenever appropriate.