Cancer Care for Pets

15/06/2025

Continuing professional development is a compulsory requirement of the RCVS for both veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses. It is essential for keeping up to date with current advancements in medicine, techniques, and veterinary ethics!

This week, our Head Nurse, Kirsty, Medical Oncologist, Giulia and Surgical Vet, Yuri attended a CPD event at Chester Zoo! The day was hosted by Zoetis and was a focused haematology workshop, something that comes up every single day in veterinary oncology!

Spot the giraffe 🦒

27/05/2025

🎗 Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month – Honouring Oncology Vet Nurses 🎗

This month, we’re proud to recognise the incredible work of our oncology veterinary nurses — the compassionate professionals supporting pets and their families through some of the toughest times.

Their role is complex and demanding. On top of the many other RVN job roles, they also manage chemotherapy protocols, assist with diagnostics, monitor patient responses, and ensure treatment plans are followed with precision. But what truly sets oncology nurses apart is the care they give beyond the clinical — the quiet moments of comfort, the gentle, tailored care of anxious patients, and the thoughtful conversations with worried owners.

Meet Kirsty – The Heart of Our Oncology Nursing Team 💙

Kirsty is not only the owner of the practice, but also the steady hand and calm presence that keeps our team grounded. She qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2010 and began working in oncology back in 2014 — developing a deep passion for cancer care and patient quality of life.

She holds an Advanced Nursing Diploma (passed with distinction) and has recently completed her Postgraduate Certificate in Veterinary Oncology Nursing, further deepening her expertise in this specialist field.

Kirsty has a particular interest in palliative care and quality of life, ensuring that every patient receives compassionate, thoughtful support throughout their treatment journey. We’re incredibly lucky to have her leading our team. 💛

Meet Jenna – Calm, Kind, and Completely Committed 💙

Jenna qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2018 and joined our oncology team in 2019. She’s been with us since the very beginning, and we truly couldn’t imagine the practice without her.

Thoughtful, caring, and incredibly dedicated, Jenna gained her Advanced Veterinary Nursing Diploma with Distinction in 2022, focusing on stress reduction techniques in veterinary care. Her work has helped shape our gentle handling approach and ensures every patient is treated with compassion and calm.

She brings a quiet strength and a steady presence to every case — and plays a vital role in both patient care and team support. 💛

Meet Holly – Our Cat Whisperer & Devoted Oncology Nurse 🐱💙

Holly joined our team in July 2022 after working as a locum and as a senior medical nurse in both first opinion and referral practice. From day one, she’s brought an incredible level of dedication, knowledge, and compassion to every patient she cares for.

She shares our strong focus on patient-centred care, gentle handling, and reducing anxiety. Holly has recently completed a Veterinary Oncology Nursing course and brings this specialised knowledge into every aspect of her work.

With a particular passion for feline-friendly practice, she’s known for her calm approach and incredible way with cats — and has even helped previous clinics achieve ISFM Gold Cat Friendly status. We’re so lucky to have her on our team. 🐾

Meet Joe – The Final Piece of the Puzzle 💙

Joe joined us in April 2024 and has quickly become an essential part of the team. After qualifying as a veterinary nurse in 2021, he gained experience in a busy first opinion practice and later in an orthopaedic referral hospital. He’s also worked as a locum across a variety of clinics, bringing a broad skill set and a calm, capable approach to patient care.

Joe recently completed his Veterinary Oncology Nursing certificate and has impressed us all with how quickly he’s adapted to the world of oncology. He’s passionate about learning, committed to high standards, and brings fresh energy and perspective to the team — completing it perfectly. 🐾

Veterinary nurses are the backbone of every veterinary team, playing an essential role in delivering high-quality care to our patients. Their expertise goes beyond just technical skills — they are compassionate caregivers, patient advocates, and crucial support to both animals and their owners. As a profession, veterinary nurses are deeply committed to continuous learning and development, constantly seeking to expand their knowledge and improve the care they provide through further education and CPD. It’s vital that we recognise and celebrate the dedication, skill, and hard work of these professionals who make such a difference every single day.

22/05/2025

Apollo – one very special patient

This is Apollo, a lovely black Labrador who recently had major surgery to remove a squamous cell carcinoma on his upper jaw.

The day after his operation, he surprised us all by gently carrying his favourite teddy in his mouth – a moment that said more about his spirit than words ever could.

We’re so pleased with how well he’s doing and couldn’t be prouder of his recovery so far. He’s taken everything in his stride and reminded us, yet again, just how resilient our patients can be.

Well done, Apollo!

14/05/2025

Meet Whiskey, a sweet boy being treated for GI lymphoma – and a true foodie with a heart-melting purr. Here he is, perfectly relaxed on our cat whispering nurse Holly's lap, receiving a long infusion of chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy for cats uses the same medications as human treatments, but at much lower doses to help reduce side effects. Every cat receives an individual plan, and we use gentle, cat-friendly methods to keep them relaxed and comfortable throughout the process.

We take the time to understand each cat's personality, create calm environments, and let them feel safe in our care. Cats like Whiskey show us every day that kindness and patience go a long way. His devoted owner even painted a beautiful portrait of him, which we’ve included in this post!

Chemo doesn't have to be scary – and with the right approach, it can even come with cuddles!

16/04/2025

Easter opening hours!

We will close on Thursday 17th at 5.30pm and reopen on Tuesday 21st April from 8.30am.

Please ensure you have collected any medications before we close on Thursday for the Bank Holdiay break.

If you need any advice or support over the closure, please contact your primary care vet practice, who will have received up to date care information regarding your pet.

Happy Easter!

14/01/2025

We've had a busy (if frozen!) Start to the year, looking after our existing patients and meeting some gorgeous new faces!

We have some of the most dedicated owners! We ask so much of them, from making care decisions that can change unexpectedly, to weekly clinic visits, and frequent phone updates or emails! Our Team are here to support them as much as our patients!

Today, one of the Team's firm favourites came in for her final scheduled chemotherapy treatment, and her wonderful family came bearing gifts for us, along with the most beautiful personalised card!

Thank you for your Thank you, it truly made our day!

06/01/2025

06/01/2025

** Update: We have a skeleton staff on site 🥳 Please take care if you are making your way in for an appointment. If you would like to rearrange, give us a quick call and we'll get that sorted for you!

Thank you for your patience and understanding ❄️❄️❄️

Our wonderful team are struggling to get in to the clinic from various corners of a very snowy West Yorkshire this morning!

Where possible, please call us on 01484 242911 before you set off to check your appointment or to rearrange non urgent visits.

Thank you all for you understanding and take care if you are on the roads this morning!

01/01/2025

Wishing everyone all the best for 2025 from all of us at Cancer Care for Pets!

12/07/2024

Neil and Kirsty were delighted to be back on the road last night, presenting Oncology focused CPD to veterinary professionals from many different practices in the area.

We were hosted by our friends and fellow independent practice in their brand new, fantastic facility in Panal, Harrogate.

Huge Thank You to Laura and her team for organising a wonderful evening!

24/06/2024

We're getting back on the road again!!

Our clinical team are visiting practices and offering Vet and Nurse Oncology focused CPD. We are thrilled to be starting over at Claro Hill Vets in a few weeks time!!

Neil will be discussing "What to do when you find a lump" and Kirsty will be discussing quality of life management for our patients, and how to ensure this remains the focus of all our treatments decisions!

31/05/2024

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers we treat here at Cancer Care for Pets and we thought it would be a lovely idea to share the story of one of these special patients, from beginning through to end of life care. Hulk’s story is one such story, and while it is a very emotional one, we feel it perfectly represents our values and aims as a practice. We cannot thank Hulk’s owners, Craig and Francesca, enough for allowing us to share his journey. We have two sides to this post, one in the words of our wonderful nurse Holly, and then from Craig and Francesca. We are so grateful for their incredibly kind and touching words about our care for Hulk and for our team!

Lymphoma is one of the most common cancers we treat here at Cancer Care for Pets and we thought it would be a lovely idea to share the story of one of these special patients, from beginning through to end of life care. H...