Our Oncology department is dedicated to the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in dogs and cats.
HOW CAN WE HELP
The Oncology service offers comprehensive management of canine and feline cancers, covering all aspects of the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of oncological disease in small animals. We work closely with clinical pathology, diagnostic imaging (CT and MRI) and the surgical services to ensure accurate diagnosis and the best possible treatment and quality of life for our patients. We offer a wide range of treatments including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as more novel therapies such as immunotherapy (melanoma vaccine) and new targeted therapies such as tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
Treatment of tumours with chemotherapy
Our chemotherapy suite has a dedicated fume hood for drug preparation and we use closed systems to administer drugs to our patients to maintain the highest standards of safety. Our hospital offers 24 hour emergency provision for patients on treatment.
Treatment of tumours with radiotherapy
Our new state of the art radiotherapy facility includes the following features:
- Varian Vital Beam linear accelerator
- Volumetric Arc therapy (VMAT) to deliver precisely-shaped radiation fields which minimise any side effects to surrounding tissues
- Electron beam radiotherapy for more superficial tumours.
- An Eclipse planning system tailored to animals that allows careful delivery of the radiation beams to maximise the success of treatment and avoid sensitive structures.
- On board kilovoltage imaging and cone beam CT for accurate patient set up
- Designated therapeutic radiographers and oncologists who will plan and deliver treatment to our patients.
Support our world leading researchers
Several clinical research studies are conducted within the oncology department which aim to improve our knowledge of canine and feline cancer, improve patient care in terms of diagnosis and treatment options. You may be asked for consent for your animal to be involved in one of these projects when you come to the hospital, and the clinician in charge would be happy to give you further information.
Recent clinical scholar, MVM and PhD projects:
- Transcriptome analysis of canine lymphoma to improve classification and treatment.
- Molecular subtyping and classification of canine T cell lymphoma
- Identification of prognostic markers in anal sac adenocarcinomas (ASACs) of dogs.
- Optimising ‘liquid biopsy’ technology in dogs with bladder tumours to enable less invasive diagnosis and monitoring of disease.
- Investigation of potential cardiac side-effects in dogs receiving anti-VEGF Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.
External collaborations with other universities
- Canine and feline faecal and serum microRNA profiles associated with gastrointestinal cancer and chronic inflammatory enteropathy.
- Analysis of genetic variants which may increase risk of mammary cancer in dogs.
Brain Tumour & Neuro-Oncology Centre for Companion Animals
Brain Tumour & Neuro-Oncology Centre for Companion Animals
Brain tumours affect from 2.8 to 4.5% of dogs and around 2.2% of cats. Additionally, dogs and cats can suffer from spinal or nerve tumours. Although frequently associated with a poor prognosis, current advances in veterinary therapeutics allow for considerable improvements in the quality of life of many companion animals with cancer affecting their nervous system.
Our Neurology and Oncology teams here at the Small Animal Hospital of the University of 
Our aims:
- to provide dogs and cats with primary and metastatic spine, nerve and brain cancer with the best standards of care including the most advanced treatment options
- to educate and support pet-owners and referring veterinarians
- to further progress our understanding of cancer affecting the nervous system of companion animals
Facilities available at the Brain Tumour & Neuro-Oncology Centre for Companion Animals
- one of the largest Neurology/Neurosurgery teams in Europe
- on-site imaging facilities including MRI & CT for diagnosis and therapy planning
- state-of-the-art facilities for brain and spinal surgery including CUSA Excel+ Ultrasonic Aspirator to optimize tumour removal
- on-site radiotherapy and an experienced, compassionate Oncology team
- large team of anaesthetists with broad experience on managing patients with nervous system tumours
- a 24/7 intensive care unit
- on-site pathology service to provide prompt specific diagnosis for sampled tumours allowing most appropriate treatments to be implemented timely
Diagnostic techniques and therapeutic modalities available:
- Stereotactic brain biopsies using 3D-printed patient-specific skull moulds
- Palliative ventriculoperitoneal shunting to by-pass obstruction of the spinal fluid flow
- Enhanced brain and spinal tumour removal by means of ultrasonic aspiration
- Radiotherapy
- Access to clinical trials for specific tumour types
Meet the team
Joanna Morris BSc, BVSc, PhD, FHEA, DipECVIM-CA (oncology), FRCVS
RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Oncology
Bio: Jo joined Glasgow University in 2003 as Head of the Oncology service and has been Professor of Small Animal Oncology since 2015. She expanded the oncology service to include a radiotherapy facility in 2010 with an upgrade of the treatment delivery equipment in 2023. Jo’s research has focussed on tumour biomarkers such as acute phase proteins, mammary tumours and lymphoma but she is interested in many areas of oncology.
Jo is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal oncology.
Katie Anne McNaught BVMS MVM DipECVIM-CA (Oncology) MRCVS
RCVS and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Oncology
Katie graduated from Glasgow University in 2008 and after several years in general practice, returned to Glasgow to complete an internship and residency in oncology, combined with a master’s degree looking at Clusterin as a potential serum biomarker in canine lymphoma. Katie became a European specialist in Veterinary Oncology in 2021.
Katie is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Oncology.
Mariana Lopes DVM MSc DipECVIM-CA(Oncology) MRCVS
Clinician in Oncology
Mariana graduated from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, in 2017. She completed her undergraduate rotation in a referring oncology hospital in Lisbon, and later presented her master's dissertation in immune characterization on canine lymphoma, focusing in IL-17.
Mariana completed an internship and residency in oncology at the University of Glasgow, combined with a Master’s degree looking at Genetic causes of canine lymphoma in 2023.
Mariana is a Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and European Recognised Specialist in Small Animal Oncology.
Pablo Delgado Bonet
Resident in Oncology
SHONA MUNRO
Senior Support Nurse
Shona qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2010 and for her first job, joined the small animal hospital as a general nurse rotating through different areas.
She quickly became interested in oncology and delivering chemotherapy to veterinary cancer patients and has been senior support nurse for the oncology service since 2016.
Kirsty Allen
Oncology Nurse
Kirsty qualified as a veterinary nurse in 2016 after first working as an Animal Care Assistant in the small animal hospital. After a period as a general rotating nurse, Kirsty joined the oncology team in 2022
SHONA BURNSIDE BSC HONS, PGDIP, MSC
Radiotherapist
Shona graduated as a Therapeutic Radiographer from Queen Margaret University in Edinburgh in 2006 and took up a position working at the Beatson West of Scotland Cancer Centre rotating through all areas of radiotherapy including a secondment into physics treatment planning department.
In 2010 she obtained an MSc in Radiotherapy and in the same year joined the small animal hospital. She has enjoyed transferring her skills from human radiotherapy to animal radiotherapy.
Diane Thomson
Radiotherapist
Diane did a post graduate diploma in Radiotherapy at London South Bank University, graduating in 2008. She completed her Masters in Radiotherapy through Queen Margaret University in 2013. She has ten years radiotherapy experience in the NHS and fifteen years radiography experience. Last year she got the chance to transfer her Radiotherapy skills to animals working as a locum at the Small Animal Hospital. Diane has now taken up a permanent post as a Radiotherapist working part-time, whilst continuing to work in the NHS.
