Our Oncology department is dedicated to the investigation, diagnosis and treatment of cancer in dogs and cats.
How we can 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 updated state of the Art radiotherapy facility will be available from Sept 2023. Our new facility will include 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.
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, DIPECVIM-CA (ONCOLOGY), FRCVS
Professor in Oncology
Jo graduated from Bristol University in 1988 and after a short time in mixed general practice, completed a residency in Small Animal Clinical Oncology at Cambridge University. After being awarded an FRCVS in Small Animal Clinical Oncology in 1993, she completed a PhD on chromosome translocations in breast cancer at Cambridge, and then continued breast cancer- related research in Glasgow. She is currently Professor of Small Animal Oncology and head of the Oncology Referral Service at Glasgow University. She is a a Diplomate of the ECVIM-CA [oncology] and European and RCVS specialist in Veterinary Oncology.
Katie McNaught
BVMS, MVM, DipECVIM-CA (oncology) MRCVS
Clinician in 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. She is a Diplomate of the ECVIM-CA [oncology] and became a European (2021) and RCVS specialist in Veterinary Oncology in 2023.
MARIANA LOPES
DVM MSC 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, combined with a Master’s degree looking at Genetic causes of canine lymphoma in 2023 and also became a Diplomate of the ECVIM-CA [oncology] in 2023.
Jade Webster
BVMS MRCVS
Resident in Oncology
Jade is from Perthshire, Scotland. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 2015 and then spent a few years working in first opinion small animal practice before returning to the University of Glasgow in 2019 as a rotating intern. Since then, Jade has completed an internship in Internal Medicine and Oncology and is currently one of our Small Animal Oncology residents. Jade is also pursuing a Master's Degree on the subject of canine Apocrine Gland Anal Sac Adenocarcinomas (AGASACAs).
Shona Munro
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 Allan
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.
Radiotherapists
SHONA BURNSIDE
BSC HONS, PGDIP, MSC
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.
ELAINE KAY
BSC (HONS), D.C.R.(T), CT CERT
Elaine qualified as a Therapeutic Radiographer, with a Diploma of the College of Radiographers in 1986. With over 30 years in the profession, Elaine brings experience from the NHS, Australia, teaching and lecturing Radiotherapy in Further and Higher Education, Cancer Support and Veterinary Radiotherapy. More recently (2012-2018), she was the Radiotherapist at the Hospital for Small Animals, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, Edinburgh, before joining the oncology service in Glasgow in 2019.