Finding Cancer Early: A New Test Changes the Game
Cancer is one of the most common causes of death in dogs, and lymphoma is among the diagnoses we see most frequently.
As vets, we’ve seen it so many times: a family come in because something just doesn't feel right - their dog is flatter than usual, the appetite is off, maybe there are enlarged lymph nodes. Sometimes the path to a diagnosis and a plan is straightforward.
Sometimes it's anything but.
Yes - There Is Now a Test for Cancer
If you've ever sat across from us and asked "is there a test you can do for cancer?" - you're not alone. It's one of the most common questions we hear, and for a long time our honest answer was: “not exactly”.
That answer has changed - and we couldn't be more excited about it.
IDEXX Cancer Dx is a blood test that can detect lymphoma in dogs from the same sample already collected for routine testing. No extra needles, no additional procedures, no added stress for your dog. What was once a genuinely difficult question to answer is now something we can begin to address proactively, at every stage of a dog's life. We’re proud to bring this groundbreaking advancement to Evervet clients through our longstanding partnership with IDEXX.
The comparisons to human medicine are direct and intentional. Men over fifty are routinely offered a PSA blood test to screen for prostate cancer. Australians over forty-five receive bowel cancer screening kits in the mail - a simple test that looks for early warning signs before symptoms appear. These programmes exist because catching cancer early saves lives. Veterinary medicine is now entering that same era.
When it comes to cancer, earlier answers mean more options - and more time.
How Good Is It?
In short, genuinely impressive. Cancer Dx performs to a standard comparable to the cancer screening tests used in human medicine - the kind that have transformed early detection and outcomes for people over the past few decades. A positive result is meaningful. Not a maybe; a confident finding that allows us to act.
In many cases it will also tell us whether the lymphoma is the more treatable B-cell type or the more aggressive T-cell type, at no additional cost. That distinction can significantly change the conversation about prognosis and treatment from day one - information that previously required additional testing and time, delaying treatment.
This is genuinely new territory for veterinary medicine, and it's territory we're proud to guide pet families through.
Which Dogs Should Be Tested?
Cancer Dx is useful in two situations.
Breeds predisposed to Lymphoma - for these dogs screening from 4 years of age is recommended.
The first is dogs that are already unwell - enlarged lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, reduced appetite. Wherever lymphoma is on our list of possibilities, this test will now be part of how we investigate it.
The second, and perhaps most exciting application, is in apparently healthy dogs. Just as PSA testing, mammography and bowel screening are offered to people before anything feels obviously wrong, Cancer Dx can now be used to screen dogs proactively. Early data suggests it may detect lymphoma before clinical signs appear at all - opening up possibilities for earlier intervention that simply didn't exist before.
While lymphoma doesn't discriminate - any dog can develop it - certain breeds do appear to be diagnosed more frequently than others. For those breeds (see table), we'd recommend discussing screening from age four.
For all other dogs, we recommend considering Cancer Dx screening as part of routine senior wellness testing from age seven.
Part of Something Bigger
We're thrilled to share that Cancer Dx testing will form part of our Senior Wellness Programme, relaunching next month with a range of additional services we think you're going to love. The ability to screen for cancer from a simple blood draw — at no extra inconvenience to your dog — is exactly the kind of forward-thinking addition that defines what we want senior wellness care to look like.
This is just the beginning. Blood-based cancer screening technology is advancing rapidly, and we expect detection to expand over time to include more of the most common canine cancers. The frontier is opening up, and Evervet will continue to ensure pet families are offered the leading edge in diagnosis and care.
More details on the relaunch are coming very soon. In the meantime, if your dog is getting on in years, is one of the higher-risk breeds above, or if something just doesn't seem right, book in and let's have a conversation about whether CancerDx might help.
Book an appointment or give our friendly team call at your nearest location.