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Holiday Hours

We will be open from 8 am to 12 pm on Tuesday, Dec 24th and are Closed from Wednesday, Dec 25th to Saturday, Dec 28th. We are Open Monday, Dec 30th and are Closed Tuesday, Dec 31st and Wednesday, Jan 1st. For emergency care please call the EVC of Waterloo Region at 519-650-1617 or our 24/7 Registered Veterinary Technician Hotline at 647-695-5411, for non-emergencies, try our SmartVet Telemedicine Service.

Client Care Center

Nu.Q Canine Cancer Screening

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Invisible Danger

The Nu.Q Canine Cancer Screening test uses a blood sample that can screen for several types of cancers in healthy dogs. This blood test detects nucleosomes circulating in the blood. Nucleosomes are pieces of DNA that get released into the bloodstream when there is cancer and cell death.

Detect Cancer Early

This test can detect 76% of systemic cancers, which are cancers that shed cells that spread throughout the body, including lymphoma, hemangiosarcoma and histiocytic sarcoma. This test is best run twice a year for dogs seven years and older because the average age of canine cancer diagnosis is 8.8 years. For certain purebred dogs with increased risk for cancer is it best to start testing at the age of four. Purebred dogs are 1.9x as likely to develop cancer as mixed-breed dogs.

Affordable and Fast

This affordable test is now available in-house on our Heska Element Blood Machine. This test is a game changer for detecting cancer in dogs because in the past the only way could screen for cancer was through costly X-rays and ultrasounds. Now we can screen earlier and easily. Cancer will affect 1 in 4 dogs of all dogs, and nearly 50% of dogs 10 years or older will develop some form of cancer. Now we have a test that can detect cancer earlier. Earlier detection leads to better outcomes. Until now, these cancers have been only detected late when the patient is sick from the cancer and it has progressed so much that it is difficult to do any meaningful treatments.

Twice a Year Testing Saves Lives

For some case studies and to learn more click here.

F.A.Q

So what happens if your dog tests positive?

Results of the Nu.Q Cancer Screen are not a 100% indicator that your dog either has cancer or doesn’t or won’t develop cancer, but rather a roadmap for our team. If your dog comes back with a high-risk result, we will most likely recommend using various diagnostic tools to “stage” or determine the extent to which a cancer has developed or grown, in your dog. This will often involve X-rays and ultrasound.

If your dog comes back with an intermediate-risk result, we may recommend your dog come back in a month for further examination and a follow-up and potentially administering another Nu.Q. When in this “grey zone” the goal at this point will be to do what we can to stay “on the lookout” and monitor for potential cancer or various other health conditions that may develop.

Does the Nu.Q detect all cancers?

An important note is the Nu.Q is meant for screening systemic cancers, meaning cancers that shed cells that will spread throughout the body. The Nu.Q can detect 77% of Lymphomas, 82% of Hemangiosarcomas, 54% of Histiocytic sarcoma, and 43% of Malignant Melanomas. Interestingly 24% of all canine cancers are Lymphosarcoma which is one of the cancers that is detected with the Nu.Q!

Localized cancers, meaning they live in the tissue or bone, such as a Mast Cell Tumor, Osteosarcoma (bone tumour), or soft tissue sarcomas are harder to detect with this test because they don’t release those nucleosomes out into the bloodstream to be recognized. Localized cancers may be detected with the Nu.Q, but with a far lower detection rate, 35% of Osteosarcomas, 29% of Soft Tissue Sarcomas and 19% of Mast Cell Tumours.

Does the Nu.Q have false positive tests?

For accurate results on the cancer screen, your dog must be fasted 4 hours minimum, before taking the blood sample. Lack of proper fasting could lead to a false positive, and we don’t want to be chasing down cancer that doesn’t exist! Dogs that have systemic inflammation, like a high-grade fever, recent trauma, infection, or autoimmune disease, can lead to a false positive result. Chronic inflammatory conditions, systemic inflammation that is being treated medically and not ‚flaring, hypothyroidism, renal disease, osteoarthritis, mild or moderate pyoderma, or other such minor illnesses are less likely to impact the results of the Nu.Q Vet Cancer Screening Test.

What if my dog is in the high-risk group but I don't want to do any more testing?

We will discuss other options with you and give you guidance on the best next steps for your dog. Knowing and having this information will be helpful when balancing other treatments and decisions when other diseases and illnesses arise.