BluePearl Pet Hospital
Lafayette, CO
Oncology

24/7 Emergency and Specialty

Pet oncology by BluePearl.

Advanced cancer care to help your pet live a longer and better life.

We understand how overwhelming, scary, and stressful it can be to get a cancer diagnosis for your pet. We’re here to help you navigate the diagnosis and various treatment pathways, with your pet’s quality of life as the primary goal.

Our commitment is not just to treat cancer; it’s to enhance the well-being of your pet and be with you every step of the way.

A vet tech prepares for oncology exam

Conditions we treat.

A BluePearl anesthesiology and pain management vet prepares to fix an anesthetic facemask on a yellow lab while a vet tech helps hold the dog on the exam table.

We treat all tumor and cancer types, from internal to external tumors, localized masses to those that have spread (metastasized), and more. We’re here to help guide you through all available treatment options and help you make educated decisions for you and your pet.

  • Bone cancer (osteosarcoma)
  • Leukemia
  • Liver and spleen cancer
  • Lymphatic cancer (lymphoma)
  • Mammary (breast) cancer
  • Nasal cancer
  • Oral cancer
  • Skin cancer
  • Soft-tissue cancer
  • Thyroid cancer
  • Urogenital cancer

Services we offer.

Your pet will receive unparalleled medical care during their time at the hospital (and they’ll be spoiled with love and attention, too).

Advanced diagnostics

Your pet can’t tell us what’s wrong, so we use sophisticated diagnostics and imaging tools to uncover the source of the problem.

  • Comprehensive in-house blood work
  • In-house urinalysis
  • Digital cytology (results in less than 24 hours!)
  • Ultrasound services (abdomen, neck)
  • Radiographs (x-rays)
  • Computed tomography (CT) scans
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
  • Endoscopy (nose, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, urinary system)
  • Fluoroscopy (real-time x-rays)
  • CT/ultrasound guided sampling
  • Biopsies
  • Bone marrow aspirates
  • Flow cytometry/PARR tests to diagnose/treat certain types of cancer
  • Genetic testing for MDR-1 (multidrug resistance mutation)

Treatment plans

We believe in presenting all treatment options, and are passionate about finding the right treatment path for each pet and their family. We’re fortunate to have a large team of specialists at our hospital, and we take a comprehensive view of each patient’s health, often leveraging the expertise of fellow specialists when needed.

  • Intravenous (IV) and oral chemotherapy options
  • Surgery
  • Electrochemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
  • External beam radiation therapy referrals
  • Palliative/hospice care options

Our board certified specialist and oncology team.

Experience makes all the difference.

In addition to our board certified specialist, our oncology team includes, vet technicians, assistants, and support staff with rigorous training and experience in specialty medicine. The team works hand in hand to provide the comprehensive, compassionate care your pet needs and deserves.

We treat each and every patient like our own. Our team is here to support you on the hard days and celebrate with you on the happy days. We value exceptional patient care and client communication above all else.

Caitlin Cowan

DVM, MS, DACVIM (Oncology)
Board Certified in Veterinary Oncology

Oncology
On the job

Dr. Caitlin Cowan loves senior cats and dogs – the grayer the face, the better! She enjoys being able to improve and maintain quality of life in older pets.

To Dr. Cowan, the process of staging cancer and coming up with treatment plans that work best for a particular patient and their family is especially gratifying. She finds treating lymphoma very rewarding and is interested in the variety of presentations and neoplastic diseases patients can present with.

Exceptional patient care and client communication are top priorities for Dr. Cowan, and she emphasizes giving owners the information they need in order to make the best decisions, regardless of what the decision may be.

Education
  • Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (Oncology)
  • Master of Science, Biomedical Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • Residency, Medical Oncology, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • Internship, Small Animal Medicine & Surgery, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia
  • Bachelor of Science, Biochemistry, Mississippi State University, Starkville
Off duty

Dr. Cowan is a Missouri native and is so excited to escape the humidity and enjoy the mountains of Colorado. She has three dogs and a cat who she adores, and snuggling with them on the couch is her favorite way to end the day. In her free time, she enjoys binge reading, nice weather, good food and drinks, live music and being with friends.

What to expect.

We want you to be prepared for your pet’s visit to the oncologist, so you have one less thing to worry about. Our entire BluePearl team will be with you every step of the way.

Before your visit

  • Make an initial appointment by calling us directly or via referral from your pet’s primary vet.
  • We’ll request records from your primary or emergency vet before your first visit and collaborate with them to discuss your pet’s history and current condition.
  • We understand some sick pets can’t wait until the next available appointment. We have reserved time for more emergent work-ins. If you believe your pet cannot wait until their appointment, have your primary veterinarian call and we can often get your pet in sooner.

During your visit

  • When possible, we’ll examine your pet with you by their side to make them more comfortable. If additional tests are needed for a diagnosis, we’ll discuss those options with you.
  • You’ll have plenty of time and opportunity to ask questions as we go over your pet’s diagnosis together.
  • You’ll receive a visit summary with physical exam findings, diagnostics performed, and treatment options. We’ll also send this information to your primary care veterinarian to make sure everyone on your pet’s healthcare team is in the loop.
  • We’ll schedule a recheck appointment and make sure you’re aware of any symptoms you should watch out for at home.

After your visit

  • Our team will continue to partner with your primary veterinarian as part of the ongoing management of your pet’s care.
  • You know your pet better than anyone, and you play a crucial role in their treatment plan. If you have any concerns about providing care at home (such as giving medication, maintaining a specific diet or monitoring your pet’s symptoms), let us know – we’re here for you.