OncoK9 Cancer SAFE™ Tool
Find out the recommended age to start screening your dog for cancer
The OncoK9 Cancer SAFE™ (Screening Age For Early detection) tool uses data from over 3,000 cancer-diagnosed dogs to determine the age at which it may be appropriate to start annual cancer screening for your dog.1
Your veterinarian will guide you through the screening process that is most appropriate for your dog. This could include a thorough medical history and physical exam, conventional blood and urine tests, imaging tests (such as ultrasound or X-rays), and OncoK9®- a novel multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test based on a simple blood draw.
Your veterinarian will guide you through the screening process that is most appropriate for your dog. This could include a thorough medical history and physical exam, conventional blood and urine tests, imaging tests (such as ultrasound or X-rays), and OncoK9®-a novel multi-cancer early detection (MCED) test based on a simple blood draw.
How It Works
-
Enter details about your dog
Provide your dog's age and breed. You will also be asked to input your dog's weight if their breed is not listed, mixed, or unknown. -
Find out when you should start screening your dog for cancer
This tool provides an estimated age at which it may be appropriate to start annual cancer screening for your dog.
Why Screen Your Dog For Cancer?
Just like in people, cancer screening should be an important part of preventive care in dogs. It is best to screen for cancer while your pet is feeling well, before they start to show any clinical signs from the disease. The goal is to catch cancer earlier, when it may be easier to treat.
The term "screening" refers to one or more exams or tests performed on a dog who does not currently have any signs of cancer, but who does have a higher risk of cancer due to their age and/or breed.2
If you currently suspect that your dog may have cancer, contact your veterinarian right away.
Early detection and treatment are the best ways to manage cancer in pets... cancer is frequently treatable and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.
6 million new cancer cases per year in dogs
-
1 in 3 dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime -
Cancer is by far the #1 cause of death in dogs -
Dogs over age 7 have a 9x higher risk of cancer -
Certain dog breeds have a higher risk of cancer starting at younger ages
1 in 3 dogs will develop cancer during their lifetime Cancer is by far the #1 cause of death in dogs Dogs over age 7 have a 9x higher risk of cancer Certain dog breeds have a higher risk of cancer starting at younger ages Find out the recommended age to start screening your dog for cancer
Begin AssessmentFrequently Asked Questions
What is cancer screening?
Cancer screening refers to one or more exams or tests performed on a dog who does not currently have any signs of cancer, but who does have a higher risk of cancer due to their age and/or breed.2
What are the benefits of early detection through screening?
Early detection and treatment are the best ways to manage cancer in pets. Cancer is frequently treatable and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.5
What are the current guidelines for cancer screening in dogs?
Screening guidelines are well established in human medicine for various cancer types3,4, and multiple veterinary organizations recognize the value of early cancer detection.5-8 General health screening recommendations include annual or biannual exams and routine labwork9 which may detect some cancer types. However, formal cancer screening guidelines have not yet been established in veterinary medicine.
How is the screening age recommendation determined?
Using data from over 3,000 dogs diagnosed with cancer, the typical age at cancer diagnosis was determined for dogs of various breeds and weights. Initiation of cancer screening is recommended prior to the typical age at diagnosis in order to detect cancer earlier, when the chances of effective treatment are better. This tool suggests an age to begin cancer screening for individual dogs based on the breed and/or weight details provided.
View the study that provides the scientific foundation for the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE™ recommendations.
Why is my dog’s breed not listed?
For some breeds, there were not enough dogs in the study to determine a recommended screening age at this time. PetDx is actively collecting more data and plans to update the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE breed list in the future. In the meantime, if your dog’s breed is not listed, the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE tool will provide a recommended screening age based on your dog’s weight.
How do I use the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE recommendation?
PetDx aims to increase awareness among pet parents about canine cancer and about the importance of early detection. You can share this cancer screening recommendation with your veterinarian, who will advise you on the best course of action for your dog. The OncoK9 Cancer SAFE Tool is provided for educational purposes only, and does not replace the expertise and recommendations of your veterinarian.
Cancer screening refers to one or more exams or tests performed on a dog who does not currently have any signs of cancer, but who does have a higher risk of cancer due to their age and/or breed.2
Screening guidelines are well established in human medicine for various cancer types3,4, and multiple veterinary organizations recognize the value of early cancer detection.5-8 General health screening recommendations include annual or biannual exams and routine labwork9 which may detect some cancer types. However, formal cancer screening guidelines have not yet been established in veterinary medicine.
For some breeds, there were not enough dogs in the study to determine a recommended screening age at this time. PetDx is actively collecting more data and plans to update the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE breed list in the future. In the meantime, if your dog’s breed is not listed, the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE tool will provide a recommended screening age based on your dog’s weight.
Early detection and treatment are the best ways to manage cancer in pets. Cancer is frequently treatable and early diagnosis will aid your veterinarian in delivering the best care possible.5
Using data from over 3,000 dogs diagnosed with cancer, the typical age at cancer diagnosis was determined for dogs of various breeds and weights. Initiation of cancer screening is recommended prior to the typical age at diagnosis in order to detect cancer earlier, when the chances of effective treatment are better. This tool suggests an age to begin cancer screening for individual dogs based on the breed and/or weight details provided.
View the study that provides the scientific foundation for the OncoK9 Cancer SAFE™ recommendations.
PetDx aims to increase awareness among pet parents about canine cancer and about the importance of early detection. You can share this cancer screening recommendation with your veterinarian, who will advise you on the best course of action for your dog. The OncoK9 Cancer SAFE Tool is provided for educational purposes only, and does not replace the expertise and recommendations of your veterinarian.
Want to learn more about OncoK9®
and how it may benefit your dog?
How To Get OncoK9®
For Your Dog
If you are interested in getting OncoK9 for your dog, use the OncoK9 Clinic Locator to see if your vet can directly order the test from PetDx.
If you can't find your vet on the OncoK9 Clinic Locator, call your vet and let them know that the test is also available through PetDx’s distribution partners, IDEXX and Antech.
Option 1: Locate a Clinic
To find the nearby clinics offering OncoK9, visit the OncoK9 Clinic Locator.
Go To Clinic Locator Option 2: Call Your Vet Clinic
If you did not find your veterinary clinic in our Locator tool, it is likely they offer OncoK9 through one of our distribution partners.
Questions?
Reach out at help@petdx.com
- Rafalko JM, Kruglyak KM, McCleary-Wheeler AL, Goyal V, Phelps-Dunn A, Wong LK, et al. (2023) Age at cancer diagnosis by breed, weight, sex, and cancer type in a cohort of more than 3,000 dogs: Determining the optimal age to initiate cancer screening in canine patients. PLoS ONE 18(2): e0280795. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0280795
- Flory A, Kruglyak KM, Tynan JA, et al. Clinical validation of a next-generation sequencing-based multi-cancer early detection “liquid biopsy” blood test in over 1,000 dogs using an independent testing set: The CANcer Detection in Dogs (CANDiD) study. 2022. PLOS ONE. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0266623
- American Cancer Society. American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://www.cancer.org/healthy/find-cancer-early/american-cancer-society-guidelines-for-the-early-detection-of-cancer.html
- World Health Organization. Guide to Cancer Early Diagnosis. Accessed April 4, 2022. https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/254500
- American Veterinary Medical Association. Cancer in pets. Accessed March 28, 2022. https://www.avma.org/resources/pet-owners/petcare/cancer-pets
- American Animal Hospital Association. Is my dog at risk for cancer? Accessed March 28, 2022. https://www.aaha.org/your-pet/pet-owner-education/ask-aaha/canine-cancer/
- American Kennel Club Canine Health Foundation. Cancer in the dog. Accessed March 28, 2022. https://www.akcchf.org/canine-health/top-health-concerns/canine-cancer/cancer-in-the-dog.html
- Animal Cancer Foundation. 10 Warning signs of cancer. Accessed March 28, 2022. https://acfoundation.org/the-10-warning-signs-of-cancer/
- Creevy KE, Grady J, Little SE, Moore GE, Strickler BG, Thompson S, Webb JA. 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2019 Nov/Dec;55(6):267-290
