Every dog is different. Some dogs with brain tumors develop seizures. Others experience personality changes or difficulty walking. The issues can develop quickly or can get worse slowly over time.

Currently, we enroll dogs with gliomas in our clinical trials. These are primary brain tumors, meaning that they develop from inside the brain itself. We can make an educated guess of whether a dog has a glioma or a different tumor based on the appearance of the tumor on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

If you suspect your dog may have a brain tumor, the first step is to have your dog evaluated by a veterinary neurologist, who can perform an MRI on your dog's brain. If the MRI shows a tumor that appears to be a glioma, then your dog may qualify for one of our clinical trials. Either you or your dog's neurologist can then contact the CBTP at [email protected]. A CBTP team member will guide you through the process from there. Expect to be asked to provide medical records and your dog's MRI for us to review. Then, Dr. Arnold will arrange a phone call with you to discuss the clinical trial process. 

We have at least one clinical trial open at any given time. Some of the trials include removing the brain tumors using surgery. Others include using radiation therapy to treat the brain tumors. They all build on one of these standard treatments with a promising new treatment that has been rigorously tested before we allow it to be used in pet dogs.

There are no costs to you associated with the study. The clinical trial covers all treatment and treatment-associated hospitalization costs. Prior to enrollment, screening and diagnostic tests to include the brain MRI, chest x-rays, and abdominal x-rays or ultrasound, are not covered by the study and are required for enrollment. Travel and lodging costs are not covered by the study.

Dogs with brain tumors are safe to travel by car or plane. If you travel by plane, your dog should travel in the cabin and not in cargo.

We have a list of several pet-friendly hotels that we can provide to you. There are also many options available through Air BnB and VRBO. 

For dogs that have surgery, most are able to be discharged the day after their brain surgery. We recommend that you stay in town at least one night after we discharge your dog to your care before traveling home. How long you should plan to stay in town depends on the trial your dog is enrolled in. We will help prepare you for your time here.

Since 2012, we have treated over 600 dogs in various clinical trials. This is a news clip that provides more details about one of our past clinical trials.

Continue to work with your primary veterinarian and local neurologist to provide care for your dog leading up to your dog's treatment. Keep us posted if there are any changes in your dog's health or care prior to enrollment.

The specific details of the treatment depend on the clinical trial(s) we are currently conducting. There are more details on the "Available Clinical Trials" page. We will go over all the details with you during your initial phone consultation and anytime you have more questions.

For nearly all the trials, your dog will need to be anesthetized for treatment. Anesthesia is performed here by board certified anesthesiologists and a very experienced team of anesthetists. It is very unlikely that your pet will experience an anesthetic complication but we are very prepared for such complications. If your dog is enrolled in a trial that includes surgery to remove the tumor, then the risks of surgery can include bleeding, infection, and brain swelling. Our complication rate for these issues is very low. 

Every dog is different. Some tumors are very responsive to treatment, and others are not. We cannot predict how well an individual dog will respond to treatment. Our goal is to extend your dog's life by at least a year, and for your dog to have an excellent quality of life during that year. Without any treatment, dogs with glioma live on average 2-3 months.

Dogs do amazingly well with brain surgery. Your dog will spend at least one night in our intensive care unit. Most dogs are ready to be discharged to their families the day after brain surgery. Your dog may not be completely normal right after brain surgery, and may have some weakness, confusion, or a more quiet personality. These issues typically resolve within weeks of surgery. We will provide you with instructions for how to care for your recovering dog. Most can return to normal activities within just a few days. We also have dedicated "At-Home Care Experts." The experts have had dogs go through the clinical trial program and donate their time to guide people through caring for their dogs at home. We can connect you with an expert if you want to hear advice "straight from the source."