Hi everyone,

Can anyone recommend an oncology surgical vet in Switzerland?
I don’t mind location - I’m very willing to travel.

My girl was diagnosed Friday with liver cancer. Monday we will have a biopsy to confirm. I suspect treatment will be more advanced in Switzerland than here so we are probably going to speed up our move in the next week or so.
Appreciate if there are any recommendations.

So sorry

I don’t know about oncology specifically, but If you are going to be in Bern, then the University animal hospital has to be your best bet. They have all the experts, they were great with my pup!

https://www.kleintierklinik.unibe.ch/

Oh dear! I hope for a full recovery.

I take it is either a dog or cat, you didnt mention

https://www.tierspital.uzh.ch/de/kle...9Cber-Uns.html

Jenn, I am sorry to hear this.

Switzerland offers several excellent options for veterinary oncology treatment, especially at the two universities. Often treatment is a partnership effort between an oncology center and your own vet. Key is that you feel comfortable with your choices.

My dogs have been treated at the Zürich Tierspital, linked in Sigh's post above, and at the Animal Oncology and Imaging Center in Zug.
https://www.anicura.ch/aoi/die-klinik/

Looking at the AOIC website, it seems they have changed management and practice structure. I'm afraid I don't know the current team. The old AIOC was outstanding with my Haifisch's osteosarcoma, but perhaps because my experience is outdated this should be taken as information only.

My most recent experience at the Tierspital was last summer, please consider this a current recommendation. It was a hemangiosarcoma so we started with the cardiology professor, Dr Tony Glaus, and liased with the oncology team. My girl received excellent care, and everyone we saw was very kind. (Over many years and many dogs I've spent a lot of time at the Tierspital, and that has always been my experience.)

I live fairly far from the Tierspital and travel was difficult for my girl. Fortunately, my local clinic also has a skilled oncologist on their team, Dr Katya Reuss, who provided chemo support when we decided it would be best to limit travel.
https://www.marigin.ch/katja-ruess.html

One of the impressive things about Switzerland's veterinary care system is the level of cooperation among different areas of expertise and different providers and clinics, to ensure that my dog has the best care possible. I have always felt in good hands here.

Start with your general practice vet, have them refer you to the experts. You will be seen quickly, and by the right person, with a referral. If you are in Bern, then UniBe - linked by Island Monkey - is the logical choice.

A heads-up: COVID restrictions are still in place, meaning that only one person may accompany the animal at a time during clinic visits. Something to discuss with the family if more than one person wishes to be involved.

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You and your girl will be in my thoughts - here's hoping for the best.

ETA:

Jenn, do I understand that you are in the process of moving here? Was the diagnosis made by a vet outside of Switzerland? If so, please bring copies of all tests, imaging, and treatment notes with you.

Thank you so much. I will start checking out the Bern hospital today as it’s very near where we will be living. ��

Thank you so much for this. I had a look at the website and they look amazing. I will be reaching out to these vets also. Sorry I should have mentioned it’s for my female dog (8 year old Samoyed )

Thank you so much for the detailed response Meloncollie.
You have had quite an experience with both osteosarcoma and Hemangiosarcoma! Both are really tough diagnosis’s.
My boy Skotia just got the all clear from Hemangiosarcoma after a leg amputation 1 year ago. It had spread to his lungs and chemo wasn’t an option (it’s very basic chemo here which statistically wouldn’t have helped him) so we put him on turkey tail and he’s now cancer free.

How are your two pups doing now? I’m so sorry you and they have had to go through these terrible cancers.

My female Khaleesi is just 8 and she has a liver tumor. Right now all I know is it’s half the size of her liver. She goes for a laparoscopic biopsy tomorrow but my vet is already not too optimistic about surgery.

I did talk to a lady in the US with a similar complaint and her vet used a new technique chemoembolization to cut off blood supply to the tumor and deliver chemo pellets to the site and while I know that’s not an option here I’m hoping it’s an option in Switzerland.

Hopefully I will have all the information on a diagnosis this week to start enquiring to treatments available for her so when we move she can be seen immediately. Thanks for the advice - I will make sure they print everything out in a pack for me along with sending via email. I will start looking into all the recommendations you made as well. Thank you so so much.