Veterinary medicine has made great strides in the diagnosis and treatment of cancers, diseases that all too often attack our precious pets — especially dogs.

Veterinary oncologists glean information from MRIs, CT scans and tissue samples to diagnose cancers and gauge their severity. Afterward, recommended treatment might include surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation.

Cancer strikes pooches as often as people, but our canine companions have fewer side effects with treatment. Most dogs retain their fur and have fewer and milder bouts of gastrointestinal upset with chemo. They’re also amazingly resilient when it comes to radiation and surgery.

So, a cancer diagnosis doesn’t have to be a death sentence for your pooch. In quintessential canine fashion, you can instead choose to look at life’s glass as half full.