It’s tough to tell if cancer is becoming more common in dogs and cats or if veterinarians are just diagnosing it more frequently. But one thing’s for sure — more pets than ever before are being treated for cancer.

Some veterinary specialty clinics estimate a doubling from the year 2007 to the year 2015 in the number of new cases of cancer treated annually. This upsurge has several possible explanations. Dogs and cats are living longer, and the incidence of many cancers increases with age. Pet parents are also better educated about treatment options and are increasingly willing to invest in their pets’ care.

Fortunately, lower chemotherapy doses (compared to those used in people) spare our pets the grueling side effects of chemotherapy and let them spend quality time at home with their families after treatment.