You found a lump
A lump or growth has appeared, and it is unclear how urgent it is and whether a biopsy is needed.
Veterinary oncologist online
Online consultation with a veterinary oncologist
Found a lump, received a diagnosis or a chemotherapy plan? A veterinary oncologist online helps you make sense of the situation, understand the outlook and get a second opinion — for cats, dogs and rodents.
- 01 No appointment or account needed
- 02 A second opinion on the diagnosis and treatment
- 03 18+ years of practice, postgraduate oncology training
Emergency? If your animal is struggling to breathe, bleeding heavily, having seizures, has collapsed or lost consciousness, go to the nearest veterinary clinic now. Online consultations are not for emergencies.
How it works
How the oncology consultation works
- Fill in the form and payBriefly describe what you found and pay for the written consultation.
- Send the materialsAfter payment you receive a link to the questionnaire: photos of the lump, age, how it has changed, and biopsy, histology, ultrasound and radiographs if you have them.
- Get a plan and a second opinionThe veterinarian explains how urgent it is, the likely nature of the tumor, which tests and treatment options to discuss, and reviews the plan you were given.
When it helps
When to consult an oncologist online
The online format helps when you need to understand what a growth is, check a diagnosis or decide what to do next, without rushing.
You have a diagnosis
You received a biopsy or histology result and want to understand what it means and the outlook.
Treatment is planned
Surgery or chemotherapy has been recommended, and you want a second opinion on the plan.
No oncologist nearby
There is no veterinary oncologist where you live, and the decision needs to be weighed carefully.
The difference
How an oncologist differs from a general practice vet
Both are needed — but with a tumor it matters who leads the treatment. The difference is not who is “better” but what each is responsible for.
General practice vet
Sees the whole animal- recognizes warning signs and refers to a specialist;
- can explain what chemotherapy is and why it is used;
- manages other conditions and the animal's general health;
- usually does not plan a cancer protocol or chemotherapy doses.
Oncologist
Focuses on cancer- interprets biopsy, histology and cytology in the context of the whole case;
- plans protocols and chemotherapy doses by body weight and body surface area;
- assesses stage, grade and outlook;
- follows how treatment is tolerated and adjusts the plan between cycles.
A general vet can explain chemotherapy — an oncologist plans it. Get an oncology consultation
Common concerns
Which tumors an online oncologist helps with
The assessment comes from the whole picture: the veterinarian compares the species, age, location, growth rate and test results to understand the nature of the growth and how urgent it is.
Mammary tumors: lumps and nodules in cats and dogs, how urgent it is, the risk of spread and surgery.
Skin and under the skin: mast cell tumor, lipoma, melanoma, wart-like and fast-growing lumps, a lump after a vaccine or injection.
Lymphoma and lymph nodes: enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, weight loss, the type of lymphoma and the outlook.
Bones and internal organs: osteosarcoma, hemangiosarcoma, masses in the chest and abdomen, fluid, suspected spread.
Rodents and exotic pets: fast-growing tumors in rats, hamsters and other small animals, assessing urgency from photos.
Support through treatment: biopsy and histology reviews, a second opinion on chemotherapy, supportive and palliative care.
Common situations
Short answers to common worries
These are the situations owners search for most. Here is a short answer; in a consultation the veterinarian looks at your case.
A lump on a dog: when it is dangerous
A lump after a vaccine or injection that does not go away, grows, ulcerates or hurts needs to be checked. The veterinarian assesses photos, growth rate and age and tells you whether a biopsy is needed.
A mammary tumor in a cat should not wait
In cats these tumors are more often malignant than in dogs. The growth enlarges and can open up. Size, the number of nodules and checking for spread all matter.
Lymphoma in cats and dogs
Enlarged lymph nodes, lethargy, weight loss, refusing food. The outlook and plan depend on the type and stage of lymphoma, which are worked out from tests and a biopsy.
Mast cell tumor in a dog
A harmless-looking “fatty” lump can turn out to be a mast cell tumor. The grade and clean margins after removal decide whether chemotherapy is needed.
A tumor in a rat or hamster
In rodents growths enlarge fast. The veterinarian assesses photos, location and age and helps you understand how urgent it is and what to do next.
Chemotherapy: what an oncologist does
Chooses the medicines and doses for the individual animal, assesses tolerance, monitors blood tests and adjusts the plan between cycles.
A tumor after a vaccine
Injection-site sarcoma in cats: a lump after a vaccine that does not go away
A lump after an injection usually goes away within a few weeks. The “3-2-1” rule is a warning: it lasts longer than 3 months, is larger than 2 cm, or is still growing a month after the injection. Such a lump is not removed “while we are at it”: first a biopsy, then one wide surgery — the first surgery decides whether the tumor comes back.
An independent oncologist reviews the photos, the biopsy and the surgical plan before your cat goes into surgery.
Get an oncologist's opinionSecond opinion
A second opinion on the diagnosis and treatment
The online format is especially useful when there is already a diagnosis and the decision is hard. The veterinarian helps you understand what is happening and weigh the options without rushing.
Checking the diagnosis
We go through the biopsy, histology, cytology and ultrasound reports and explain what they mean in practice.
Reviewing the treatment plan
We look at the plan and doses you were given, say whether it all fits together and what to clarify with your treating veterinarian.
A decision without rushing
We help you weigh monitoring, surgery, chemotherapy and palliative care with clear benefits and risks.
A route to a local clinic
We tell you which tests and procedures are needed and how to work with a veterinarian near you.
Real patients
The doctor works with cancer patients in the clinic and online
In a consultation the veterinarian looks at photos, how things have changed, imaging and test results, and if there are warning signs, says what to do today.
A clinical case
A large tumor in a dog: a real case
Some tumors are removed right away; others are treated or monitored without surgery. Dr. Strelkov's case of a dachshund with a large mass on the shoulder blade shows how the tumor was assessed, which tests were needed and which decision was made.
In an online consultation the oncologist works through such cases the same way:
- the growth — size, growth rate, location, attachment to tissues;
- the tests — biopsy and histology, radiographs and ultrasound if needed;
- the decision — whether the tumor can be removed, whether chemotherapy is needed, the outlook;
- follow-up — what to do next and how to monitor the condition.
Format and price
Written consultation with an oncologist
Written consultation
An in-depth review of the case and a clear plan. Suits a case you can describe in writing when you need structured recommendations.
- a detailed questionnaire after payment;
- biopsy, histology, ultrasound and radiographs reviewed at no extra cost;
- an assessment, a diagnostic plan and treatment options to discuss with your veterinarian;
- reply within 24 hours of submitting the questionnaire.
Your result
What you have after the consultation
The result is a structured plan that is easy to save, use at home and show at a clinic if in-person procedures are needed.
What a consultation is. A veterinarian reviews the description, history, photos, videos and test results you send and replies in writing within 24 hours of submitting the questionnaire. You receive a PDF with an assessment of the situation, what to check and how urgently, a step-by-step plan, and which medicines and doses to discuss with your local veterinarian. A consultation is advice from a distance: it is not an examination or a prescription, and it does not replace your veterinarian. How remote advice works.
Example written consultation
PDF
Patient
Cat, Maine Coon, 8 years
Concern: a firm lump in the mammary area, growing for about a month
Assessment
A mammary growth: a malignant process needs to be ruled out and its spread assessed.
What to check
- cytology or a biopsy of the growth;
- abdominal ultrasound and regional lymph nodes;
- chest radiographs to check for spread.
Plan
- prepare the materials and photos of the growth next to a ruler;
- agree the extent of surgery with the clinic;
- discuss with your veterinarian whether chemotherapy is needed once histology is back;
- follow-up and what to do if it gets worse.
Dr. Alex Strelkov
veterinarian
Who consults
Aleksandr Strelkov (Alex Strelkov)
Dr. Strelkov is a veterinary doctor and the founder of VetGO. He graduated with honors from the K.I. Skryabin Veterinary Academy and holds state-accredited specializations in clinical radiology and in abdominal surgery and endoscopy, with postgraduate training in tumors of the thoracic and abdominal cavity. A personal oncology review is built around your animal's clinical record: the nature and pace of the change, what has already been investigated, and which decision has to be made next.
The strength of the online format is not guessing from a single photo but putting the whole picture together: what the growth is, how fast it is growing, which results you already have, and what to do next so the decision is a considered one.
18+ years in clinical practice
Postgraduate oncology training
Surgery, endoscopy and radiology
Honors graduate
Peer-reviewed publications
Every report signed by the doctor himself
My goal is that you understand exactly what is happening with your animal and know precisely what to do next. I cannot promise miracles — but I will do everything modern veterinary science allows.
Dr. Aleksandr Strelkov
Documents and publications
Qualifications backed by documents
Warning signs
When a tumor needs help now
Veterinary oncologists are few, and most work in large cities. If there is none near you, an online consultation is often more useful than a general visit: the veterinarian helps you decide how urgent it is and whether a clinic is needed for pain relief, oxygen, drainage, fluids or surgery, and the plan helps both you and your local veterinarian. With the signs below, go to the nearest clinic first.
The tumor has opened or bleeds
An open, bleeding or suddenly much larger tumor.
Labored breathing
Shortness of breath, breathing with the belly, a bluish tint, suspected fluid in the chest.
Pain and fast growth
Marked pain, limping with a growth on a bone, a tumor growing within days.
Sudden decline
Refusing food, weakness, pale gums, vomiting with a known tumor.
If there is no oncologist near you
An online consultation wherever you live
The VetGO veterinarian can be reached from anywhere: he helps you understand how urgent it is, reviews your materials, gives a second opinion and prepares questions for your local veterinarian. This matters most when there is no veterinary oncologist nearby or the wait for an appointment is long.
Before surgery
A second opinion before an operation or after treatment has already been recommended.
Big cities
Even where oncology services exist, an independent view helps you weigh the options calmly.
Small towns
If there is no oncologist nearby, you get a plan: what to do at home, which tests to do locally and how urgent it is.
Any country
The consultation is in English and takes into account which diagnostics, chemotherapy medicines and procedures are available where you are.
Reviews
What owners say about the doctor
Real reviews from public profiles, translated faithfully from the original. All reviews and sources
★★★★★
Public profile review
I have had two online consultations with Dr. Aleksandr Strelkov. My elderly cat has a mammary gland adenocarcinoma and there are no veterinary oncologists in our region. From the test results, photographs and imaging I sent, Aleksandr provided the most detailed, professional and competent prescriptions — from preparation for surgery through to preparing and carrying out chemotherapy. He also consulted online for a dog in another country where veterinary care is a real problem, and set out several treatment routes depending on what the owner could manage. He was consistently attentive, kind and genuinely concerned for the animal. If you are going to consult a doctor online — only him.
★★★★★
Google review
Our cat was terribly ill — he was literally dying in our arms. We had been round dozens of clinics and collected a stack of test results, but nobody could put it together into a single picture. Maybe the heart, maybe the kidneys, maybe a virus. Some vets prescribed one thing, others the exact opposite. We did not know what to do, and we were losing precious time. Searching for help we came across Aleksandr Strelkov, an infectious disease vet, and booked an online consultation. Within minutes of the doctor's call it was clear we were dealing with a professional. He worked carefully through all the information we already had, found the logic in it, explained which investigations were genuinely needed, and referred us for tests in Moscow, choosing doctors who could be trusted. When the diagnosis was confirmed, treatment began. We could ask questions at any moment, send results, and adjust the prescribed therapy. There were many difficult moments — the cat would not let us inject the medication, and side effects appeared from the antiviral treatment. But the doctor was with us at every stage. Our cat is now completely healthy, and we do not even know how to thank Aleksandr. If you need real help — especially if your pet has FIP or a complex infection — go to him. He is the best doctor we have ever met.
★★★★★
Public profile review
Our dog was poisoned outdoors, chronic gastritis set in, and we had no idea what to do. We were guessing at the right treatment and the vets in our region all said different things. At just the right moment we found Dr. Strelkov, who consults online — which turned out to be very convenient. After the very first consultation we understood what had to be done and what definitely must not. We went through a series of consultations, stayed in contact with the doctor throughout, and in the end made a full recovery. Afterwards we also bought his guide on improving coat quality — the result is simply stunning.
Common questions
Questions about the online oncology consultation
Can the veterinarian review a biopsy, histology, ultrasound or a treatment plan?
Yes. Attach the reports, imaging and the current plan in the questionnaire after payment, at no extra cost. The veterinarian explains what they mean in practice and gives a second opinion on the treatment and chemotherapy plan to discuss with your treating veterinarian.
How is an oncologist different from a general practice vet?
A general practice vet recognizes warning signs, manages the animal's general health and can explain chemotherapy. An oncologist interprets biopsy and histology in the context of the case, assesses stage and grade, plans protocols and chemotherapy doses by body weight and body surface area, and follows how treatment is tolerated.
Can cancer be diagnosed online?
A final cancer diagnosis is made from a biopsy and histology, not from a photo. A consultation is veterinary advice based on what you send; it does not replace an in-person examination and does not create a veterinarian-client-patient relationship where the law requires an exam. The veterinarian assesses the growth, the history and existing results, outlines the likely causes and explains which tests would confirm or rule out a tumor.
What should I do if I find a lump on my pet?
Do not squeeze it, warm it or put creams on it. Photograph the lump next to a ruler and note when it appeared and how fast it is growing. The veterinarian assesses the photos, age, location and urgency and tells you which tests are needed, such as a needle sample or a biopsy.
A mammary tumor in a cat: can it wait?
In cats mammary tumors are more often malignant than in dogs, and usually it should not wait. The growth enlarges and can open up. The veterinarian assesses the size, the number of nodules and the cat's condition and helps you understand how urgently surgery and checking for spread are needed.
Does the online oncologist help with rodents and exotic pets?
Yes. In rats, hamsters and other small animals growths enlarge fast. The veterinarian assesses photos, location, age and general condition and helps you understand how urgent it is and what to do next. Dr. Strelkov has completed separate training in the oncology of exotic animals.
When does a tumor need urgent in-person care?
If the tumor has opened or is bleeding, breathing is labored, the growth is enlarging within days, there is marked pain, sudden weakness or refusal to eat, go to the nearest clinic now. Afterwards an online consultation can help you plan the next steps.
Can I get a consultation from another city or country?
Yes, an online consultation does not depend on where you live. The veterinarian takes into account which diagnostics, chemotherapy medicines and procedures are available where you are and helps you plan the route with a local clinic.
Is there a free oncology consultation?
A full individual consultation is paid, because the veterinarian studies the history, imaging and histology and prepares a plan. For free, you can read the doctor's articles about cancer in cats and dogs.
How fast does the written consultation arrive?
Written consultations are answered in order of the queue, within 24 hours of submitting the questionnaire. The veterinarian looks at every case individually, so please describe everything that worries you. Right after payment you get access to the questionnaire, where you can tell the whole story in detail. Complex cases are sometimes discussed with colleagues before the reply.
Is there a video call?
No, the consultation is written. If the veterinarian needs to see something, he will ask you for photos or video.
Tell us what you found
Briefly describe the situation and pay for the written consultation. You attach photos of the growth and the medical history in the questionnaire right after payment.
Start the consultationAbout cancer in pets
The doctor's articles for owners
Mammary tumors in cats
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Mast cell tumor in dogs
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Injection-site sarcoma in cats
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Lymphoma in a cat: the result that changes the plan
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Lymphoma in a dog: what changes the plan
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How to tell if a lump on a cat is cancerous
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A lump on a dog: when it needs a needle sample
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A mass on a dog's spleen: what happens next
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A lump on a hamster: tumor or abscess
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