Beyond Possible Cancer Treatment in Dogs: VSOS Pioneers Minimally Invasive Innovation for Dogs

At VSOS (Veterinary Specialists of Sydney), we believe nothing is impossible. That’s why we’re proud to share Scout’s story - a case where compassion, collaboration, and cutting-edge medicine came together to go beyond possible.

In a recent procedure, our interventional radiology team undertook a highly complex and rare treatment on a young French Bulldog named Scout. Her diagnosis? A biliary cystadenocarcinoma, an aggressive tumour in her abdomen that had caused severe swelling and discomfort.

What made this case extraordinary was not just the tumour’s rarity, but the cutting-edge approach taken to treat it: transarterial chemoembolisation (TACE), a procedure more commonly seen in human cancer patients - treating cancer from the inside out, giving Scout options where few seemed possible.

Unlike traditional surgery, TACE doesn’t involve cutting open the abdomen. Instead, a microcatheter was guided through Scout’s arteries to the exact blood vessels feeding the tumour. Once in position, tiny 75-micrometre plastic beads, known as embolic microspheres, were slowly and precisely injected to block the tumour’s blood supply, depriving it of oxygen and nutrients.

This approach allowed our team to target the cancer from the inside out, reducing Scout’s discomfort and swelling while preserving surrounding tissues

At VSOS, technology is powerful, but it’s the teamwork, collaboration and refusal to give up that make the impossible possible. 

The surgery was led by Dr. David Benz and supported by his sister, Robin - a specialist in human interventional radiology - and Dr Karina Graham. Their combined expertise and precision gave Scout the best possible chance in an otherwise late-stage scenario.

While this treatment may not be curative, it is life-extending. For Scout, it offers a real shot at more time, time spent comfortably, with less fluid buildup and abdominal pressure.

At VSOS, we’re redefining what’s possible in veterinary oncology, bringing human-level innovation into animal care and giving pets like Scout more time, more comfort and more hope. From arterial embolisation for arthritis to this pioneering tumour therapy, we’re changing what’s possible in pet care.