The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies
Royal Dick School of Veterinary Studies Bicentenary

Scrooble the collie jumps at chance to see new cancer centre

A border collie which overcame cancer and became a Crufts finalist was a VIP guest at a new treatment centre for pets.

Cancer centre opening

New Cancer Centre

Scrooble, who competed in the 2008 Crufts Flyball agility contest six months after finishing treatment, was given a tour of the £3 million cancer centre, which is the first facility of its kind in Scotland.

The new centre at the University of Edinburgh’s Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies will provide the latest therapies for animals and also provide insight into the treatment of cancers in humans.

Treating Scrooble

Scrooble, who is seven, is no stranger to the Vet School, having completed eight months of chemotherapy for lymphoma at the University’s Hospital for Small Animals at Easter Bush.

The collie's owner, Sara Hawkswell, accompanied Scrooble to the new facility, which will provide radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery for animals prior to its official launch.

When Scrooble was undergoing treatment, the staff were incredibly friendly and helpful. The new centre will be a fantastic addition to the care given to animals with cancer. Scrooble is now full of energy, competing in agility at shows most weekends, and since his recovery has gone up two agility grades.

Sara HawkswellScrooble's owner, Armadale, West Lothian

Duchess Opens Centre

The Veterinary Cancer Care centre, was officially opened by the Duchess of Hamilton and is expected to treat up to 20 cases of animal cancer a week.

Its state of the art equipment includes a computerised tomography (CT) scanner, which will be able to take scans of horses, and a linear accelerator to provide radiotherapy treatment.

Research will include identifying cancer-causing genes, understanding tumour progression and analysing the role of stem cells in cancers.

Our understanding in treating cats and dogs and how cancer takes hold will also pave the way for comparative research

Prof David ArgyleCentre director

Centre director Professor David Argyle said: "The centre will have the most sophisticated diagnostic procedures, followed by comprehensive cancer therapies for pets, including a linear accelerator to provide radiotherapy.

"Our understanding in treating cats and dogs and how cancer takes hold will also pave the way for comparative research, relating what we know about the disease in animals to humans to improve treatments for all."

Cancer Research

Around one in three dogs and one in five cats will develop cancer, and the disease is the main cause of mortality in household pets.

Although cancer rates are increasing because animals are living longer, as with humans, new treatments have led to better survival rates.

Scientists at the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies have already discovered a rogue cancer stem cell in dogs that could help in finding new treatments for bone cancer in children and adolescents.

The cancer centre forms part of a £100 million development on the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies' Easter Bush site, which includes a research building and teaching building.

For more information please contact Tara Womersley, Press and PR office Tel 0131 650 9836 or 07791 355 804.