ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- There's new hope for dogs battling cancer as the Food and Drug Administration approves a drug designed to shrink cancerous tumors in dogs or stop them from growing.

Studies show a 60 percent improvement rate for a drug named Palladia -- toceranib phosphate -- which will be available to the public early next year.

Belle was very ill. At 5 years old she was diagnosed with a mass cell tumor in her mouth. It was a "grade 3," which is the worst level.

While Belle was only expected to live three to six months, she did have options. Jen Murphy brought her pup from Gainesville to Southeast Veterinary Oncology in Orange Park, where she got a second chance.

"We were very comfortable and they expect her to have a normal lifespan, which is really good," Murphy said.

Belle began a rigorous schedule of radiation and chemotherapy. It helped, but she suffered; she developed infections and lost weight. So Dr. Jennifer Winter prescribed Palladia, the new FDA-approved drug specifically for canine cancer.

Instead of acting like a bomb in the entire cancer cell, this drug targets treatment in a very specific part of the cancer cell.

Soon Southeast Veterinary Oncology will be one of only a few centers able to prescribe the drug. Next year it will be widely be available. It has a 60 percent efficacy rate and it's doing the work of two harsher treatments.

The normal effects seen from chemo and radiation can be alleviated with the use of this new treatment.

Winter believes Palladia will be perfect for dogs who have run out of options or even a starting point in some cases.

"We're giving new hope every day -- we see that in their faces and the joy that our patients will be able to life long, happy healthy lives at home with the families," she said.

For more information on the treatment, you can visit Southeast Veterinary Oncology in Orange Park: PetCancerCare.com/.