Radiation Oncology

Small Animal Hospital

Radiation therapy may play a beneficial role in the treatment of many types of solid tumors, and is a treatment option for many cancer patients.


Notice: 2/6/23 - Radiation Therapy Services

 At this time we regret that we are currently unable to provide radiation therapy services.  We are working hard to restore this service at the Small Animal Hospital and will post an announcement to this page when radiation therapy becomes available again.


The Radiation Oncology staff consists of a board certified veterinary radiation oncologist and radiation oncology residents in training, as well as veterinary nurses who specialize in radiation therapy.

The Radiation Oncology service sees new cases Mondays and Wednesdays at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m., and schedules recheck appointments Monday through Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.. Please call the Purdue University Small Animal Hospital at   765-494-1107  to make an appointment. New appointments must first include a referral from your primary veterinarian.

In case of after-hours emergencies, please call the closest veterinary emergency center or   contact our emergency service.

What is Radiation Therapy?

Radiation therapy may play a beneficial role in the treatment of many types of solid tumors, and is a treatment option for many cancer patients. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells in locations where the cancer cannot be surgically removed. The goals of radiation therapy treatment depend on the location, extent of the disease, and type of cancer being treated. Radiation therapy may be used alone, or more commonly, in conjunction with surgery, with the intent to eradicate the cancer and prevent recurrence (definitive therapy). In cases where the cancer is very advanced or invasive, or when the disease has already spread to other parts of the body, radiation therapy can help by shrinking or stabilizing the growth of the tumor and alleviating clinical signs while avoiding significant side effects (palliative therapy). Chemotherapy may also be recommended as part of a definitive or palliative treatment protocol for some types of cancer.

Every patient and every family is unique, and treatment recommendations are made on a case by case basis. First, our Radiation Oncology staff works with your veterinarian to carefully review your pet’s medical history and assess the extent of your pet’s cancer. We work closely with other specialty services in the Purdue University Small Animal Hospital, such as medical oncology, surgery and internal medicine, and referral veterinarians to provide the most complete care possible for our patients. You and your family are also very important members of your pet’s cancer care team. We will help guide you through the recommendations and treatment options available, and work with you to develop an integrated treatment plan based on your pet’s special case.

Special Equipment/Technology

Purdue Radiation Oncology has a sophisticated 6 MV Varian EX linear accelerator with a 120-leaf multi-leaf collimator (MLC) that allows the radiation oncologist to deliver precision radiation to the tumor, while sparing surrounding critical normal tissues. Purdue is the only veterinary radiation oncology facility in the Midwest that offers intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), a state-of-the-art technique that uses the computer-controlled multi-leaf collimator to sculpt the radiation treatment beam to the unique tumor shape in order to avoid important normal structures such as the eyes, brain, spinal cord, kidneys, lungs, or heart when the tumor is closely associated with any of these organs.

Diagnostic tools such as digital radiography, CT, MRI, and nuclear medicine are available, as well as complementary treatment modalities such as surgery and chemotherapy to provide cutting-edge, comprehensive cancer care for your pet.

Schedule an Appointment

Call: 765-494-1107
24/7 Emergency Phone: 765-494-1107

Small Animal Hospital Entrances:

  • EMERGENCY - Small Animal Emergency
  • Entrance A - Lynn Hall Small Animal Lobby
  • Entrance B - David & Bonnie Brunner Small Animal Lobby

625 Harrison St
West Lafayette, IN 47907
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