Radiation Oncology

What to Expect Before Radiation Treatment Begins

CT Sim

If radiation therapy is part of (or is likely to be part of) your pet’s treatment plan, your pet will undergo a specialized CT scan for radiation planning called a CT simulation or CT sim. The AVES radiation team will make a custom set-up for your pet that would promote precise, reproducible positioning for each radiation treatment. CT sim positioning may include, but not limited to, a bite mold and an immobilization mattress (body cushion). Once custom positioning is complete, a CT scan of the treatment region will be performed. The CT sim images are then sent to the radiation oncologist to precisely map out the tumor and normal organs and optimize your pet’s personalized radiation treatment plan using industry-leading radiation planning platforms.

In most cases, this radiation set-up (CT sim) can be performed at the same time as your pet’s staging CT scan. In some cases, we may need to perform a separate CT sim (for example, when surgery has been performed since the CT sim or the CT sim was performed at a different facility).

Radiation Protocol Selection

Our radiation oncologists will review radiation treatment options for your pet based on diagnosis, staging, CT findings and health status. Our team strives to work with each family to create a treatment plan that suits their pet’s medical needs and family’s wishes. Radiation Treatment options for your pet may include:

Definitive-intent Radiation Therapy: multiple radiation treatments with the goal of local tumor control and overall improvement in survival time

Palliative Radiation Therapy: fewer radiation treatments aimed at providing pain relief and improvement of quality of life

Stereotactic Radiation Therapy (SRS, SBRT, HSRT): tightly focused, high dose treatments to well-defined tumors in 1-5 treatments

Short Course Pre-Operative Radiation Therapy (SCPO RT): five radiation treatments delivered to the tumor and surrounding tissue prior to surgery with the intent to sterilize the margins (and possibly shrink tumor) to improve surgical success and outcome

Low Dose Radiation Therapy (LDRT): ultra-low doses of radiation targeted at painful, inflammatory conditions (such as elbow joints with osteoarthritis) to reduce clinical signs and improve quality of life

Our radiation oncologists offer treatment options beyond this list, such as: whole lung irradiation for pulmonary metastasis, abdominal radiation for GI lymphoma, involved node radiation therapy for multicentric lymphoma, and more. Our radiation oncology team is happy to consult on cases with your primary care veterinarian to see if we have extended options for your pet.

What To Expect During Radiation Treatments

Most radiation treatments at AVES are performed on an outpatient basis, allowing pets to return home the same day and maintain their normal routines. For families who prefer additional support—or for pets who may benefit from closer monitoring—medical boarding is also available. Our team provides attentive, compassionate care, ensuring your pet feels safe, supported, and well-loved during their stay.

Pets are anesthetized for each of their radiation treatments for their safety, and to ensure they are perfectly still for sub-mm accuracy. The short, light-plane anesthesia episodess are tolerated well by the majority of patients. Our anesthesia protocols are personalized for each patient by our board-certified anesthesiologist, and adjusted each day as needed.

At AVES, your pet’s quality of life is always our top priority—during treatment and beyond. Every recommendation we make is guided by comfort, wellbeing, and the goal of helping your pet enjoy the best possible life alongside the family they love.

Radixact™: Helping Us Deliver the Best for Your Pet

At AVES, we are committed to providing the highest standard of cancer care, which is why we’ve invested in the Accuray Radixact™ System—one of the most advanced radiation therapy technologies available. AVES is one of only two veterinary medicine hospitals in the United States that has this system. This cutting-edge platform allows us to deliver exceptionally precise, personalized treatments that support better outcomes, fewer side effects, and a more comfortable experience for the pets we serve. Our dedication to innovation ensures your pet receives the same level of care you would expect for any member of your family.[CD1]

Key Benefits of Radixact™:

1. Precise, Targeted Cancer Treatment:

The Radixact™ System delivers radiation in a continuous 360-degree helical pattern—treating the tumor slice by slice with thousands of tiny beamlets. This approach provides exceptional precision, allowing us to focus radiation exactly where it’s needed while protecting nearby healthy tissues and organs. Its advanced, ultra-fast multileaf collimator (MLC) moves up to 50 times faster than those on conventional machines, enabling incredibly refined “dose painting” to the target for safer, more accurate treatment.

2. Fewer Treatments, Less Stress

Thanks to its precision and power, many pets can complete therapy in fewer sessions compared to conventional radiation. Fewer anesthesia events and visits mean less stress for both pets and their families.

3. Minimal Side Effects, Faster Recovery

With Radixact’s ultra-precise radiation delivery, most pets experience very minimal side effects—allowing them to continue their normal routines throughout treatment. Many patients eat, play, and behave just as they do at home, helping families maintain a sense of comfort and normalcy during their pet’s care.

4. Expanded Treatment Options

The Radixact™ system can treat even the most complex of cancers due to its unique helical delivery and extended treatment length. This opens the door to new possibilities for pets who may not have had options before.

5. Integrated Imaging for Accuracy Every Time

Built-in CT imaging before each treatment allows real-time adjustments — ensuring the radiation is always delivered exactly where it needs to be, even if the tumor or pet’s anatomy shifts.

6. Adaptive Technology for Better Outcomes

With advanced adaptive tools such as PreciseART™ on the Radixact™ platform, our team continuously monitors your pet’s anatomy and treatment response throughout their radiation therapy. This allows us to adjust the plan if needed, ensuring every session remains precisely aligned with your pet’s current needs. At AVES, we strive to provide the safest, most accurate care—always centered on your pet’s comfort, wellbeing, and best possible outcome.