Radiation Therapy - Clinic Information

The November 2010 founding of Pittsburgh Veterinary Radiation Oncology (PVRO) marks the culmination of several years of planning and collaboration of the owners of the PVSEC Internal Medicine, Oncology, and Surgery services. The hiring of radiation oncologist, Dr. Koichi Nagata, to manage the planning and administration of radiation treatments and the completion of outfitting the 2000 square-foot radiation therapy wing with a linear accelerator purchased from the University of Chicago Health System were the final steps enabling the PVSEC to establish a comprehensive cancer treatment facility for pets.

Fox 53 has produced a series of medical messages featuring PVSEC clinical departments. Click below to view the radiation therapy medical message previously airing on Fox 53 and MyPittsburghTV.

With a group of PVSEC veterinary specialists trained in radiation oncology, medical oncology, and oncologic surgery, the PVSEC Cancer Center will join the ranks of the University of Pennsylvania Ryan Veterinary Hospital, the only other comprehensive veterinary cancer center in Pennsylvania.

Appointments

The PVSEC Radiation Therapy service sees patients referred by veterinary practices, and often treats those pets first evaluated by medical oncologists, such as PVSEC's Dr. Rebecca Newman and Dr. Todd Erfourth. Once Drs. Newman or Erfourth evaluate the patient's specific conditions and discuss the option of radiation therapy with the pet's owners, they will refer the case further to the radiation therapy service.

Consultation appointments with Dr. Nagata are scheduled Tuesday-Thursday afternoons, during which he will examine the pet and discuss the steps in developing an individualized treatment plan for the pet.

A computed tomography (CT) scan is often scheduled as part of the initial medical oncology evaluation with Drs. Newman or Erfourth. The CT images are used to generate a computerized radiation therapy plan. This planning process generally takes several days to complete and radiation treatments are not performed the same day as the CT scan.

In preparation for the medical oncology consultation:

• Food should be withheld after midnight the evening prior to the appointment unless the patient is diabetic. Water should be provided for all patients at all times.
• Patients that are diabetic should receive food, insulin and any medications as usual.
• Medications should be administered as directed unless the referring veterinarian indicates otherwise.
• Owners should call PVSEC (412-366-3400) with any questions regarding fasting instructions.

Boarding

For those patients receiving radiation therapy on a daily treatment regimen, boarding at PVSEC may be a good option. If overnight hospitalization is required, PVSEC will make every effort to keep your pet comfortable. Bedding and hiding places for cats are provided, cats are given litter boxes, and all patients receive food and water if their medical condition allows. Ambulatory dogs are walked every four hours. Doctors and technicians are present on-site at all times, 24-hours a day.

Patient Updates for Hospitalized Patients

A veterinary technician will call with a medical update once daily, unless arranged otherwise. Update calls are generally made in the afternoon to allow Dr. Nagata and staff to place priority on patient care. We realize it is difficult to wait for information regarding your pet. Rest assured that we will call immediately in the event of an emergency or change in medical status requiring significant decisions. Communication is greatly expedited and simplified by the designation of one family member as a contact person. Owners are asked to leave all appropriate phone numbers with the receptionists.

Pending Results

We will call you with test results and the doctor's recommendations (e.g. medications or rechecks) as they become available. Please note that repeated calls to check on results require that we remove the patient file from the results bin, causing delays. A veterinary technician will contact you if your pet's results are normal or indicate minor abnormalities. This expedites communication of results and allows our doctors to report critical results more efficiently. If questions or concerns remain after reviewing results with a technician, a doctor can call back to address them. Your referring veterinarian will receive all test results and any additional recommendations after they have been discussed with you.

Fees

Consultations and appointments with PVSEC Radiation Therapy require a deposit at the time of admission for treatment. Full payment will be due at the time of your pet's discharge. We welcome cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover or Care Credit.