Radiotherapy Suite

The radiation therapy facility at the Centre is the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere for dogs and cats. The radiation suite contains a Therapax 300kV deep radiation therapy machine. Already commonplace in human medicine, this is the first machine of its type to be available for clinical use in Australia, and has already treated many pets from the metropolitan Melbourne area, as well as country Victoria and most other states.

The radiation suite is lined with over two tons of lead and is operated remotely by fully licensed veterinarians. The radiation therapy facility is headed by Dr Charles Kuntz, who has had extensive experience with radiation oncology in his practice in the United States. All treatments take place under Charles' direction.

All patients are placed under a light general anaesthesia to ensure they remain still during treatment. The facility is monitored with closed circuit video feeds and portable patient monitors, which allows for the same level of patient monitoring as is received by all patients undergoing anaesthesia.

The radiation suite also serves as a full intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) theatre, where pets can receive radiation therapy during surgery. This facility is the first in the world for companion animals and allows large doses of radiation to be administered direct to the tumour site during surgery. Surgical staff exit the theatre during administration of radiation.