Radiation Oncology   The Auburn University Oncology Service offers state of the art radiation therapy facilities. These include a linear accelerator that can treat both deep and superficial tumors, iridium implants for high-dose localized radiation therapy, and both diagnostic and therapeutic nuclear medicine facilities. Meet our radiation oncologist.        Iridium implants Strontium therapy Strontium probe close-up Radiation therapy is used for: Treatment of tumors that can't be removed completely because of their location. Treatment of tumors that were incompletely removed surgically. Partial shrinkage of a large tumor that is causing specific problems for an animal. Relief of bone pain due to a primary tumor or metastatic disease. We have treated animals as large as horses and as small as rats at Auburn University's linear accelerator facility. Radiation therapy side effects: Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are rare complications of radiation therapy in animals. We adjust the depth of treatment to avoid affecting organs that cause these effects.   Skin effects are most common in the area being treated,  and include permanent hair thinning/loss and/or discoloration  of the skin and hair.  Short-term effects include a spectrum from what appears to be  a mild sunburn to ulceration of the skin.  These effects resolve within a few days to weeks after the end of therapy.  Prevention of self-trauma is the mainstay of treatment.