10,000 Patients Treated: How PetCure Oncology Helped Redefine Access to Radiation Therapy in Veterinary Medicine
January 7, 2026 (AUSTIN, Texas)—Ten years ago, most veterinarians had limited options when a patient needed radiation therapy. Stereotactic radiation was largely confined to academic institutions, and access depended heavily on geography. For many practices, it simply wasn’t a realistic referral option.
PetCure Oncology set out to change that. In January, the organization reached a significant milestone: 10,000 pets treated with radiation therapy since opening in 2015.
“When we started PetCure Oncology, stereotactic radiation was already well established in human medicine, but access in veterinary medicine was extremely limited,” said Dr. Neal Mauldin, medical director for PetCure Oncology and national director of radiation oncology at Thrive Pet Healthcare. “Our goal was to make that level of care available to referring veterinarians everywhere, not just those practicing near large academic programs.”
By developing veterinary-specific stereotactic radiation protocols and assembling teams with deep oncology experience, PetCure created a model designed to work alongside general practice and specialty hospitals. Today, PetCure operates eight treatment centers nationwide and supports referrals through a clinical team that includes 12 board-certified oncologists and eight supervising veterinarians.
Treating roughly 1,000 patients per year places PetCure among the highest-volume veterinary radiation providers in the country. Many established programs outside PetCure treat a fraction of that number each year.
“Hitting 10,000 treatments reflects how much unmet need exists,” Mauldin said. “Through our partnership with Thrive Pet Healthcare, we’ve been able to scale responsibly, adding centers, specialists, telehealth support, and clinical infrastructure that referring veterinarians can rely on.”
PetCure’s use of stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiation therapy allows many patients to complete treatment in one to three sessions, reducing anesthetic events and shortening overall treatment time. For referring veterinarians, that often means more viable options for patients with tumors that were once difficult to treat.
“Our focus has always been on doing this the right way,” Mauldin said. “That means precise protocols, careful case selection, and close collaboration with the referring veterinarian so treatment decisions support both outcomes and quality of life.”
Over the past decade, PetCure has adjusted its approach based on real-world feedback from veterinarians and pet families. Improvements in communication, referral coordination, and telehealth access have helped practices stay involved in their patients’ care while easing the burden on owners.
Reaching 10,000 treatments reflects a broader reality in veterinary medicine: cancer remains common, access to oncology specialists remains limited, and demand for advanced care continues to grow. For the veterinary community, the milestone signals steady progress, expanded access, clearer referral pathways, and practical support for veterinarians navigating cancer care conversations with clients.