Late complications of pelvic irradiation in 16 dogs.

When external beam radiation therapy is administered to the pelvis, normal tissues irradiated may include the colon, small intestine, urethra, bladder, bone, and spinal cord. The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine the incidence and severity of late radiation effects following pelvic irradiation in dogs and to identify factors that increase the risk of these effects. Medical records of all dogs treated with curative intent external beam radiation therapy to the pelvic region between 1993 and 1999 were reviewed.