It’s as simple as this… there are simply no other cancer pet clinics in Iowa.
“As the only oncology service with board-certified oncologists in Iowa, it is important to expand our footprint to allow us to offer the best care, cutting edge clinical trials, and to teach the next generation of veterinarians and veterinary oncologists,” said Dr. Meg Musser, associate professor of veterinary clinical sciences.
The expanded footprint Musser references is in the form of a $7 million expansion of the Pet Cancer Clinic.
The project will renovate 3,600 square feet of interior space in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital and include an addition of another 2,000 square feet. The added space will create the ability for Iowa State veterinary oncologists to provide comprehensive, patient-centered treatment for dogs and cats with cancer.
That’s important Musser says because cancer is a growing concern for pets.
“Expanding our footprint will give us the infrastructure to build the oncology service both in personnel and in treatments offered to our clients and patients,” Musser said. “Cancer therapy, including veterinary medicine, is ever growing and changing and Iowa State needs the flexibility to adapt and offer the best treatments available for our patients.”
More than 5,000 cases are currently seen by the Oncology Service with patients coming not only from Iowa, but from as far away as Montana, California, New Mexico and Canada. The Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital offers both medical and radiation oncology services.
The expanded Pet Cancer Clinic will also give veterinary oncologists a greater ability to collaborate with other veterinary specialists in the Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital including colleagues in surgery, veterinary pathology, internal medicine, cardiology, and ophthalmology.
The additional space will also be utilized in specialized oncology treatments and services with dedicated consultation spaces for oncology clients and patients close to where they are being treated.
“The clinic will also allow us to expand our research endeavors and offer clients treatment options we are unable to at the present time,” Musser said.
As an example, Musser cited a new monoclonal antibody for oral melanoma and mast cell tumors. These are common tumors that Musser and her colleagues see in dogs, however its use in other tumor types are not well understood.
“Additional investigations into its use for other tumor types are time and personnel intensive,” Musser said. “Expanding our space and staff will help us utilize these new treatments more effectively in the future.”
The Hixson-Lied Small Animal Hospital is also looking to expand research collaborations outside of Ames.
Dr. Chad Brown, executive director of the Lloyd Veterinary Medical Center, says the hospital and its researchers will look to compete for additional research funding. This will include growing the current collaborations with institutions such as the University of Iowa’s Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Such collaborations could bring additional clinical trials to Iowa State.
“This will ultimately contribute to the advancement of patient care at Iowa State and across both the veterinary and human medical fields,” Brown said. “The expanded Pet Cancer Clinic will also enhance training opportunities for our professional students, interns and residents.”
Construction is slated to begin in the spring of 2026 with completion tentatively scheduled the following year. The project is privately funded with philanthropic gifts still being sought. Individuals interested in the project should contact the College of Veterinary Medicine’s fundraising team at vetmeddev@iastate.edu or make a gift online.
When it is completed it will be the conclusion of a project that has been a long time coming.
“The Pet Cancer Clinic has been eight years in the making,” Musser said. “It is exciting to see this vision become a reality and allow us to serve animals, clients and our community better.”
January 2026