What is a CT scan?
A CT scan involves using X-rays with advanced computer processing to produce cross-sectional images of your pet.
These images make diagnosis and interpretation easier in many cases compared to conventional X-rays.
X-rays are still a very important part of diagnostics in veterinary medicine and will often be used in our practices.
Ultrasound scans are often used in conjunction with both X-rays and CT scans.
An MRI will be advised in some cases where neurological disease is suspected.
CT scans often involve injecting contrast (a type of dye) into the bloodstream to highlight specific areas.
CT is normally performed under sedation or general anaesthetic to ensure your pet stays still for the images to be obtained.
Contact us to book a CT scan for your pet
Why does my pet need a CT scan?
CT scans are indicated for a large number of reasons:
- To investigate orthopaedic disease- especially elbow disease or complex fractures
- To optimise diagnosis, treatment planning and monitoring for diseases such as types of cancer
- To better determine the causes of lung disease and respiratory problems
- To investigate the causes of nasal discharges and the extent of ear infections
- To view smaller or more complex structures in the abdomen, especially of larger dogs
- To help localise infection caused by migrating foreign bodies and guide surgical exploration for removal
- To visualise the vascular system.
Preparing your pet for a CT scan
A pre-operative check will be performed within two weeks of the CT scan, where a health check will be performed, and any questions can be answered.
Your pet will require sedation or general anaesthesia for the CT scan. Therefore, food will need to be withheld from midnight the night before unless instructed otherwise. This is to minimise the risk of regurgitation or vomiting during the procedure.
Please check if your pet is on any medication as to whether this should be given on the morning of the appointment.
What happens on the day of your pet’s CT Scan at Garston Vets in Somerset
On the day of the procedure, a member of the clinical team will admit your pet, a consent form will be discussed and signed, risks and any further treatments or tests will be discussed, and any questions will be answered. Contact details will be checked to enable us to contact you if required. A discharge appointment will be booked later in the day; this will depend on the timings of the day and the procedures required.
Your pet will be anaesthetised or sedated and monitored throughout the procedure, use of multiparameter monitor allows comprehensive monitoring of your pet.
The patient will pass through the machine on a moving gantry/table, and X-rays from multiple angles will be taken and processed by a computer for interpretation. The Vet/Veterinary Nurse will assess these images before they are sent to a specialist radiologist for interpretation. You will be contacted once the report is completed.
Following the scan, the patient will be allowed to recover in our hospital whilst monitored by the clinical team until they ready to be discharged.
Aftercare for your pet after their CT scan
At home, your pet will need to be monitored closely as they may still be lethargic from the sedation. Cats should be kept inside overnight, and dogs only have a short walk on lead. Specific requirements for your pet will be discussed at discharge, and we are available 24 hours a day at our Frome Hospital and on the phone if needed.
What are the risks of a CT scan for my pet?
The risk of radiation exposure to your pet from one, or a small number, of CT scans is low.
Anaesthesia and sedation carry an inherent but often low risk, which can be discussed at the pre-operative check and admission.
The contrast agent used is avoided in animals with severe kidney disease and can rarely cause allergic reactions in some patients. IV fluids are provided to support them and, depending on the patient, may be continued for a few hours following the CT scan as the pet recovers.
