Veterinary CT Scans at St Kitts Vets
As part of our commitment to providing advanced care to our patients, we have invested in state-of-the-art Computer Tomography (CT) Scanning facilities.
Veterinary CT scans are non-invasive and give us highly detailed images of our patients’ bodies, from the tips of their noses to the ends of their tails. We can closely observe tissue, muscles, organs and bones to help identify the cause of potential problems, such as fractures or tumours.
When are CT scans used?
Though external examinations can give a lot of indications as to the cause of internal injuries or ailments, often a CT scan can help to confirm or clarify a diagnosis and the best course of treatment to proceed with.
CT scans can be used to diagnose:
- Tumours
- Head and spinal injuries
- Circulatory problems
- Orthopaedic issues (complex fractures, bone dysplasia etc.)
- Respiratory disease
- Abscesses
- Injuries to internal organs
How do they work?
Veterinary CT scans work much in the same way as they do for humans. The main difference is that your pet will need to be sedated or anaesthetised during the procedure, as they need to remain completely still for the images to be accurate.
CT works by using a continuous beam of X-rays which rotate around a circular, doughnut-shaped structure called a gantry. As your pet is moved through the gantry, the scanner completely circles their bodies and builds up a number of X-rays. These are then used to form a series of 3D images that our veterinary surgeons will use for their diagnoses.
The procedure is very quick and incredibly safe. Your pet’s welfare is monitored throughout and they will be able to recover under the supervision of our highly trained veterinary nurses once it is complete.
Getting a CT scan at St Kitts
Our Basingstoke practice is currently the only first opinion vet in the area with CT scanning facilities. However, all of our practices work closely together to arrange referrals for pets when required. If you have any questions about veterinary CT scans, contact your local practice who will be happy to help.
CT referrals
We are happy to accept referrals from other veterinary practices for CT scans. For referrals, please give us a call on 01256 844944 or email vet@basingstokevet.co.uk.
