Alamo Heights Pet Clinic has cutting-edge diagnostics that can better assist in detecting many types of diseases and conditions commonly affecting pets.
A computed tomography, or CT scan is a diagnostic test where multiple x-rays are taken of an area and a computer puts them together to create a 3D view rather than the 2D view provided by plain x-rays. CT scans produce slices of images as though the area being evaluated was a loaf of bread, the slice or slices can be lifted out, examined from all angles and replaced. It provides much more detail than a plain x-ray.
Anesthesia is used because the pet must be absolutely still for the CT scan procedure. A contrast agent is used to enhance the imagery of soft tissues and blood vessels.
The pet is put on a table that is slid through the CT machine, which looks like a donut standing on end. X-rays are taken from multiple angles as the animal’s body passes through the machine. A full-body scan may be performed or one body part might be focused on alone.