Veterinary Services
Computed Tomography
Computed Tomography in Cary, NC
Successfully treating any condition starts by precisely evaluating the problem.
Computed tomography (CT) is a noninvasive, painless diagnostic imaging procedure that has been used on animals since the 1970s. It has grown in popularity in veterinary medicine in recent years because it can provide high-quality, detailed images of any part of the body, including the bones, muscles, fat, and organs, enabling veterinarians to make a more definitive diagnosis.
CT utilizes X-rays rotating around a patient to make cross-sectional images and is an extremely rapid imaging modality. These machines generate hundreds of high-resolution images in just seconds and can construct both two- and three-dimensional images from the acquired data. It is superior to standard X-rays for evaluating a variety of illnesses and injuries. CT imaging is also useful for biopsy and radiation treatment planning.
Here at Quartet, we are pleased to have the GE LightSpeed 16-slice CT scanner for our hospitalized patients as well as for outpatient consultations. Scheduling a consultation and scan is easy, and we often have same-day availability.
We recommend that you do not feed your pet after 11 p.m. the night before your CT consultation appointment, as they will need anesthesia if the consultation results in a scan. You may give your pet water until 8 a.m. on the appointment day. Please note that if additional tests are recommended prior to the scan, we may not be able to perform the scan on the same day as the consultation.
All CT scans are done under anesthesia, as patients must remain completely still during the procedure. Our licensed veterinary technicians and staff veterinarian monitor your pet closely both during and after the procedure, and a thorough exam is performed beforehand to make sure that your pet can safely receive anesthesia.
A scan can take a few minutes to an hour, depending on the complexity of the exam, the size of the patient, and the number of body regions examined.
We will keep your primary care veterinarian informed of all results and share the images with them so that they can be added to your pet’s permanent medical record.