VESH recently installed a new 32 slice axial tomography scanner, commonly referred to as a “CT” or “CAT scan”. This scanner utilizes a rotating beam of x-rays to capture and create highly detailed three-dimensional images of any region of the body. Veterinarians can then view these images in different windows and planes to gather precise information about the disease process they are investigating.  CT has wide applications in orthopedics, internal medicine, and oncology.  It is especially well suited to examine the head, chest, bones, abdomen, and pelvis. A CT scan can tell a surgeon if a certain mass is invasive. It can also help ER doctors assess for trauma and is also the preferred imaging modality for large dog abdomens where ultrasound would be limited.  

A CT scan is much more sensitive and detailed compared to plain x-rays so abnormalities that would be missed on an X-ray are readily visible with CT. The newer technology also means that our scanner can complete scans in a matter of seconds, thus minimizing time in the gantry and yielding quick results.