First dedicated CT imaging service for Tasmania’s animals
New dedicated resource for animals welcomed by vets and pet-owners across Tasmania. THE LATEST >>
Pets and Wildlife
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FROM finding cancer to the dodgy item your pet might have ingested, CT scans are vital in complex veterinary cases.
But, until now, Tasmania has not had a dedicated animal-imaging service.
From October 4, vets and animals from across Tasmania will benefit from the opening of a new CT imaging service, Veterinary Imaging Tasmania, located at the North Hobart Veterinary Hospital - the first of its kind in the State.
The new scanner will be available for referrals from all other veterinary hospitals and has been welcomed by veterinarian clinicians as a much needed service.
Patients are being booked in even before the scanner is up and running.
“This new state-of-the-art equipment means we can provide Tasmanian pets and the veterinary community with top quality diagnostic imaging so animals of all descriptions can receive the most appropriate and highest quality clinical care,” CEO of Vetbiz Mary-Anne Legro said.
“Veterinary science has developed quickly over the last few years, and the introduction of computed tomography (CT) has provided one of the most important advancements in diagnostic imaging in the veterinary sector.”
The $250,000 CT scanner will allow more effective diagnosis of cancer and other diseases, lung and chest problems, evaluation of the skull, nasal cavity and inner ear
and a problem parents of inquisitive dogs can relate to - abdominal diagnostics including foreign bodies.
“CT is essential not only for the diagnosis and treatment of many disorders, but it is now being used to understand areas ranging from drug delivery and surgical advancements through to anatomical and educational uses,” Ms Legro said.
“Our imaging equipment is world class and would be entirely at home in the world’s best human hospitals.”
CT scans can be performed in just three to five seconds, minimising the time patients are under anaesthesia.
“We hope it will bring additional referrals of complex cases and assist in positive outcomes for all animals who need medical attention,” she said.
The cost of CT scans are covered by pet insurance.
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