Outpatient CT Service for Vets
Outpatient CT for referring vets
How it works
1.Book your patient’s CT scan online | This will take 2-3 minutes. |
2.We carry out CT scan requested | Our radiographers are experienced with CT – they will get the best images which are sent to a specialist who will write the report. |
3.We send report directly to you | Report usually issued in 2-3 days. |
4.You continue patient care | We are happy to provide referring vets with further help. |
Outpatient CT for Pet Owners
How it works
1.You or your vet book a date for CT | We must have a referral from your vet to proceed. |
2.We confirm with your vet | If your vet doesn’t make the booking directly we will make contact with them before we can proceed. |
3.Your pet will have an anaesthetic and CT scan | One or our team will meet you and admit your pet for the day. |
4.Your vet will receive the CT report and continue care | We are happy to provide referring vets with further help. For any further queries post CT will will only deal directly with the referring vet practice. |
About MyVet CT Service
CT (Computed Tomography, also known as CAT scan) is a diagnostic tool that has long been essential in human medicine and now is vital in Veterinary Medicine.
We are accepting outpatient referrals for CT from veterinary practices nationwide
We have a Toshiba Aquilion 32 slice scanner in our dedicated CT building adjacent to our hospital in MyVet Lucan
What is CT scanning?
- A CT (Computed Tomography) scan is a high-speed diagnostic tool that uses a 360-degree X-ray beam to create detailed 2D and 3D images of the body.
- CT uses X-rays to create cross-sectional images. This is achieved by imaging very thin slices of the patient, similar to slicing a loaf of bread! This form of imaging, tomography, provides the radiologist with far more detailed information about the patient than conventional imaging modalities.
- CT scanning is fast, painless, non invasive and accurate.
- We see referrals on an outpatient basis. This means that you, the Primary Practitioner, retains control of your case. Your patient will be admitted and discharged by our dedicated radiology team. The images will be sent to a veterinary specialist in radiology who will write a detailed report which will then be sent to you. Effectively you can use our outpatient CT service as an extension of your own practice.
What’s done during the scan?
- Patients will be placed under sedation or general anaesthetic. The scan itself is very rapid and the animal will be closely monitored by our dedicated team of Vets and Veterinary Nurses.
- Sometimes a special contrast media (dye) needs to be injected into the veins in order to visualise soft tissue structures more clearly.
- The images require detailed expert interpretation so they will be sent to a specialist.
- A CT report will usually be available within a few days and these results will be sent to the referring Vet.
When to use a CT Scan:
- Orthopedic problems (joints, bones)
- Disorders of soft tissue structures and blood vessels
- Detecting and staging cancer
- Pathologies of the spine
- Disorders of the head
- Visualizing air containing structures such as the nose, throat and lungs
- Certain congenital disorders
- Portosystemic shunts
- Rabbit dental disease
Frequently asked questions for vets
Why does the patient need a recent set of bloods?
- All studies using intravenous contrast (dye) require recent bloods to ensure reasonable kidney function
- This blood panel needs to have been performed within the last 2 months
How long does it take to receive the CT report?
- The radiologists report will be sent to you within 2-3 days of the scan.
- An urgent referral can be reported typically within 6 hours.
Who reports the findings from the Radiologist to the Owner?
- Our outpatient service allows you to retain complete control of your case.
- A member of our radiology team will admit your patient at our premises in Lucan and discuss the scan and arrange a discharge time.
- Your patient will be discharged from our care within 4-6 hours
- Once the scan is completed, our radiology team will send the images to a board certified specialist who will read the images and return a report.
- This report will be sent to you to speak directly to your client
Frequently asked questions for owners
How can I avail of your service for my pet?
- Your Primary Care Practitioner can refer your pet for a CT scan once they have decided that this is the next best diagnostic option
- If you would like to send your pet for a CT scan please contact your Primary Care Veterinarian, they will arrange this for you
What is a CT scan?
- CT is an advanced imaging modality that works like digital X-ray but generates alot more images!
- It creates thousands of very fine and detailed images of your pet.
- It is a quick, non-invasive, safe procedure.
How long does a CT scan take?
- The CT scan itself will take no more than 15 minutes, sometimes, for really small patients, it can take seconds!
Will my pet need a sedation or a general anaesthetic?
- It is very important that the patient lies still while we obtain the images. Unlike you or I, your pet will not lie perfectly still! We therefore need to give a sedation or an anaesthetic to ensure that we obtain good quality, diagnostic images.
- Some types of CT scans require administration of an intravenous contrast medium. This highlights the blood vessels and certain pathologies and can aid in the diagnosis of certain conditions. It is generally used in all abdominal or thoracic (chest) CT scans, metastasis checks and traumas.
- Sedation will be used in all patients where there is a non-contrast or plain CT study (elbows or spines generally)
- In some patients it may be safer to have a full general anaesthesia than a sedation, you will be advised on admission of your patient.
- If you have any questions regarding the sedation or general anaesthetic procedure please feel free to ask us at the admit.
Why does my pet need to have a blood test prior to a contrast CT study?
- Contrast media is a type of dye injected into the vessels.
- It is an incredibly useful tool in CT.
- It highlights vasculature and certain pathologies very clearly, aiding in the diagnosis of certain conditions.
- Contrast media is excreted by the kidneys. Therefore, to make sure that the administration of this dye is as safe as possible, we like to obtain a recent blood sample to check the kidney function.
Why does my pet need to have intravenous fluids after a contrast CT study?
- As the dye is excreted by the kidneys, fluids will help to flush the contrast media through
- It keeps the procedure as safe as possible
How long does it take for the images to be reported
- Once the scan is completed, our radiology team will send the images to a board certified specialist who will read the images and return a report. This will be sent to your Primary Care Practitioner who will relay the report to you and come up with a care plan for your pet.
- This takes between 2-3 days.
- An urgent referral can be reported typically within 6 hours.