Fondly known as a Cat Scan
CT Scans for Pets
This technology gives us incredible insight into your pets internal condition.
A CT is a form of advanced imaging that uses X-rays to image the body in 3-dimensions
The X-rays are emitted from 360 degrees around the patient to give ‘slices’ at 1mm parts through the body – kind of like a deli slicing machine! There is no hiding from a CT scan at Southern Cross Vet!
Are CT Scans better than X-Rays?
Normal x-rays are 2D pictures and can be helpful to check for a fracture and give information on basic conditions. CT scans can do things that x-rays can’t do including the following conditions:
When there are multiple possibilities of what could be causing the problem, often CT will get the answer quicker.
For example: Patient X had a blood test that showed elevated liver enzymes. The vet then did an x-ray to check for a tumour. This was negative. An ultrasound was performed to look at the gallbladder and see if there were stones. This was negative. Finally the patient came to us and we CT scanned her and found that she was suffering from a flare up of chronic pancreatitis which was easily treatable with medication.
If patient X had the CT scan performed first, knowing that in this case ultrasound and x-rays would only give half the picture, the owner could have saved money and Patient X could have been saved so much invasiveness.
A CT scan gives better definition in complex joints such as the wrists and elbows.
To diagnose the cause of limping in the elbow, CT scanning is preferred over x-rays as it can pick up treatable problems that x-rays can’t. This technology reduces misdiagnosis! It is the gold standard in rapidly diagnosing the cause of limping in dogs and cats.
Tumour hunts
Whole-body CT scans can detect cancer early and pick up on spread to work out the better plans for our cancer patients. IV contrast is given to shine up tumors like a christmas tree.
Heart disease
Unlike other CT scans in the veterinary industry, our CT machine is very fast and so angiograms can be performed by us to more accurately diagnose and treat heart disease in pets.
In short, CT has offered us a massive step up in being at the cutting edge of medicine, allowing our clinicians another tool to be the best diagnostic vets!
How much does a dog or cat ct scan cost in Australia?
CT scans are covered in full by many pet insurance companies, we recommend you contact them first to see if your policy covers CT scans. A full CT scan for a dog or cat in Australia including a radiologist report can vary, depending on the circumstances. Please call us for a quote.
Other imaging tools we use include x-rays and ultrasound.
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Fleas
and flea allergy dermatitis
Fleas are a year-round problem in Australia but can be worse during the summer months. Many dogs and cats have an allergy to flea saliva and just one flea bite can cause extreme itchiness, hair loss and irritation. Often the problem is localised around the base of the tail, but in severe cases it can cause break-outs anywhere on the body. For dogs, we recommend BRAVECTO, a safe and effective tasty chew that protects against fleas and paralysis ticks for 3 months. For cats, we recommend ACTIVYL, a monthly spot-on product for flea control, or FRONTLINE spray if your cat is also at risk of paralysis ticks.
Other skin allergies in dogs and cats can be broadly divided into three types: atopy (airborne allergy), contact allergy and food allergy.
Atopy
in Dogs and Cats
Atopy in dogs and cats is like hay fever in people. Your pet can be allergic to almost anything – pollens, dust mites, tobacco smoke, fungal spores…the list goes on. Symptoms include hair loss, itching, red and irritated skin and secondary skin and/or ear infections.
If atopy is suspected in your pet, we can perform a HESKA blood test to work out exactly what your pet is allergic to and then treat them with ‘desensitisation’, where tiny amounts of the allergens are given via injections to gradually build up resistance. A medication can also help to give relief from itching and other allergy symptoms and doesn’t have the side effects associated with steroid (cortisone) treatment.
Contact allergy
Contact allergies, as the name suggests, happen when the animal comes into direct contact with the allergic substance which is often a grass or plant. Typically, the feet, muzzle and under the belly are affected. Medicated washes and creams can often help with contact allergy, as well as prescription medications.
Food allergy
Food allergies can occur in dogs and cats of any age. Despite the recent popularity of ‘grain-free’ diets for pets, true food allergies are more commonly caused by proteins or dairy, with beef, chicken, lamb and fish being the most common offenders in dogs. Dogs and cats are often allergic to more than one thing. We will often recommend a diet trial with a hypoallergenic food for 8-12 weeks after which the pet is ‘challenged’ with one particular food at a time to discover what sets off the allergic reaction.
Symptoms if your Dog eats Chocolate
The early symptoms of chocolate poisoning are usually vomiting and diarrhoea, which can occur 2-4 hours after ingestion. Restlessness, hyperactivity and excessive urination can be other early signs. Advanced symptoms can include muscle stiffness, high heart rate and temperature, panting, seizures, coma and eventually death, as soon as 12-36 hours after ingestion if a lethal dose is consumed.
If you suspect your dog has eaten ANY type of chocolate or food containing chocolate contact a vet immediately, no matter the time of day or night. It is helpful to know how much chocolate and of what type was ingested, so keep any wrappers or packaging if possible.
Treatment for Dogs that eat chocolate
Treatment for chocolate toxicity will involve making your dog vomit if the chocolate was ingested recently. We will also give activated charcoal to soak up any remaining chocolate in the intestines before it is absorbed. If enough time has passed that some chocolate has already been digested we will also recommend intravenous fluids and monitoring in hospital, as well as any symptomatic treatment for vomiting, diarrhoea or any other symptoms if they are occurring.
Your dog has the best chance of recovery if chocolate ingestion is caught and treated early, so be vigilant, especially around Easter!