How To Prepare For A Pet Scan During A Vet Checkup
A CT scan for pets can be administered when your veterinarian wants to take a closer look at your pet's organs, muscle, bone, or other internal body parts. Even though the scan is short and pain-free, you must know how to prepare for a pet scan to avoid making your pet feel anxious. Indeed, pets can feel anxiety, which will cause their stress levels to rise. As a result, a stressed-out pet can be particularly difficult to be scanned by veterinarians. Luckily, I will guide you on how to prepare for a pet scan.
What Is a Pet CT Scan?
A CT scan or computed tomography scan involves a medical imaging procedure that combines a series of X-ray images taken from different angles, thereby producing cross-sectional images of your pet's body's specific areas. It allows the user to see the inside body parts of your pet without cutting.
A CT scan for pets is almost identical to those done in humans. The equipment and machine used are mostly the same. The only difference is that most pets require anesthetization to keep them completely still throughout the procedure. Though it is easy to think about it, knowing how to prepare for a pet scan is a big help.
Why Do Pets Need to Undergo CT Scans?
A pet CT scan is done to understand the underlying anomalies in your pet's body, that aids in planning for various surgeries. Pet scans are vital tools for understanding the extent of canine and feline cancers and preparing for treatment.
When the pet patient has a tumor, the surgeon needs to know its precise location and connection to adjoining structures. The pet scan helps plan and facilitate the surgical approach to be done and minimizes the surgery time. CT scans are conducted on an animal's lungs. It helps veterinarians rule out metastasis or spread various cancers known to be present elsewhere in the body.
Pet CT scans also help veterinarians understand orthopedic abnormalities like elbow dysplasia and the corrective plan. Dentists may order them to examine tooth decay and swellings. In cases where multiple organs and systems are damaged, CT scans help doctors obtain a firmer grasp of the various injuries' complexity and extremity that facilitate more strategic treatment. Knowing why pets need CT scans is as important as knowing how to prepare for a pet scan.
How are CT Scans Conducted in Pets?
Pet CT scans are generally done at large hospitals due to the need for skilled technicians and expensive equipment. Pet CT scans are also performed in specialty hospitals.
You will be instructed not to give your pet's food the night before the exam is conducted. On the day of your scheduled pet scan, a blood sample will be taken for the laboratory, and your pet patient will be prepped for anesthetization.
Once your pet is on the machine, she will be properly positioned by a veterinary technologist. Then, the technologist and anesthesiologist will step into a separate room to run the scan. Usually, there is a large window through which everyone can monitor the animal. Every scan only takes about 30 seconds, and the anesthesiologist will check your pet between each scan. The entire procedure takes about 45 minutes. A CT Scan report or result is generated immediately following the exam, and it only takes a few hours.
How to Prepare for a Pet Scan
Preparing for your pet's ultrasound may sound frightening to you, but knowing how to prepare for a pet scan will ease your anxiety. Here are a few tips that owners can take to make their pet's ultrasound as easy and stress-free as possible:
Don't Feed Your Pet Before and After Ultrasound
Scanning a pet with a full stomach can interfere with the ability to spot organs such as the liver and adrenals. Your veterinarian will advise you to avoid feeding your pet late in the evening. However, it would help if you keep your pet hydrated with water.
Try to Keep Fluids in Your Pet
Ultrasounds are more effective when a pet's bladder contains some urine. It would help if you tried to prevent your pet from expelling fluids, especially when they are about to go to the procedure in an hour.
Monitor Your Pet’s Anxiety Levels
Most pets do not need to be asleep to undergo an ultrasound. But if your pet is sensitive to pain or extreme anxiety, sedation will help.
Be Open About Your Concerns
It would help if you talked to your veterinarian about your concerns or worries about your CT scan for your pet. Answered questions and addressed concerns will make the procedure much smoother for everyone involved.
Conclusion
Scanning is helpful in modern veterinary medicine in reaching accurate diagnoses and more successful medical procedures. They allow for a more detailed look into the health of vital organs of your pets.
Don't be scared when your pet needs to undergo a CT scan because this technology provides keen detection of abnormalities affecting your pets. As a pet owner, knowing how to prepare for a pet scan will be a lot of help for you and your pet. After all, ensuring your pet's health should always be your top priority.