Patterson Veterinary Advanced Imaging

In treatment planning, where something is can matter as much as how large it is.

CT can help clinicians assess the size and location of a tumor and its relationship to nearby tissues. Cross-sectional images can support discussions about surgery or other treatment planning.

Before the study, define the questions:
• What area needs to be evaluated?
• Which nearby structures could affect the plan?
• How will the imaging findings be reviewed with the treating team?

Imaging is one part of the workup. The final diagnosis and treatment plan depend on the complete clinical picture and any additional testing needed.

What application should we explore next: orthopedic planning, thoracic imaging, or abdominal imaging?

Learn more about veterinary CT:
https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/hospital/diagnostic-imaging/small-animal/ct

FROM OUR ARCHIVES | Animal Medical Center, Rogers, Arkansas

A look back at a milestone we were excited to share: Animal Medical Center adding CT to its hospital.

The original post captures the installation moment. It is also a useful starting point for a conversation with any team exploring advanced imaging: Which cases are you planning for, who will run the workflow, and how will you build confidence after installation?

See the original installation photos at the link below.

For teams that have already brought CT into their hospital: what is one thing you wish you had planned earlier?

Original installation post:
https://www.facebook.com/PatvetCTMRI/posts/pfbid029JMsEuhcNCV2bC1MpVWjescH4gfqMs9FXNkZqEvp7T1YpURR8z97jnhsa8mL4TmXl

CT training is easier to put into practice when the whole workflow is part of the conversation.

Before training day:
• Identify the doctors and technicians who will use the system, and protect time for them to participate.
• Bring a short list of your common cases and the questions your team wants answered.
• Review patient preparation, positioning, anesthesia and monitoring responsibilities, image review, and study transfer with the appropriate team members.

Leave with a simple plan: who does each step, where the instructions live, and how the team gets help when a question comes up.

Which part of your CT workflow would benefit most from a refresher?

Explore training resources:
https://www.advancedimaging.vet/training

Performing two or three dental cleanings a day? Dental imaging time adds up.

If a full-mouth dental X-ray series takes your team 10–30 minutes, it may be worth looking at CBCT.

The NewTom 7G can capture a 3D dental study in about 16 seconds of scan acquisition, giving your team a view of the teeth, roots, and surrounding bone.

CBCT can serve as the primary dental imaging study in suitable cases, with targeted intraoral radiographs for post-extraction confirmation.

How much of your dental day is currently spent acquiring images?

16, 32, 64… does a higher slice count mean better CT images?

Slice count alone does not determine image quality. A higher number does not automatically mean finer detail. Image quality also depends on reconstructed slice thickness, spatial field of view (FOV), reconstruction algorithms, detector design, and exposure settings.

When a higher slice count reflects greater detector coverage, more anatomy can be captured per rotation, shortening the scan when other settings are comparable.

Faster acquisition can help reduce motion artifacts—especially around the heart and diaphragm, where motion can be difficult to control completely. That can improve the resulting images without the slice count itself making them sharper.

For cardiac motion, how quickly each image is captured also matters. Gantry rotation speed and, when appropriate, ECG gating—timing imaging to the heartbeat—play important roles.

The useful question: does the system provide the detail and speed your clinical work requires?

Which CT topic would you like explained next?

START HERE | Practical veterinary CT & MRI

Welcome! I'm Chris Weaver with Patterson Veterinary. This page brings together practical imaging education for veterinarians, technicians, and hospital teams.

Here you'll find:
• CT and MRI concepts explained in plain language
• Clinical applications and examples from veterinary practice
• Training, positioning, and workflow tips
• Customer-clinic spotlights and imaging milestones
• Guidance on planning, installation, and ongoing support

Whether you're exploring advanced imaging for the first time or building confidence with a system already in your hospital, the goal is to help your team ask informed questions and get more from advanced imaging.

Explore imaging resources, training information, and planning tools at:
https://www.advancedimaging.vet/

What would you like to learn more about? Leave a topic in the comments.

— Chris Weaver | Patterson Veterinary