Computed tomography is an imaging technique that is an important diagnostic tool in many modern veterinary practices due to its speed and simplicity, as well as the high diagnostic value of the images it produces.
Computed tomography is an X-ray technique in which the X-ray tube and detector rotate around the object being examined, producing several hundred cross-sectional images. The final CT image is created by a computer, which compiles the measured data into an image. This allows for a clear representation of bones and different soft tissues without any overlap.
The CT scanner consists of a short tunnel, also called a gantry, and a mobile examination table on which the patient moves through the gantry. The X-ray tube located in the gantry rotates around the patient's body and regularly emits fan-shaped X-rays that pass through the body and are measured by detectors on the opposite side
The CT scan usually takes only a few minutes. Nevertheless, correct positioning without movement is essential for obtaining clear images. Animals must therefore be placed under superficial anesthesia for the examination. Depending on the area of the body to be examined, animals are placed on the examination table in a supine, lateral, or prone position.
In small animals, computed tomography can be used to examine all regions of the body. Computed tomography is particularly suitable for the diagnosis of fissures (hairline cracks in the bone) and complicated fractures, but also for inflammation, tumors, malpositions, and anomalies due to its interference-free imaging.
Due to the size of horses, CT scans are limited to the head and limbs. Devices with a particularly large gantry opening also allow the cervical spine to be examined. CT scans are used in horses for further lameness diagnostics, among other things. Even on the head, an accurate diagnosis is often only possible through the superimposition-free representation of anatomical structures using computed tomography.
In rabbits and guinea pigs, computed tomography is ideal for diagnosing dental and ear diseases, but also for imaging the skull, all organs, the large blood vessels, and the entire body. To avoid the risk of anesthesia, a awake CT scan can also be performed on small pets.
Dogs are pack animals. They need clear structures and consistent rules to feel comfortable. Your dog should know its place in your family from the very beginning. A dog that obeys well is socially acceptable. Your fellow human beings will appreciate this. And you will enjoy being out in public with your dog more. Loving but consistent training is the basis for peaceful and stress-free coexistence between dogs and humans.
As the name suggests, this is not a separate disease, but rather a complex of various manifestations of inflammatory changes in the mouth and skin of cats.
They're back again in late summer and fall – fall mites. They cause allergic reactions in animals and humans, with severe itching and skin inflammation. Find out how to recognize them, treat them, and, ideally, prevent an infestation here.
Tympany refers to the accumulation of gas in internal organs; accumulations of gas in the intestines are colloquially referred to as flatulence. Due to their special digestive system, guinea pigs are relatively prone to tympany, which can sometimes be life-threatening.
Rabies is a viral infection that has been known for thousands of years. Most mammals, including humans, are susceptible to it, and it can also be transmitted between animals and humans (zoonosis). The infection caused by the rabies virus almost always results in fatal brain inflammation. Rabies is a notifiable animal disease in Germany, which means that even suspected cases must be reported to the competent authorities. Germany has been recognized as free of rabies in non-flying animals since 2008. It continues to occur in bats.
Blood in the ear, which primarily occurs in dogs with drooping ears, refers to a specific type of hematoma in the outer ear. Affected dogs display a sudden swelling and warmth in the ear. In most cases, an underlying disease is the cause of a bloody ear. It is therefore extremely important to have your dog examined by a veterinarian in order to successfully treat the underlying disease and the hematoma itself.
Named after Swiss ophthalmologist Johann Friedrich Horner (1831–1886), Horner syndrome is not a separate disease, but rather a complex of various symptoms affecting the eyes of dogs and cats, all of which are caused by damage to the sympathetic nerve.
Fleas are small, blood-sucking parasites found worldwide. Their enormous jumping ability allows them to move quickly on and between their hosts. This can lead to veritable flea infestations. The most important measure is prevention.
Dirofilaria are long threadworms whose larvae are transmitted by various species of mosquitoes. Depending on the species, they colonize either the skin or the large blood vessels of the lungs, and in severe cases, the heart. This is why they are known as heartworms. Dirofilaria and the mosquitoes that transmit them are mainly found in the Mediterranean region, Eastern Europe, and North America. The disease is brought to Germany by travelers and through the importation of dogs from abroad. Due to the climate-related spread of mosquitoes to the north, it is becoming increasingly important.
This feverish infectious disease is one of the most common tick-borne diseases in dogs and is not always easy to diagnose. It causes fever, joint and muscle pain, and lameness. In Germany, the pathogen is primarily transmitted by the castor bean tick (Ixodes ricinus), with an average of one in three ticks infected.
The Maine Coon is an impressive cat breed: large, muscular, and with a friendly, people-oriented nature. Its powerful build and thick coat make it a real showstopper and an ideal companion for people who have plenty of space and even more affection to offer.
FORL stands for feline odontoclastic resorptive lesions and is a very painful dental disease in cats. Almost every second cat is affected from the age of five. Even for veterinarians, FORL can only be detected with the naked eye in its final stages. X-rays of the teeth provide clarity.
