When many vets think of CT, their minds go straight to orthopaedics or spinal imaging. But CT’s role in veterinary practice is rapidly expanding. In this blog, we unpack how this technology is reshaping clinical decision-making and improving outcomes across a range of disciplines.
How is CT used in veterinary practice?
Computed tomography (CT) is an advanced imaging technique that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body. Unlike traditional radiography, CT provides three-dimensional views, imaging far greater anatomical detail — especially for bone, air-filled structures, and soft tissue changes when combined with contrast agents.
Compared to MRI, which uses magnetic fields and excels at imaging soft tissues like the brain and spinal cord, CT is faster, more widely available, and particularly useful for detecting bone pathologies, fractures, tumours, and internal bleeding.
While ultrasound is portable and excellent for real-time imaging of soft tissues and fluid-filled structures, it’s limited in whole-body evaluations and review of bony and air-filled structures. CT bridges that gap with high-speed, high-resolution imaging — making it an increasingly valuable tool across multiple areas of veterinary practice.
Let’s unpack some of the ways CT is being used across the broad scope of clinical veterinary practice…
CT in Dentistry
Dental radiography has long been the standard in small animal dentistry, but the increasing availability of CT has allowed advanced review of limitations, especially in patients with complex skull anatomy or deeply seated pathology. CT offers:
- Three-dimensional imaging of dental and maxillofacial structures
- Improved visualisation of nasal turbinates, frontal sinuses, and tooth root abscesses
- Better planning for surgical extractions, particularly in brachycephalic breeds
A 2020 study found that CT identified significant pathology in 61% of feline patients that had normal or inconclusive dental radiographs (Marretta et al., 2020). With CT, subtle lytic lesions or bone resorption can be identified earlier and treated more precisely.
CT in Oncology
In oncology, knowing exactly what you’re dealing with, and the extent of disease, is critical for treatment planning. CT now plays a key role in:
- Staging neoplasia, especially for thoracic, abdominal, and head/neck tumours
- Determining resectability of soft tissue sarcomas or thyroid carcinomas
- Planning radiation therapy, with CT-guided contouring critical for targeting
A CT scan can help inform a prognosis or shift a treatment plan. For example, a mast cell tumour initially thought to be a localised mass may reveal sublumbar lymphadenopathy or pulmonary metastases on CT. That information changes not just the treatment planning, but the conversation and considerations for the pet owner.
CT is often preferred over ultrasound or radiographs when deeper structures or complex masses are involved. This is especially true in brachycephalics or heavily muscled dogs, where traditional imaging may be limited (Selmic et al., 2015).
CT in Emergency Medicine
CT is increasingly used in emergency and critical care, particularly for:
- Head trauma (e.g. assessing cranial fractures or intracranial haemorrhage)
- Pulmonary thromboembolism
- Acute abdominal presentations, such as suspected GDV or haemoabdomen when ultrasound is inconclusive
Unlike ultrasound, CT can provide full abdominal and thoracic imaging in seconds, which is critical for unstable patients. Dual-phase contrast CT is also useful for detecting active bleeding and vascular injury (Zwingenberger et al., 2012).
In trauma cases, CT can reveal the full extent of injury more quickly and with fewer limitations than standard radiographs, especially when multiple regions are affected. This allows for faster, more targeted treatment decisions.
Where to From Here?
As CT becomes more available, both in general practice settings and mobile imaging services, it’s no longer just a “specialist tool”. Both general and urgent care practitioners are increasingly working CT into their diagnostic approach and collaborating with radiologists for interpretation.
Its non-invasive nature, speed, and unparalleled detail make it an asset not just in diagnosis, but also in case planning and client communication. The more we use it, the more we see its potential.
If you haven’t yet incorporated CT into your workflow, now is the time to consider how it might change your approach — not just for ortho or neuro cases, but across your entire caseload.
Build Confidence in CT
Ready to get more from your imaging? Our Computed Tomography Program is 100% online and designed for vets who want to better understand when to use CT, how to interpret images, and how to integrate findings into clinical decision-making.
Whether you’re in general practice, referral, or emergency medicine and have access to CT, this course will give you the skills and confidence to make it a more valuable part of your diagnostic toolkit.
Learn more and enrol here: https://improveinternational.com.au/course/computed-tomography/
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Written by Suari Price
References
Marretta, S. M., et al. (2020). “Comparative Use of Dental Radiography and Computed Tomography in Feline Oral Disease.” Journal of Veterinary Dentistry
Selmic, L. E., et al. (2015). “The role of advanced imaging in veterinary oncology.” Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice
Zwingenberger, A., et al. (2012). “CT in Veterinary Trauma Patients: What You Might Be Missing.” Veterinary Radiology & Ultrasound