Dog CT Scans: What Are They and Dog CT Scan Cost

Diagnostic testing helps veterinarians find out what’s ailing your dog.  

Simple tests like X-rays and ultrasounds can reveal important clues about pet health, but some cases might require more in-depth testing.  

In these cases, your veterinarian may recommend advanced imaging, such as a CT scan.  

Let’s look at why a CT scan might be recommended, dog CT scan costs, and possible risks of the CT scan procedure.  

What Is a Dog CT Scan?

Computed tomography (CT) is a form of advanced imaging that allows veterinarians to see cross-sectional images of your dog’s anatomy.  

Your veterinarian can use a CT scan to examine many different parts of your dog’s body, including their inner ear, spine, abdominal cavity, and limbs. CT scans give excellent detail in bony body areas, while magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) excel at imaging soft tissues. 

Dogs undergoing CT scans are anesthetized to keep them calm and prevent movement, which could hamper image quality. The pet is comfortably situated on a sliding table that moves through the CT scanner, which rotates around the targeted area.  

CT scans use radiation to produce images like X-rays, which can be enhanced by injecting contrast material into the dog’s veins. 

Most CT scans are performed in specialty veterinary hospitals since the scanner is large and requires advanced training.  

A veterinary radiologist, a specialist veterinarian who interprets diagnostic images like X-rays, CT scans, and MRI scans, usually analyzes the results and provides a report to the ordering veterinarian. 

CT scans are becoming more common as pet parents learn about the benefits of advanced imaging and specialty procedures. Most CT scan candidates are middle-aged to older dogs with variable health issues, but the test has many possible uses for dogs of all ages.  

Why Would a Dog Need a CT Scan?

Your vet might recommend a CT scan if simple imaging techniques, like X-rays or ultrasounds, aren’t enough to diagnose or treat your dog’s condition. Dog CT scans are also helpful if your vet plans a complex surgery. 

Here are some common canine conditions that benefit from CT scanning: 

• Tumors 

• Nasal or sinus conditions 

• Inner ear disease 

• Traumatic injuries 

• Internal bleeding 

• Complex fractures 

• Back injuries 

Benefits of a Dog CT Scan

Dog CT scans have several advantages over other pet imaging techniques: 

• Three-dimensional images: X-rays can superimpose two body areas because the images produced are two-dimensional, distorting the result. CT scans eliminate this artifact by providing “slices” reconstructed into a three-dimensional image. 

• Fine detail: CT scans allow for the evaluation of greater detail than X-rays. 

• Deep structure assessment: CT scans can help veterinarians examine areas that are difficult to X-ray or ultrasound, such as the sinuses or inner ear. 

• Availability: CT scans are more widely available and cheaper than MRIs.  

Effectiveness of a Dog CT Scan

CT scans can be highly effective diagnostic tools in the right situations. However, like any imaging procedure, CT scans have limitations.  

For example, a CT scan cannot completely rule out cancer spread (i.e., metastasis) because microscopic cancer cells are invisible to the scanner.  

CT scans don’t provide as much soft tissue detail as MRIs, but each imaging modality has advantages.  

Consider a vertebral disc that has herniated into the spinal canal, causing damage to the spinal cord.  

While the CT scan might show details of the disc and adjacent vertebrae, the MRI will show the spinal cord in better detail. Both tests can effectively diagnose intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), but the MRI might be preferred in this case for surgical planning. 

Risks of a Dog CT Scan

CT scans are generally considered safe but aren’t entirely without risks. Complications associated with the CT scan itself are rare since the radiation doses used are minimal.  

The three main risks of a dog CT scan include: 

• Adverse effects from anesthesia, including allergic reactions or death (rare) 

• Accidental discovery of a harmless abnormality that leads to unnecessary testing 

• Radiation exposure, which could cause cancer in high doses or over long periods 

Dog CT Scan Cost

Dog CT scans can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $3,500.  

The cost depends on the area of the body that was scanned and whether the CT scan is scheduled or performed on an emergency basis.  

The price might also depend on the machine used, general veterinary costs where you live, and how long your pet stays under anesthesia. 

Preparation for a Dog CT Scan

At-home preparation for a dog CT scan is minimal.  

Your veterinarian will likely ask you to fast your dog or avoid feeding them after midnight the day before the procedure. Water is usually OK until the procedure, but you should follow your veterinarian’s recommendations. 

Your veterinarian may perform blood work before anesthetizing your dog to ensure they are healthy enough to undergo the procedure.  

Right before anesthesia, the veterinary team will place an intravenous (IV) catheter in a leg vein to administer anesthetic drugs or contrast material during the scan. 

Alternatives to a Dog CT Scan

The alternatives to dog CT scans are other imaging modalities, such as MRI or nuclear scintigraphy (bone scanning). Each imaging procedure has risks and benefits. 

The most affordable alternatives are X-ray and ultrasound, but they may not provide the detail your vet needs to treat your pet’s problem.  

CT scans are often recommended after the veterinary team performs these other tests and doesn’t get the desired results.  

Your veterinarian will recommend appropriate imaging tests based on the information they are trying to gather.