CT Scanning At
The Market Town Vet

A CT scan is an advanced imaging tool that creates highly detailed pictures of the inside of your pet’s body. It allows us to view bones, organs, soft tissues and blood vessels from different angles, giving a much clearer picture than standard imaging alone.

CT technology is widely used in human healthcare across the UK and offers the same high level of diagnostic support in veterinary medicine.

A CT scan is used when we need a more detailed view of an area that cannot be assessed clearly through routine imaging. It is especially helpful for investigating complex or difficult to reach areas of the body.

Your vet may recommend a CT scan for:

• lameness or joint problems
• spinal or neurological conditions
• nasal or sinus disease
• middle ear problems
• internal conditions affecting organs
• suspected tumours or cancer
• fractures or complex injuries

This extra detail helps us identify the cause of your pet’s symptoms and decide on the most suitable treatment plan.

CT scanning offers several important benefits for your pet’s care.

It provides highly detailed images, helping us spot problems that may not be visible on standard x rays or ultrasound. It can also support a quicker diagnosis, which means treatment decisions can often be made sooner.

The clearer picture a CT scan provides can also help with treatment planning, whether that means medication, ongoing monitoring or surgery. In many cases, it gives us valuable information without the need for more invasive procedures.

Your pet may need a CT scan if they have ongoing symptoms that need further investigation or if your vet wants a more complete understanding of a condition before recommending treatment.

CT scans are often used when pets have unexplained pain, mobility issues, breathing problems, neurological signs or suspected internal disease. They can also be very useful when planning surgery or assessing the extent of a tumour or injury.

Your pet will usually be admitted to the practice for the day. A member of our team will explain the process, confirm your contact details and make sure you have the opportunity to ask any questions before the scan takes place.

As pets need to remain completely still during the scan, they are normally given sedation or a short general anaesthetic. Once the scan is complete, your pet will be monitored carefully as they recover.

Afterwards, we will talk you through the findings and explain any recommended next steps.

No, the scan itself is not painful. Your pet will be sedated or under a short anaesthetic so they remain still and comfortable throughout the procedure.

Our team monitors your pet closely at every stage to make sure they are safe and well cared for.

The scan itself is usually quite quick, although the full appointment will be longer to allow for admission, preparation, sedation or anaesthetic, and recovery time afterwards.

We will let you know what to expect on the day and keep you updated as needed.

In some cases, we may be able to discuss the initial findings with you very soon after the scan. Depending on the case, the images may also be reviewed in more detail before a full treatment plan is confirmed.

Our priority is to make sure you receive clear information and understand what happens next.

If your pet is showing symptoms that need further investigation, your vet will advise whether a CT scan is the right next step. We will always explain why it is being recommended and how it could help us reach a diagnosis.

If you are unsure, our team will be happy to talk you through it.

Most pets require sedation or a short general anaesthetic so they remain completely still during the scan. This helps us produce clear and accurate images while keeping your pet comfortable throughout the procedure.

Your pet will be monitored closely by our experienced team at every stage.

In most cases, pets are able to return home the same day once they have recovered from sedation or anaesthetic.

Before you leave, our team will explain any aftercare advice and discuss the next steps in your pet’s treatment plan.