Nuclear medicine is one of our distinctive imaging modalities. We are one of a limited number of facilities with the ability to perform nuclear medicine studies for animals. Unlike radiographs, CT scans, or MRI scans that show changes in anatomy, nuclear medicine allows us to view physiological changes in the body. Common tests that our staff perform are bone scans, thyroid scans, and a variety of therapeutic radioactive injections for treatment of and pain relief from cancer.
To perform a nuclear medicine test, the pet is injected with a specific amount of a radioactive drug (radiopharmaceutical) designed to target the area of interest. A gamma camera then generates an image from the radiopharmaceutical inside of your animal to tell the doctors about the function of that tissue. We then use this information to help in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease process. We have a state-of-the-art isolation area to comfortably house our patients for a short time after the scan until it is safe for them to be released.
