DECATUR, Ill., Aug. 12, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fairview Hospital for Animals announced that the practice has purchased a new digital X-ray machine. As part of technology and service enhancements, the Decatur veterinary hospital is switching to digital radiography. The hospital's veterinarian Dr. Shelly Stevens says that the new digital X-ray will enhance diagnostic accuracy and improve emergency and urgent veterinary care services.
Decatur veterinarians Dr. Shelly Stevens and Dr. Robert Groesch announced that Fairview Hospital for Animals now offers digital radiography. The animal hospital has a new digital X-ray machine for diagnostic exams.
"Digital X-rays offer a clear, accurate image that makes diagnosis much easier," said Dr. Stevens. "These images are a higher quality than conventional X-rays. By enlarging, brightening or otherwise clarifying the digital image, we can get a much better view of health problems."
The veterinarians stressed that digital X-rays offer a number of benefits for pet patients and pet owners. The digital X-rays don't require film, like conventional X-rays. While they do use radiation to capture an image, the amount of exposure is far less than half the amount used with conventional X-rays. Since there is no film, the animal hospital does not need to store chemicals to develop X-rays or pay anyone for their disposal. This reduction in processing costs can be passed along to pet owners as savings.
"One of the benefits of digital radiography is that we can now link these images to a pet's file," said Dr. Groesch. "There's no need to pull a physical copy of the X-ray; we've got it all on the computer, which is accessible any time and from any patient room."
Digital radiography also allows the veterinary team to view and compare images side-by-side. This can show changes to a pet's bone structure over time, including how a pet is healing following an accident.
"Comparison of images side-by-side and from different angles gives us a fuller picture of a pet's health," said Dr. Stevens. "These insights are especially helpful for tracking changes over time."
Both Dr. Stevens and Dr. Groesch say that digital radiography will play an important role in improving the hospital's Decatur emergency veterinary care program and diagnostics.
In the event of an emergency, a veterinarian can use the digital radiography for immediate diagnostic visuals. Unlike conventional X-rays, there is no need to wait for developing and processing time. Images are available instantly for review and analysis.
The veterinary hospital also provides urgent care for viral and bacterial infections, skin problems, dental emergencies and parasites. These urgent care services are available to pet owners during regular business hours.
In addition to urgent and emergency veterinary care, the animal vet hospital provides routine spay & neuter operations, pet vaccinations, and dental care.