Photo courtesy AVC
Dogs, cats, horses, and other animals in Atlantic Canada are about to have improved access to diagnostic care, thanks to a new installation at the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI).
The Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) has added a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner to its Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The scanner, which is primarily donor-funded, is part of the college’s Diagnostic Imaging Centre, which also features a refurbished computed tomography (CT) scanner, a variety of ultrasound machines, and fluoroscopy and endoscopy equipment for minimally invasive surgeries, AVC reports.
“With veterinary medicine constantly evolving, AVC must continually upgrade to keep pace with the changing needs and new technologies within the profession,” says the college’s interim dean, John VanLeeuwen, DVM, MSc, PhD. “The MRI scanner will allow for quick and efficient diagnosis of medical conditions for both small animal and large animal patients, and will enhance research, training, and learning opportunities for our veterinary students, faculty, and staff.”
Cost and logistics associated with the 4,200-kg scanner were largely a group effort, AVC says. Manufactured in Germany, the machine arrived by air at Chicago O’Hare International Airport at the end of January. It was then sent to a cryogenic facility before being specially transported into Canada and crane-lifted into AVC’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
The college anticipates the scanner will be up and running in April.
“We will conduct a series of trials after initial assembly, as well as training of faculty, clinicians, and staff,” Dr. VanLeeuwen says “We look forward to this new addition, which will improve the quality of life of patients, enhance the client experience, and positively impact student learning.”
The addition of the MRI has been in development for more than two years.
“As the only veterinary institution offering a full complement of in-house advanced imaging modalities in Atlantic Canada, the Diagnostic Imaging Centre will be the gold standard in care for specialty services,” says UPEI’s interim president and vice-chancellor, Greg Keefe, DVM, MSc., MBA.
