Summary of Adding a CT to Our Animal Wellbeing Offerings:
Brevard Zoo has installed a new computerized tomography (CT) scanner at its L3Harris Animal Care Center. The scanner will greatly improve the medical care the Zoo can provide to its animal residents and open new research opportunities. The CT will allow for detailed imaging of internal structures, including skeletal structures and certain organs like the lungs. Having the machine on-site will eliminate the need to partner with external facilities and reduce the stress and risks of transporting animals. The machine can accommodate patients up to 650 pounds and provide images within seconds. The installation of the CT scanner is the result of more than 5 years of advocacy and demonstrates the Zoo’s dedication to animal wellness and quality care.
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Summary:
– Brevard Zoo has added a CT scanner to enhance animal medical care and research opportunities.
– CT scans provide detailed images of internal structures, especially for skeletal structures and certain organs.
– Having an on-site CT scanner eliminates logistical concerns and improves animal wellness.
– Patients at the Sea Turtle Healing Center and Brody the Florida black bear will benefit from the CT scanner.
– The long process of advocating for the CT scanner shows the Zoo’s dedication to animal wellness.
Animal well-being is a top priority at Brevard Zoo, and we constantly strive to expand the medical care we can provide our residents. That’s why we are thrilled to announce the addition of a computerized tomography (CT) scanner to our L3Harris Animal Care Center. This state-of-the-art equipment is set to revolutionize the medical care we offer and open up new research opportunities to improve our animals’ health.
Currently, fewer than 10 zoos in North America have CT scanners on-site, and despite being one of the smaller zoos on that list, we are proud to be among them. CT scans use X-ray images to create a detailed 3D look at the body’s internal structures. They provide additional details and a more comprehensive view than radiography and ultrasonography.
CT scans are especially useful for examining skeletal structures and organs like the lungs. For example, when it comes to sea turtles, CT scans offer an extensive level of detail in diagnosing shell trauma. We have had to partner with veterinary and human medical facilities to perform CT scans on our animal patients. However, this posed logistical challenges, including additional travel time and scheduling constraints.
Bringing our patients off-site also presented animal wellness concerns. Longer anesthesia periods or the stress of travel while awake can affect the well-being of our animals. As a result, we have not been able to utilize CT scans as much as we would like. However, having the CT scanner on-site eliminates these issues and allows us to significantly improve the quantity and quality of care we can provide to our animals.
One group of patients that will greatly benefit from the on-site CT scanner are those at our Sea Turtle Healing Center. CT scans will provide our dedicated care team with a better understanding of the extent of injuries and the presence of fibropapillomatosis tumors. Another patient who will be a top priority for our in-house CT scanner is Brody, the Florida black bear. We aim to assess the condition of his pelvis and hindlimbs following previous surgery and treatments.
The CT scanner at our Zoo boasts a gantry with a 75-centimeter diameter, allowing us to accommodate a wide range of patients. Additionally, the table can hold up to 650 pounds, ensuring that even our largest residents can benefit from this advanced technology. The scan is quick, taking just 5 minutes or less, with images being created within seconds.
The journey to have a CT scanner on-site has been long, with Dr. Trevor Zachariah, the Zoo’s director of veterinary programs, advocating for it for over 5 years. The fact that his efforts have been met with success highlights the Zoo’s dedication to animal wellness and the high-quality care we strive to provide to all our residents.
Here at Brevard Zoo, we are committed to the well-being of our animals, and the addition of the CT scanner is just one more step toward ensuring they receive the best possible care. We are proud to be part of the select group of zoos with on-site CT scanners, and we look forward to the numerous benefits this technology will bring to our animal residents and the field of wildlife medicine.
We want to express our deepest gratitude to our generous supporters, as we rely solely on donations to fund our operations. Your continued support enables us to serve our community, expand our animal wellness programs, and contribute to vital education and conservation efforts. Together, we can make a difference in animals’ lives and preserve our natural world.
