The first specialized veterinary CT scanner is already with us!

June 2, 2025

In Lithuania – the first computed tomography center for animals

The first specialized animal CT center, one of the most modern in the world, has started operating in Lithuania. The center, which required an investment of more than 200,000 euros, was opened in Kaunas at the private ‘Siauro Šnaucerio’ veterinary clinic and has become one of the few such centers in the Baltic states, the press release states.

According to the clinic’s founder, veterinarian Vytautas Siaurys, the opening of this center in Lithuania is a significant breakthrough in the country’s veterinary care, which will help to pinpoint the sources and spread of pet diseases accurately and immediately, provide necessary assistance much faster, and select more effective treatment methods. “The center operates with the same equipment used in the healthcare system for humans, but this CT scanner is specifically adapted for animals. It is one of the most advanced pieces of equipment used in the world’s largest veterinary clinics. With its help, our doctors will now be able to perform extremely precise diagnostics of animal diseases,” says the veterinarian.

According to him, CT scans will not only increase accuracy, but also allow the evaluation and application of the best treatment methods.

“Unlike X-ray machines, with a computed tomography scanner you can observe the entire structure of an animal’s skeleton and organs in 3D and precisely identify where the disease focus is. The new equipment’s features make it possible to obtain higher-quality images and scan the entire animal in just a few minutes. Therefore, fast and accurate diagnostics allow for quicker selection of the appropriate treatment. Until now, a patient, for example with a spinal hernia and limb paresis, would be referred to colleagues, and the test results would take time, meaning urgent treatment could not be provided. And in the case of the mentioned spinal issue, every day is crucial; delays can cause irreversible changes that may lead to loss of mobility. Now we can perform such vital diagnostics right here and now,” says V. Siaurys.

CT scans in the clinic can be performed on all small animals weighing up to 70 kg – dogs, cats, birds, snakes, rodents. According to Mantas Eitmanavičius, a veterinarian at the “Siaurys Schnauzer” clinics, a wide range of radiological examinations can be performed during a single procedure. “With the help of this unique equipment, we can detect changes in the animal’s head, spinal hernias, chest and abdominal cavity damages, fractures, sprains, bone and joint changes, and assess whether joint replacement is already necessary, as well as much more quickly and effectively detect soft tissue and vascular pathologies, and signs of malignant tumors,” said the veterinarian M. Eitmanavičius.

According to the doctor, the installation of the mentioned equipment and the training of specialists took almost a year. Veterinarians completed internships in South Korea at a specialized laboratory, where they enhanced their knowledge by working with the latest equipment. During the training, various animal CT scans and individual sessions were conducted, familiarizing participants with the specifics of the CT scanner and its application in veterinary medicine. The training was led by a lecturer from the United States with 30 years of work experience.

„Prieš trisdešimt metų pradėję veiklą, visuomet siekėme ne tik Lietuvos, bet ir kaimyninių šalių gyvūnams suteikti inovatyviausius gydymo būdus, kurie yra prieinami kitose pažangiose pasaulio šalyse. Gyvūnai kaip ir žmonės, susiduria su įvairiausiomis ligomis, kurios gali baigtis jų mirtimi. Todėl labai svarbu skatinti pažangą ir veterinarijos srityje, kad suteikiamos paslaugos gyvūnams būtų kuo arčiau žmogaus medicinos“, – sako minėtų veterinarijos klinikų įkūrėjas V.Siaurys.

As stated in the press release, there are two “Narrow Schnauzer” clinics operating in Kaunas, staffed with highly qualified veterinary specialists, and they are also the only ones in Lithuania providing qualified animal kidney hemodialysis services. They were the first in the Baltic countries to perform complex procedures such as hip joint replacement, hydrocephalus treatment, and pacemaker implantation. They were the first in Lithuania to start chemotherapy treatment for oncology patients and perform complex cataract surgeries. One of the clinics in Kaunas operates around the clock, and houses two of the most modern, and the only, molecular laboratories in Lithuania.