The latest technological advances have finally reached one of Oak Harbor’s veterinary centers.

Recently, Best Friend’s Veterinary Center purchased a new X-ray system known as Digital Radiography. The new digitally operated system is designed to speed up the process for animals and humans alike.

Instead of taking an X-ray and having to deal with developing the X-ray, much like an old fashioned photo negative, the imaging is all digital and can be viewed from a computer.

According to Dr. Eric Anderson of Best Friend’s, approximately 12 to 15 sets of X-rays are performed per week at the center.

“This new system makes working here run a lot smoother because we are no longer so hesitant to perform an X-ray on an animal because the risks are cut as well as the wait time. Instead of waiting a few day for X-rays to come back to us, we can have the results in a matter of seconds,” Anderson said.

There are many reasons why the new digital radiography works out better for animals and veterinary staff alike.

One is that with the new technology, the amount of time an animal has to remain sedated during an X-ray is cut to a minimum. Before, with film X-ray, the animal would have a be sedated for minutes, rather than seconds. In addition, digital radiography saves clients and vet staff a lot of time in terms of finding out what exactly is wrong with an animal. With the old X-ray system, the wait would take days and clients would have to schedule a follow-up appointment for their pet. Now, within minutes, the X-rays can be sent to a board-certified radiologist and then viewed by the veterinarians from a computer located in each patient room.

Located at the back of Best Friend’s is a viewing station where X-rays can studied on a large scale computer monitor.

The digital radiography cuts down on costs as well as time. Previously, X-rays would need to be repeated frequently due to the X-ray coming out too dark or some other problem.

“The staff here are no longer so hesitant to take X-rays of animals. The new digital system makes the work-flow go a lot smoother and happier,” Anderson said.

Best Friend’s Veterinary Center is one out of 30 Veterinary Centers in the nation that are equipped with the digital radiography.

“We have representatives coming to our center from Whidbey General just to see how the digital radiography works. Hopefully hospitals will start catching on to the importance of buying and having these machines,” Anderson said.