Shedd Aquarium Advances Aquatic Animal Medicine with Addition of CT Scanner to On-site Hospital

Shedd Aquarium has become one of the first aquariums to invest in an on-site CT (computed tomography) scanner for its state-of-the-art, full-scale animal hospital, further advancing animal health and welfare in aquatic medicine. The skilled veterinary team that oversees the care of 32,000 animals, from fishes to mammals, now has a better view than ever before with this new addition.

“We’re evolving what’s possible in aquatic medicine and setting a new gold standard of care for every patient,” said Dr. Karisa Tang, vice president of animal health at Shedd Aquarium. “By having this tool at our disposal, it expands our capabilities to deepen our understanding around health, anatomy and biology for the care and conservation of aquatic species.”

Previously, Shedd relied on 2D x-ray imagery, ultrasounds or transport of animals for a complete 3D CT scan to get a closer look at animals’ internal anatomy. Antech, a global veterinary diagnostics company, temporarily loaned a CT scanner to Shedd, allowing the veterinary team and caretakers to begin a database of images for several animals. The equipment enabled the first-known CT scans of adult beluga whales. Further, it was pivotal in forming a diagnostic plan for Kimalu, a 12-year-old female beluga whale at Shedd, who became the first beluga to recover from general anesthesia following a first-of-its-kind surgery to remove cysts near her blowhole.

Shedd Aquarium made a significant investment to keep the CT machine, complementing its existing suite of equipment and laboratories. Whether it’s for comprehensive preventative care or urgent care needs, the additional tool offers a deeper understanding of animal health and wellbeing.

“Even beyond helping the animals in our care, we plan to share these scans to provide baseline data on what a healthy population looks like to advance knowledge in the zoological and aquatic veterinary medicine world,” said Dr. Tang.

CT scans can help diagnose a variety of aquatic animals – from critically endangered zebra sharks to sea urchins – just as they are helpful for humans or land-based mammals. However, there are often a few modifications needed to work with aquatic species. To ensure the comfort and safety of patients, the expert veterinary team has designed methods with each species’ needs in mind. Caretakers provide sources of water or moisture to the animals while briefly and temporarily being out of their regular aquatic habitats without dousing the equipment. Further, for the CT scanner itself, the team has taken some waterproofing precautions, including using a tarp or weather-resistant tape.

For more information about Shedd’s Aquatic Science Labs and Animal Hospital, please visit the aquarium’s website.

VISUALS: Find high-resolution photos here: https://personal.filesanywhere.com/guest/fs?v=8e70698b5e5e70ac9f6c&C=50. Credit: ©Shedd Aquarium