In the past couple of decades, pet care has grown leaps and bounds, with people being more informed and involved in the health of their four-legged family members. People are now more conscious about their pet’s health, and are spending more on veterinary care and other pet services. According to a report by Forbes, Americans spent $136.8 billion on their pets, up 10.68% from 2021.
Veterinarians can miss reporting on up to 50% of radiograph abnormalities across a wide range of ailments, including arthritis, heart and lung diseases, abdominal issues, bladder stones, and even cancer by standard evaluation of X-ray scans. Involving AI in scans for pets, as part of a comprehensive veterinary checkup, can help detect these conditions earlier, allowing timely treatment and enhancing the chances of a happier, healthier life for beloved companion animals.
While X-rays for human patients always come with interpretation reports, it’s not often the case for pet X-rays. This reduces the chance of detecting abnormalities, which, left untreated, can have huge detrimental effects on the pet’s quality of life. Furthermore, veterinary X-rays are expensive, costing around $200 to $400 per scan. In order to get the most out of their investment, pet owners should ask for either a written AI report or a radiologist review each time their pet receives X-rays.
However, there is also a shortage in veterinary radiologists in the US. With pet ownership continuing to rise, this results in larger backlogs for radiograph reports. This is where Texas-based veterinary technology company SignalPET has stepped in, harnessing the power of artificial intelligence and machine learning to comprehensively and objectively scan pet X-rays and help detect abnormalities in the pet’s body.
Since its establishment in 2018, SignalPET has reviewed more than 9 million X-ray scans, detecting more than 150 million abnormalities. It has trained more than 60 AI applications for this purpose, resulting in an average result turnaround time of three minutes – much quicker than manual evaluation. According to SignalPET, another advantage of AI is that it can decipher digital images and detect abnormalities in a more comprehensive manner than the human eye. It looks at every film in its entirety, every time, making it immune to human errors such as "tunnel vision" or subjectivity. Each time SignalPET’s solutions are used, the machine learning system improves, resulting in more data that benefits veterinarians everywhere.
The company’s SignalRAY solution acts like a second set of eyes on veterinary X-rays, utilizing AI and deep machine learning to assess companion animal radiographs in real time, providing reliable results on more than 60 radiographic test results instantly. It scans for both normal and
abnormal signs, aiding veterinary practitioners in the diagnostic process. It produces easy-to-read reports, helping veterinarians gain more diagnostic value from traditional radiographs and ensuring the owner receives the best possible care for their pet.
SignalPET has also developed an expansion pack to SignalRAY. This incorporates the pet’s medical history, providing veterinary clinicians with important information that will help them make crucial treatment decisions. Meanwhile, SignalSMILE is a specialized program that focuses on dental X-rays, due to the fact that almost 8 out of 10 dogs and cats that see a veterinarian are in need of dental care. However, a large proportion of these companion animals do not receive the treatments they need.
“As a second-generation veterinarian with decades of practice under my belt, I’ve observed how Americans’ expectations of high quality veterinary care have increased considerably,” says veterinary specialist, Dr Neil Shaw, DVM, DACVIM, founder and chief medical officer of SignalPET.
“Previously seen as a luxury, pet owners are now more willing to seek veterinary care for their beloved companion animals. However, veterinary care can be expensive and there is a shortage of veterinary radiologists and other professionals, which is why SignalPET is utilizing the power of AI to improve the diagnostic capabilities of veterinarians everywhere. To get the best value out of every vet visit, we recommend that pet owners ask for either a SignalPET AI report or a radiologist review every time their pet is X-rayed,” Dr Shaw says.
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Original Source of the original story >> AI in Pet Healthcare: How Can It Benefit You and Your Pet?
