We all know what veterinary teleradiology does: it connects veterinary hospitals and clinicians in urgent care and general practices with board-certified veterinary radiologists who interpret digital diagnostic imaging, such as radiographs, dental radiographs, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRI studies. With fast turnaround times – often within a few hours for STAT radiology cases – clinicians can make informed treatment decisions sooner and improve patient outcomes.

When AI-powered radiology screening reports are added to the workflow, the benefits multiply.

Artificial intelligence in veterinary radiology can analyze images and provide instant preliminary radiology reports that help clinical teams confirm findings without escalating a case to a radiologist. This speeds up decision-making and can eliminate the need for additional consults.

In many cases, veterinarians can initiate treatment with a focused radiographic study guided by the pet’s clinical history.
By collimating to the region of interest, positioning the patient correctly, and capturing multiple views, clinicians can produce higher-quality images that improve accuracy for both AI interpretation and radiologist reviews.

Hands-free restraint techniques and the use of positioning aids not only ensure safety but also produce sharper, diagnostic-quality images.

Using appropriate exposure settings, sedation when needed, and foam supports to maintain symmetry contributes to consistent, high-quality images that optimize AI radiology analysis and improve radiologist interpretation.

When selecting a veterinary teleradiology provider, look for one that charges per region rather than per image, so you can capture as many diagnostic views as needed without increasing costs. In many cases, a clear AI-powered or radiologist-reviewed report may provide enough information to guide clinical decision-making and avoid additional testing, saving time, cost, and stress for both the patient and the care team.

Instant access to board-certified veterinary radiologists was once limited to clients and patients of specialty hospitals. However, AI-enabled screening results paired with veterinary teleradiology services can now bring radiologist expertise to general practice clinics. When cases require more detail than an AI read provides, clinicians can easily escalate directly to a board-certified radiologist. This targeted use of human expertise ensures radiologists’ time is reserved for cases where it’s most impactful.

Vetology’s veterinary imaging AI subscription includes secure storage of radiology reports and DICOM files, along with free access to an integrated PACS. This centralized image storage keeps prior studies accessible, enabling radiologists and clinicians to compare current images with historical ones for lesion tracking, disease progression monitoring, and treatment evaluation. By maintaining a continuous diagnostic record, practices can reduce the need for repeat imaging and support long-term patient care.

Integration with practice management software or AI Scribe means fewer clicks for your team and faster report turnaround. 

Interpreting radiographs and other diagnostic images is a core skill for every veterinarian. Still, even the most experienced practitioners know that an extra layer of review can make or break the outcome of a case. Whether you’re a solo practitioner, managing an overnight emergency, or covering cases while the radiologist is on leave, veterinary teleradiology can provide the clarity and support you need to make confident treatment decisions.

Vetology connects clinicians with board-certified radiologists who specialize in interpreting complex diagnostic images. You might think of veterinary teleradiology as merely a backup option for less experienced practitioners. However, it can be a valuable tool that encourages multidisciplinary collaboration among veterinarians in diverse practice areas and career stages. Here are four reasons teleradiology is meant for veterinarians of all skill levels.

1. Collaborative Medicine is Good Medicine

In human healthcare and at veterinary specialty hospitals, surgeons, internists, and radiologists routinely consult with one another before proceeding with treatment. Veterinary teleradiology extends that same collaborative model to veterinary general practice hospitals and urgent care clinics, supporting informed decisions in everyday care.

Opting for a teleradiology consult can feel like you’re second-guessing yourself, but it’s actually a powerful way to strengthen your clinical instincts. Working with veterinary radiologists can enhance your interpretation skills and reinforce your decision-making. Veterinary radiologists can spot subtle signs in radiographs, dental radiographs, ultrasounds, and CT scans that, left unnoticed, can drastically alter the course of treatment.

Another significant advantage of veterinary teleradiology is availability and speed. When an in-house radiologist is unavailable and the case is urgent, waiting may not be an option. Teleradiology provides your practice with 24/7 access to expert readings, offering a fast turnaround that enables timely treatment.

Rapid answers are especially critical when dealing with emergency conditions, such as:

• Gastrointestinal obstruction
• Heart failure
• Pneumonia
• Pneumothorax

“Anytime there’s a time factor on a critical case, that’s where telemedicine is at its best,” said Dr. John Mattoon, board-certified veterinary radiologist and senior medical advisor for Vetology.

GI cases are among the most challenging diagnoses that general practitioners face regularly. Teleradiology doesn’t replace the expert opinion, skill, or clinical instincts of the veterinarian, but it can help you prevent serious misdiagnoses.

“Looking at the bowel of vomiting dogs and cats is the most challenging thing we do,” said Dr. Mattoon. “For a veterinarian to say, ‘Your dog is obstructed, you need to go to surgery’ is a pretty bold move. You’d better be right.”

A few other conditions Dr. Mattoon noted as difficult to diagnose without an expert eye included gallstones, which can appear superimposed over the liver on lateral views, and gas in the hepatobiliary system, a subtle change that can provide insight into why a pet is so sick. “Gas within the bile ducts, gallbladder, or the liver itself is not obvious, but when it’s there, it indicates an anaerobic infection or abscess. If you miss it, that condition is often fatal.”

There’s growing concern that some veterinary teams, especially new graduates, rely too heavily on teleradiology and that overreliance can undermine clinical development and decision-making skills. However, used appropriately, veterinary teleradiology can help early-career veterinarians develop and reinforce those skills.

Radiology reports can be an incredible learning tool. “The opportunity is tremendous for self-learning,” Dr. Mattoon noted. “You have a detailed report that explains the abnormalities on the image, followed by recommendations for appropriate next steps.”

When you commit to studying the images and reports, you can learn and grow with each case. Technicians and support staff can benefit, too. If the radiologist includes their contact information with the image report, you can call with questions about the case to further your understanding of the pathology.

Veterinary radiologists are in short supply, particularly in academia, which limits the training of new specialists. In areas without access to a local radiologist, primary care veterinarians must find ways to meet client and patient care needs in-house, including the use of veterinary teleradiology. “Teleradiology has been huge in allowing DVMs to access radiologists nearly instantaneously,” said Dr. Mattoon. “We can serve more veterinarians and do so more efficiently.”

Teleradiology can help general practitioners with the following scenarios that expand the scope of primary care:

• Second opinions when another clinician is unavailable
• Serious, urgent cases with no room for error
• Client specialist consultation requests
• Abdominal and thoracic ultrasound interpretation

Veterinary teleradiology can benefit everyone, from new graduates and solo practitioners to experienced clinicians, emergency veterinarians, and even boarded specialists. Any veterinarian who values accuracy, collaboration, and providing the highest standards of patient care can benefit from image interpretation services such as the teleradiology service offered by Vetology.

Contact us for help navigating your next challenging case or when you need a second set of eyes and a fresh perspective to enhance patient care and client service in your clinic. Vetology’s teleradiology service is hassle-free, contract-free and allows flexibility with a pay as you go model. Our team of boarded radiologists, a boarded dental specialist and a cardiologist offer industry-standard STAT and turnaround times, and are available to read canine, feline, equine, exotics, avian and reptile cases.