Vetology Rebuilds All 94 AI Classifiers in Two Months

Vetology Rebuilds All 94 AI Classifiers in Two Months

by | Sep 16, 2026 | News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The company replaced the architecture behind its screening system, staging the rollout so classifiers in production were replaced as they cleared new internal quality benchmarks.

September 16, 2026 – SAN DIEGO, CA – Vetology, which provides AI radiology screening and on-demand teleradiology consultations to veterinary practices, has rebuilt and re-released all 94 classifiers on a new model architecture, completing the work between June and the end of August. Going forward, new classifiers will be added to the platform on a regular monthly cadence.

The live classifier library was updated in stages rather than in a single switchover. Clinics received each improvement as it cleared internal benchmarks for deployment into production. The net effect was an uninterrupted workflow, with no installations or updates to manage.

Vetology’s position is that our AI image screening tool earns its place in a practice tech stack by being reliable. That kind of dependability requires a commitment to keeping the platform current as the underlying technology advances, which is why the team set the rebuild in motion on its own initiative.

We used this opportunity to make a radical shift in our model architecture. Our latest models are a significant improvement in that they can interpret global information in a case, both within any single image as well as between linked images in a study. This closely matches how a human radiologist reads cases and the success of these models follows directly from that design. They’ve also opened a wealth of new features that we will continue to build and improve.  It was demanding work, and the team was exceptional throughout. Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Radiology, Drs. John Mattoon and Jennifer Gambino offered contextual guidance and direction as we worked toward better outcomes for each classifier.

Anthony Lutz, Manager of Data Science, Vetology

The published performance data describes the classifiers currently in service. Every figure on that page belongs to a model running on live cases today. Performance metrics have been public since January 2026, and with the rebuild complete they now reflect the latest data for every classifier currently in service. The company’s open invitation to independent researchers to test them, stands.

In March 2025, the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging published a joint position statement on artificial intelligence in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. It named transparency, error reporting, postimplementation monitoring, and unbiased third-party evaluation as conditions for veterinary AI worth trusting. A pilot study in the same journal a year later externally validated six commercial veterinary radiology AI services against general practice canine abdominal radiographs and reported low to moderate performance across the platforms tested.

We read both of those papers and deliberately addressed all 94 classifiers. Our data science team set a higher bar for this rebuild than the original classifiers were held to. We believe in being fully transparent about how we develop our AI. That means actively following the published recommendations of accredited institutions and professional bodies, and it means building continuous feedback loops directly into our platform so we can hear from the DVMs using the product every day. When our community raises a concern, we act on it. Our team of board-certified radiologists validates those improvements before they reach our users. We’re building a platform veterinarians can rely on and trust, because patient safety is on the line; and that trust is earned through accountability, continuous improvement, and an unwavering commitment to the standards our profession sets.

Eric Goldman, President, Vetology 

Vetology’s AI screening reports are built to be interpreted by a veterinarian in support of their own diagnosis and treatment plan. When a case calls for a more nuanced understanding of complex patient dynamics, it can be routed to the company’s board-certified radiologists for a full teleradiology report.

“The question I get most from practices is whether the AI report takes the decision away from the veterinarian. It doesn’t. The report is one more input, it’s like asking a colleague to take a look. The diagnosis, the plan, and the conversation with the owner all still rely heavily on the veterinarian’s skill and expertise.

Pierre D’Amours, Vice President of Sales, Vetology 

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ABOUT VETOLOGY

Vetology is a veterinary diagnostic imaging support company that provides AI-generated screening reports and traditional teleradiology services by board-certified veterinary radiologists. Built by radiologists, Vetology focuses on improving patient outcomes through accuracy, speed, and reliability in diagnostic imaging. Our platform is designed to integrate seamlessly into existing hospital workflows, helping clinicians make informed decisions quickly. Learn more at vetology.net.

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We’re Independent Too. Here’s How That Impacts You

We’re Independent Too. Here’s How That Impacts You

by | Sep 1, 2026 | AI Software, Veterinary Radiology

Buying software takes longer than it should. For an independent practice, the hard part is not the committee. It is that you are the committee.

Abstract

tl;dr: Vetology’s $200 a month subscription1 includes unlimited canine and feline AI radiograph screening, unlimited human customer support, a cloud-based PACS and image archiving. Our teleradiology service offers single-region specialist reports from $861 with no contract and no volume minimums.

Below, we break down where the AI subscription offers value, how and when to layer in teleradiology, and how Vetology connects to the practice equipment and software you already own.

The eleven-week problem, and why your experience is different

A survey of enterprise software buyers by the procurement platform Levelpath, reported by IT Brew in July 2026, found that 57% of traditional software purchases take eleven weeks or longer to get from “we need this” to a signed agreement.

As one executive quoted in the report put it, “the evaluations that stall are usually the ones where every stakeholder has veto power and nobody has decision authority”. Independent practices do not have that problem. You may or may not have a procurement department, a CIO, or four department heads who each need to sign off. More often, what you have is one person wearing all six of those hats.

You are the security review and the vendor evaluation. You are the one working out whether a new tool will actually talk to the X-ray unit you already own, and you are doing it between a dental and a difficult conversation with a client, or late in the evening after the last record update is complete. Your software evaluation happens in the margins of your notes. The subscription fee comes out of the same account that pays your team, which is why a software purchase in a practice like yours isn’t purely an IT decision. It is a workflow and business decision that can feel overwhelming.
We think that earns you straight answers from the people asking you to make it.

We are an independent business too

Vetology is independently held and founder-led. We make payroll, buy equipment, and choose our own vendors and partners too. Every recurring cost we take on has to earn its place by making us better at supporting the practices that rely on us.

Our Pricing and Services

We provide two services that complement each other, and you can choose to use one or both.

AI screening reports as a monthly subscription: Your $200 a month subscription1 covers an unlimited number of canine and feline AI radiograph screening reports with cloud PACS and medical image archiving included. Screen as many patients as you want, send as many images as you want, screening reports will automatically generate in under 5 minutes, no extra steps required. Just take the images and read the report alongside your own review of the images; form a treatment plan and discuss it with the client during their appointment. No call backs needed.

Specialist reports are written by humans. They are available at competitive prices with industry-standard turn around times. A single-region radiograph report (think, abdomen, or thorax, or limb-series) written by a boarded or board-eligible radiologist starts at $861. Our radiologists and cardiologists are also available to read ultrasounds, contrast studies, CT scans, and MRI studies. The specialist report is available when you need one.

There are no minimums:

  • No annual volume commitment
  • No block of reports that expires if you do not use it
  • Nothing to sign in August that quietly pressures you to order more in December.
  • You recommend a specialist report when the patient in front of you calls for it. The decision stays clinical.

What does the AI radiograph screening report subscription cost?

The AVMA’s 2026 Economic State of the Veterinary Profession puts total expenses at 69.5% of gross revenue across practice types, with an average gross margin near 29.5%. Because the AI subscription does not move with volume, what it actually costs you depends on how much you use it. A practice screening 5 studies a month is paying $40 per case. At 20 a month it is $10. At 50 it is $4. There is no version of that mathematical equation where using it more costs you more, and it covers all related costs including the cloud PACS and long-term storage that you would otherwise buy separately.

If this article has made you consider that a conversation is worth your time, call us. We’ll answer your questions and help you work towards the right decision for your team.

FAQ: the questions worth asking any vendor, including us

Does it actually work, and can I see the proof before I pay?

We publish sensitivity, specificity, and, about 10 more metrics for every condition our AI screens. That is more than 90 conditions, posted online and available before you talk to anyone here. Reliability is the single largest concern veterinary professionals report about AI, named by 70.3% of respondents in that Digitail and AAHA survey. Publishing our numbers and regularly retraining our models are how we acknowledge and address those concerns.

What are the limitations of AI?

It cannot see your patient and does not have the history you have. It does not know why you took the Xray or what you are attempting to rule out. Our screening reports’ results depend on submitting well-positioned, well-collimated, well-exposed radiographs for each appropriate view (VD/DV, two laterals, etc.). Condition classifier performance varies by condition, which is why we publish it condition by condition instead of as one headline number. It is also not a substitute for your own read. The screening report works best alongside your own interpretation of the images, it supports your clinical judgment and offers a 2nd opinion on the radiograph findings.

Why is the specialist report more accurate and detailed than the AI screening report?

That is expected, and it is by design. The two reports start from different information. The AI report evaluates the images and nothing else. It tells you what it sees in what was captured, which is what the word “screening” refers to. A radiologist reads that same study with the signalment, the history, your exam findings, and the clinical question in mind. Those are two different radiology roles. One tells you what is on the image. The human answers the question you asked.

The images set the ceiling on what the AI and the radiologist can see. Radiographs are two-dimensional pictures of three-dimensional patients, so the views you send determine what is available to see at all. The AI is built intentionally to serve as an image screening report. The AI reports what it finds and does not offer treatment guidance, because deciding what a finding means for a particular patient is clinical work. That is precisely why we provide both. Screening looks at every study within minutes, and a specialist report gives you a radiologist’s interpretation.

Who do I call, and what do they actually do?

You call us and you talk to a human. Our support team includes in-house veterinary radiologists, veterinary technicians with imaging skills, customer support teams, and the data scientists and engineers who built the system.

What does it ask of my team?

Vet techs and doctors at your clinic keep the image capture workflow already in place. After taking the images, nobody has to request an AI screening report. Once the connection is set up, images autosend to our cloud PACS, and AI reports are automatically generated for every complete cavity or body region visible in the images. Training and installation take one 45- to 60-minute session, and it is not a one-time offer: when you hire someone in October, we will train them too, at no extra cost.

How long does it take to get set up and trained?

That same 45- to 60-minute call installs and confirms everything is working.  A member of our team will walk you through the platform, and we’ll be available to support you and your team when you need help by email, phone, or in-platform chat.

What am I locked into?

Nothing. There is no contract. This answer is short on purpose. Pay for the subscription once a month and buy teleradiology reports when needed. No contracts, no requirements, no quotas.

How Vetology fits what you already own

The most common reason good software dies in evaluation is that nobody could tell whether it would work with everything else in the building. So, specifically:

  • Your existing X-ray equipment and PACS. Studies reach us by DICOM autosend from the equipment you already own. No new hardware, and no replacing your imaging system.
  • Cloud PACS and storage, included. If you do not have a PACS, ours comes with the subscription at no extra cost, including long-term image storage. If you wish to transfer your images from a prior service, there is a one-time transfer fee, but this is optional and not required.
  • Practice management software. The report arrives automatically as a PDF, in your email or in the platform. AI screening runs off the DICOM connection. Where we do have a direct integration, it automates a few steps. 
  • AI scribes. CoVet lets you order teleradiology with one click from inside CoVet, and your visit notes carry over instead of being retyped. ScribbleVet fills in the teleradiology form from your visit notes through its browser companion.
NOTES:
  1. At the time of this writing, in September 2026. ↩

Want to see AI in action?

To tour the platform and learn more, contact our team, or book a demo for a firsthand look at our AI and teleradiology platform.

Now Hiring: Veterinary Radiologists – 100% Remote

Now Hiring: Veterinary Radiologists – 100% Remote

by | Aug 4, 2026 | Jobs, Veterinary Radiology

Vetology is seeking board-certified veterinary radiologists to join our network.

This fully remote opportunity is designed for radiologists who are:

  • Looking to earn additional income and/or expand their caseload by committing to an agreed-upon schedule supporting Vetology clients, or
  • Seeking to grow their own radiology business by leveraging Vetology’s platform and support services under your own brand.
  • Full-time positions also available. 

Whether your goal is a new role, steady supplemental income or scaling your own practice efficiently, Vetology provides the tools, support, and flexibility to make it possible.

Why Vetology

  • Intuitive RIS Platform: The Vetology platform is intuitive – with very little learning, you are up and running and using some of the most advanced technical features in the industry.
  • Radiologist Support: Work alongside some of the most respected radiologists in the industry, who are dedicated to supporting your professional growth. Feedback on report writing and image interpretation is available whenever you need it.
  • AI-Supported Prelim Reports: Save time while maintaining your professional standards with a personalized language model trained on your own prior reports. Our platform can generate a first draft, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations, in your reporting style.
  • Scale your business without burnout: Vetology provides customer, technical, and overflow support, so you can manage your caseload confidently while taking time off or attending conferences—without needing to hire or train additional staff.
  • Dedicated Technology Team: Our technology and development team can help you get the most out of the platform so you can work as efficiently as possible.
  • Remote Flexibility: Work 100% remotely from anywhere with a secure, professional setup.
  • Competitive Pay & Flexible Scheduling: Enjoy compensation that reflects your expertise, paired with the opportunity to establish a schedule that fits your life.

Join a radiologist-led platform built to support you—not replace you.

Responsibilities

  • Interpret Diagnostic Imaging Studies: Deliver high-quality interpretations across imaging modalities (radiographs, ultrasound, CT, and MRI,) for small and large animal patients, including dogs, cats, birds, exotics, reptiles, and horses.
  • Deliver Accuracy and Timeliness: Provide high-quality interpretations within agreed-upon turnaround times to support clinicians in delivering optimal patient care.
  • Maintain Professional Documentation: Prepare concise, well-structured reports that meet quality and regulatory standards.
  • Engage Professionally: Stay current with veterinary radiology best practices and maintain the highest standards of professional conduct.

Requirements

  • Education and Certification: Applicants must be in good standing and:
    • Board-certified with the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR)
    • Board-certified with the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging (ECVDI).
  • Radiology Expertise: Demonstrate proficiency in interpreting diagnostic imaging studies across small and/or large animal species.
  • Communication Skills: Ability to clearly and concisely convey complex findings and provide clinically useful interpretations.
  • Self-Motivated and Reliable: Capable of managing caseloads independently and meeting deadlines consistently.
  • Remote Readiness: Reliable high-speed internet, a suitable home workstation, and a secure and confidential environment for the interpretation of sensitive medical information.

Apply Today

If you’re a boarded veterinary radiologist seeking flexible ways to expand your career and income, whether working directly with Vetology or leveraging our platform to grow your own practice, we’d love to hear from you, please apply today.

How to Apply: Contact Eric Goldman, President by email. Please include an up to date copy of your CV.

How to Read Your AI Radiology Report: A Practical Guide

How to Read Your AI Radiology Report: A Practical Guide

by | Aug 3, 2026 | AI Software

TL;DR:

Getting the most from your AI screening report is largely in the imaging team’s hands. The report arrives finished, so it’s easy to read it as something the software decided on its own, but much of its accuracy is set at the table, in how each study is positioned, exposed, and collimated.

Here’s the veterinary AI report explained in short:

A header with study type, case ID, and signalment; a body region; a complete list of significant findings covering every visible organ, including the ones that look normal; and recommendations for next steps.
Because Vetology’s AI Report screens for more than 90 radiological changes, it may flag something unrelated to today’s presentation.

Five habits that improve every report:

  1. keep limbs out of the field of view
  2. reshoot images that are too dark or too light
  3. collimate tightly
  4. submit three views for thorax and abdomen (at least 2 for limbs)
  5. include complete anatomy with the landmarks visible

Reports arrive in five to seven minutes and open on any workstation, tablet, or phone. Read each one next to the radiograph, and let your clinical judgment guide the treatment plan. If a finding raises a question, the thumbs up or thumbs down button gets a Vetology radiologist to review the AI report within 24 hours at no charge.  If the treatment plan still isn’t obvious, a full teleradiology report from a board-certified or board-eligible radiologist is available on demand (standard charges apply).

 Veterinary medicine is a team sport, including imaging workflows. Clinics using Vetology’s AI screening and teleradiology services can make the most of each AI report by ensuring all team members work together to maximize image quality and understand exactly how the service works and what it needs to function optimally. AI is able to effectively accelerate and aid in the image interpretation process1 when the veterinary team improves their image inputs. The veterinary team then applies human knowledge to the report findings, allowing for more specific and targeted treatments.

Here’s our veterinary AI report explained.

What's in the AI screening report?

Learning how to read the AI radiology report from Vetology starts with knowing what to expect. At the top, you’ll see a header identifying the study type, the case ID, the patient’s signalment, client information, and your clinic’s details. Next to that, a body region diagram or a blue pill identifies the area under review.

Below that patient information, you’ll see a report with an easy-to-read and complete list of significant findings, including a breakdown of every condition classifier the AI reviewed in the study. If you submitted a thoracic or abdominal study, the AI will also look for changes in visible musculoskeletal structures. If multiple areas are imaged, the AI can generate either a comprehensive report or separate reports of each area (let us know which you prefer during install). For example, if thoracic and abdominal images are submitted, you can receive a musculoskeletal report showing any spinal abnormalities, a separate thorax report, and an abdominal report. Alternatively, you can receive a comprehensive report that combines findings from both regions. The report provides feedback on all visible organs, even those that appear clinically normal. 

Vetology's All in one AI report on a screen featuring an xray of a cat
image of Vetology's AI report featured on a tablet or ipad

Because the AI screens for more than 90 radiological conditions or classifiers, it may point out issues in your patient that are unrelated to the current visit’s clinical signs, helping to ensure a more complete reading.

In most cases, the report will close with recommendations for next steps, which might include suggestions for additional imaging studies, other tests, or potential treatment options2 to consider for the suspected issue. If you need help understanding the AI’s recommended next steps, you can contact Vetology support for a quick response and to verify the AI’s findings.

Better images, better reports

Veterinary team members taking radiographs have a direct impact on the Vetology AI screening report’s accuracy.

“If the AI doesn’t have a good quality radiograph, it’s not going to be able to read the radiograph, or it’ll give false positives or false negatives,” says Vivian Paz, a veterinary technician with Vetology who reviews AI reports daily for accuracy. “Good positioning is a must.”

Here are some aspects of image quality Ms. Paz says team members can focus on to help clinicians get the most out of their AI screening reports:

  • Positioning: A forelimb over the thorax can obscure the lungs or heart, and a hindlimb overlapping the abdomen can hide the bladder or other structures. Keep limbs out of the field of view.
  • Exposure: Review your images – Underexposed or overexposed images can lead to inaccurate findings. If an image looks too dark or light, adjust your technique and reshoot it before submitting.
  • Collimation: Tight, appropriate collimation improves image quality across the board.
  • Views: A minimum of two views is necessary for the AI to interpret a given body area. Three is best for the abdomen and chest, and four or more is helpful for bone and MSK imaging (including obliques).
  • Settings for small pets: The thorax and abdomen require different technique settings to get a good image, so whole-body images won’t give you good AI screening report results.
  • Completeness: The Vetology AI screens only complete images, so you may get inferior or no results when the appropriate landmarks aren’t visible on the film.
    • For very large dogs whose bodies require multiple shots per body area, please ensure organs in your images overlap each other and include complete organs. You can also jump directly to interpretation by a board-certified or board-eligible radiologist.

Read the AI report alongside your images

The report is meant to be read alongside the radiograph, not instead of it. Pull the images up beside the report on our platform and work through them together. The AI screens for patterns across every visible structure; you hold the patient’s history, the physical exam, and the rest of the clinical picture that decides what the combination of each single finding actually means. When the report and your read agree, that’s a useful confirmation. When they don’t, that’s worth something too. Either way, your medical expertise guides the treatment plan.

If something in the report raises a question, you don’t have to resolve it alone. Every case has a thumbs up and thumbs down feedback button associated with it. Click it, and our imaging techs will review it with a Vetology radiologist and get back to you within 24 hours on weekdays. That review is always free and encouraged. It isn’t a full teleradiology report, and it isn’t meant to stand in for one; it’s a straight answer about what the AI flagged and why. When a case calls for an independent specialist interpretation, order a full teleradiology report at our standard fees.

The in-platform support chat, phone and email are all staffed by people, not bots. They can help with questions about reports, your images, technical troubleshooting, or anything else related to our service.

You don’t need to be an AI expert to get the most out of your AI reports. You just need to have some on speed dial, and that’s where our support team shines.  

AI screening report workflows

Once your clinic’s DICOM connection is set up with Vetology, every set of radiographs you take goes straight to the platform without the need to upload images separately. 

The AI generates a screening report within five to seven minutes, and because the platform is web-based, anyone on the team can pull up the report from any workstation, tablet, or phone. You don’t need to be in the X-ray room to access results.

If the AI detects something that doesn’t quite make sense when considering the clinical picture, or if the case is complex enough to warrant a specialist opinion, the veterinarian can choose to escalate the case to a boarded (or board-eligible) veterinary radiologist through the Vetology platform. This system supports veterinarians and is in keeping with the American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) and the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging’s position on how AI tools should enhance, not impede,3 a veterinary professional’s diagnosis and treatment.

Using the report as a team

If there’s one thing to take from this guide, it’s that the quality of an AI report is decided long before the report exists. It starts at the table, in the way each study is positioned, exposed, and set up. That’s good news, because much of the outcome is in the imaging team’s hands. Making the most of AI in radiology requires developing a high-quality workflow.4 Training your team in this mindset is important for successful use of AI veterinary radiology screening tools.

A clean, well-positioned study gives the AI its best chance to find what matters, including early changes unrelated to the patient’s presentation. That kind of catch starts with the technician in the X-ray suite. So keep the images clean, learn what the AI can flag, and read each report along with the radiograph. It’s how a routine radiograph becomes a fuller picture of the patient’s health, and how the report earns its place as a fast, reliable second look for every case.

 

References

1Lim, Sungwon. “AI helps your veterinarian provide optimal care for your dog or cat.” AnimalWellnessMagazine.com. August 21, 2022. Accessed August 26, 2026. https://animalwellnessmagazine.com/ai-helps-your-veterinarian-provide-optimal-care-for-your-dog-or-cat/. 

2Ontario Veterinary College. “Harnessing the Power of Artificial Intelligence in Veterinary Medicine.” UOGuelph.ca. December 4, 2023. Accessed August 26, 2026. https://www.uoguelph.ca/ovc/news/node/2628.

3Appleby, Ryan B., Difazio, Matthew, Cassel, Nicolette, Hennessey, Ryan, Basran, Parminder S. “American College of Veterinary Radiology and European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging position statement on artificial intelligence.” AVMAJournals.avma.org. March 19, 2025. Accessed August 26, 2026. https://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/javma/263/6/javma.25.01.0027.xml.

4Jahagirdar, Madhu. “Transforming the Radiology Experience Through Integrated AI.” ITNOnline.com. August 17, 2026. Accessed August 26, 2026. https://www.itnonline.com/article/transforming-radiology-experience-through-integrated-ai.

Want to see AI in action?

To tour the platform and learn more, contact our team, or book a demo for a firsthand look at our AI and teleradiology platform.

3 Feline Chest X-Ray Findings That Are Easily Missed

3 Feline Chest X-Ray Findings That Are Easily Missed

by | Jul 13, 2026 | Veterinary Radiology

ARTICLE ABSTRACT

Cat chest films often look clean, but cats hide cardiac and pulmonary disease differently than dogs. Keep three points in view:

  1. A normal heart silhouette does not rule out hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, because the muscle thickens inward without changing the outline;
  2. A bronchial or interstitial pattern with a normal heart can mean congestive heart failure or feline asthma, and pro-BNP testing helps tell them apart before you start treatment;
  3. Chronic airway disease shows up as bronchial casts, collapsed lung lobes, and hyperinflation, findings that are easy to mistake for metastatic or cardiac disease.

In general, it is easier to take radiographs of cats than dogs. Cats are more uniform in size and morphology, and they don’t pant as you try to snap films at the exact right time. It’s also easier to move their front legs out of the X-ray field, allowing most veterinary teams to obtain excellent, unobstructed views of the chest.

But as we all know, cats are not small dogs, and they suffer from different heart and lung conditions than their canine counterparts. Several conditions in cats can be difficult to differentiate on radiographs, and when you’re talking about the difference between asthma and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), proper cat chest X-ray reading becomes critical.

According to Dr. John Mattoon, DVM, DACVR, board-certified veterinary radiologist with Vetology, interpreting subtle findings on feline radiographs can be a daily struggle for many veterinarians. While AI screening tools can help you identify these issues and avoid missed findings on cat X-rays, here are a few key points that can help improve your diagnostic skills.

1. A normal heart size does not rule out HCM

A cat’s heart can have a normal silhouette and size on radiographs, even when advanced cardiac disease, particularly HCM, is present. In this disease, the heart muscle can thicken internally, making it unlikely that changes will be obvious on routine radiographs.

Dogs with advanced cardiac disease usually have visible changes in heart size and pulmonary vessel size, making diagnosis much easier. But in cats, a normal-appearing heart doesn’t rule out HCM. This distinction becomes important when evaluating a cat with respiratory signs.

2. Pulmonary changes in cats can have multiple causes

When a cat presents with respiratory signs and feline thoracic radiograph interpretation reveals a bronchial, interstitial, or broncho-interstitial pattern with a normal heart, the first question is whether the lung changes are secondary to heart failure or reflect a primary respiratory concern.

In most cases, the leading differentials for these pets are congestive heart failure and feline asthma. But if you make the wrong call and start a cat with HCM on corticosteroids to reduce asthma-related inflammation, you could worsen the condition by causing hypertension.

Feline pro-BNP blood testing can help identify hidden HCM in a cat with lung signs and provide information to guide treatment while awaiting an echocardiogram referral.

If lungworms are a concern in your area, it may be wise to also run a fecal PCR or Baermann test for Aelurostrongylus species.

3. Chronic airway disease leave telltale signs

Many cats with asthma, which is the most common chronic pulmonary issue in our feline friends, have relatively unremarkable thoracic radiographs. Asthma primarily causes airway constriction and air trapping, and mild or early cases may produce no visible changes on feline thoracic radiograph interpretation.

With ongoing disease, however, you might see these telltale signs:

  • Bronchial casts: These collections of inspissated mucus that block the small airways can appear as nodular opacities when viewed end-on. In an older cat, this presentation can be mistaken for pulmonary metastatic disease, potentially leading you down the wrong diagnostic path.
  • Collapsed lung lobes: Chronic airway obstruction in cats can lead to atelectasis of specific lung lobes (the right middle lobe or the caudal segment of the left cranial lobe). These appear as small triangular opacities that appear as wings extending from the heart. The “batwing sign” can be mistaken for a cardiac or pericardial mass.
  • Pulmonary hyperinflation: Cats with asthma can inspire normally, but they can’t expel the air properly. Air becomes trapped inside the lungs, causing hyperinflation on chest radiography. This is a reliable sign of feline asthma, so much so that its absence can help rule out the condition and redirect the diagnostic workup.

Better feline thoracic radiograph interpretation with Vetology

Vetology’s AI screening technology reliably identifies 15 feline thoracic radiographic signs, including pleural fluid accumulation, cardiomegaly, pulmonary nodules, interstitial patterns, and bronchial patterns. The screening report serves as a a confirmatory read for the astute clinician evaluating cats with cardiac and pulmonary disease, and the Vetology platform enables escalation to a board-certified veterinary radiologist when additional expertise is needed.

Want to see AI in action?

To tour the platform and learn more, contact our team, or book a demo for a firsthand look at our AI and teleradiology platform.

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