Contrast containing iodine is given intravenously during most CT and some fluoroscopy exams. It is given to patients to help determine the underlying cause for the patient’s illness. Contrast is critical to distinguishing normal from abnormal structures in parts of the body such as the lungs, liver, spleen, and bones.
Contrast in veterinary patients is very safe. Reactions to contrast agents used in CT are rare in veterinary medicine. Each patient is closely monitored for any potential reactions to the injection. Veterinary patients undergoing imaging that receive contrast during the procedure do so under the guidance of trained animal health technologists and doctors.