Though hospitals and doctor's offices generally use digital X-rays, the animal care industry is only starting to join the digital trend.

All Creatures Veterinary Hospital recently purchased a digital X-ray machine-the only one of its kind in Casper and possibly in Wyoming, said Dr. Jim Morrison, D.V.M.

"The main reason we got this machine is just to provide best medical care we can for the pets," Morrison said. " It's a big jump up from conventional care."

Morrison has been in the business for 33 years but the arrival of the new machine two weeks ago was the first time he has worked with digital X-rays.

The equipment cost upwards of $90,000, but now there is no need for technicians to develop images in a dark room. The image is sent directly to a computer and displayed on one of two display screens. This process takes less than 10 seconds - down from the four to five minutes needed to develop a film X-ray.

Contrast, brightness and zoom can be manipulated by the veterinarian and the image can even be inverted to a negative of the original.

"There's just so much more detail," Morrison said. "We can see bone changes, small fractures, lung patterns, intestines. We take X-rays with a lot more confidence now."

The hospital takes about three or four X-rays per day.

One of the hospital's recent canine patients was having neck pain. The X-ray showed tiny holes on one of the neck vertebrae, something Morrison said they could never have seen with a film X-ray.

Images can be sent to other monitors in the building and shown to pet owners. If necessary, the X-rays can be burned to a CD and easily transported to other facilities.

The new machine cuts back on mistakes as well as time.

Morrison said veterinarians frequently forgot to adjust settings on the previous machine. They also had to hold an animal still on the table while the X-ray was taken, causing motion blur. Often the image need to be retaken, sometimes several times.

The new machine automatically adjusts settings with a click of the mouse and has very low exposure time, reducing motion blur.

"It reduces the radiation exposure to pets and to employees," Morrison said. "And we already notice that we're sedating the animals less. It's nice not having to wrestle with a dog."

Another feature of the digital machine is that veterinarians can send X-rays to radiology specialists in Colorado instantaneously if they have questions. Previously they were sent in the mail.

"We're really happy so far," Morrison said. "We can provide a better service for pet owners and to the pets themselves."

For more information or to make an appointment call All Creatures Veterinary Hospital at (307) 235-2884.

Reach reporter Riane Menardi at (307) 266-0610 or riane.menardi@trib.com