Veterinarians no longer have to rely on just external cues and intuition to pinpoint sources of pain and discomfort in canine and feline patients. Veterinary Imaging of Texas, located at 3800 Southwest Freeway, recently was launched by the same couple who founded the Canine Health Institute to provide veterinarians with a one-stop-shop for medical diagnostic, pain management, and rehabilitation services for dogs.

Dr. Jeffrey Kozak, an orthopedic spinal surgeon, and his wife Vickey, who serves as the chief operating officer, founded Canine Health Institute in February 2009 and opened Veterinary Imaging of Texas shortly thereafter.

Dr. Kozak said that the new imaging side of the business is designed to help veterinarians avoid or eliminate the confusion, unnecessary treatment, and poor result – sometimes even worsening of a dog’s or cat’s symptoms – that can result from improper patient diagnosis.

“Doctors conduct diagnostic imaging of humans as a standard first step in medical care to ensure that they carefully and completely diagnose the source of pain before pursuing the most appropriate treatment option,” said Dr. Kozak, M.D., CEO of the Canine Health Institute and Veterinary Imaging of Texas. “We are providing veterinarians with the same high-quality imaging used in Houston’s finest hospitals so they can make the most well-informed decisions for their patients.”

Veterinarians with expertise in radiology and neurology conduct and review the image scans for veterinary clients using a 1.5T Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) unit and a four-slice Computed Tomography (CT) system. These procedures allow the imaging technicians to differentiate between bones, soft tissue, gas, fluids and fat, and identify areas of potential concern. This information helps provide veterinarians with the information they need to diagnose their patient’s condition and help determine whether conservative care or surgical intervention is appropriate.

“There are a few CT scanners in Houston and one small MRI designated for veterinary care but those are not adequate imaging systems to fully assess many serious ailments,” said Dr. Kozak. “Our technology is the highest quality available within Texas, and we are proud to play a role in delivering better care for dogs and cats.”

“We are leveraging the technology available to us to provide the best care for our patients here in Texas”, said Stephen Pittenger, DVM, Medical Director of the Canine Health Institute

The Canine Health Institute, which also is guided by a board of directors consisting of several accomplished veterinarians and medical professionals, relies on referrals from veterinarians and works closely with the animal’s primary care provider throughout the treatment process. 

For more information about the Canine Health Institute, visit

www.caninehealthinstitute.com.