1. Log in to Help4vet. If you do not have an account yet, please register
- the login button is located in the upper-right corner of the page
- if you do not have an account yet, also click "LOG IN" and then select the registration option.
2. Upload the radiographs using the panel on the left in "add a new case" and press the “upload” button
- radiographs should be in DICOM format (file with the extension ".dcm")
- radiographs must cover one patient
3. Complete the form with data from the survey
- provide accurate data - you will get a better description
- you can save your work by using the "save" button and finish it later
- after saving the data, the system will always open on the saved case
4. Send radiographs for interpretation by clicking "send for interpretation"
- choose the time when you need the interpretation and pay with points
- you can buy points in the "buy points" tab or while sending radiographs
5. Get your interpretation
- the interpretation will be available in the "X-ray photos" tab, and we will send it also by e-mail
- the bulb in the top menu will inform you about the appearance of a new interpretation.
Turnaround depends on the selected option: fast – up to 48 hours, standard – up to 72 hours from submitting a complete order. When sending radiographs (X-ray images), you choose at what time you would like the photos to be reviewed. We will interpret them at the latest at the time you choose. Upon completing the interpretation, you will receive it by e-mail and after logging in to Help4vet you will be able to download it from the system.
We try to describe the X-ray pictures as soon as possible.
One order concerns one patient. The number of regions and images per order depends on the selected service – see the price list after logging in. You can still want to add images for comparison purposes - describe it in the order.
Interpretation fees vary depending on the type of lead time you choose. The current price list is always available on the first page after logging in.
For descriptions of radiographs you pay in points, the price of the description in points depends on the guaranteed description time. The cheapest option (72h) costs 10 points.
Currently, the package of 10 points can be purchased for as little as 40 EUR.
Points are used to order services in Help4vet. You can pay for interpretations with points. Points are sold in packages. You can pay for points with electronic payments available on the website (credit cards, bank transfer and many other). When you buy a package with more points, you usually get a lower price per point and therefore end up paying less for radiograph interpretations (subject to promotions, terms, and conditions).
Yes. We interpret X-ray, CT and MRI studies of dogs and cats. We do not interpret ultrasound examinations. Files are accepted in DICOM format only. See our pages on CT reports and MRI reports.
No.
HELP4VET only interprets radiographs in DICOM format. We care about the quality of the interpretations provided. DICOM is a lossless format intended for medical purposes.
JPG and other formats use lossy compression algorithms. During the execution of such an algorithm, part of the original information is irretrievably lost. JPG photos are of reduced or no diagnostic value.
The quality of our interpretation can only be as good as the quality of the data you provide.
Teleradiology is, simply put, remote radiology. The radiological examination is performed in an animal treatment facility and then sent for review to a specialist who can be anywhere.
Help4vet is a veterinary teleradiology service that allows the referring veterinarian to submit digital radiographic examinations for interpretation by a veterinarian-radiologist. The images are sent via the Internet to the Help4vet system. The radiologist is immediately notified about the new case and can start work remotely by logging into the system. This electronically streamlined process increases the availability of radiological diagnosis, while at the same time the radiologist is able to work and deliver descriptions much more efficiently than with a traditional system.
Thanks to this, Help4vet can offer the highest quality of diagnosis, competitive prices and fast examination time.
All modern medical radiological devices based on digital technology record radiographs in the DICOM format.
DICOM files are saved during the examination in the PACS system, or if your treatment facility for animals is not equipped with one, on the hard drive of the computer connected to the radiological equipment.
DICOM files can be recognized by the extension ".dcm" at the end of the file.
Use HELP4VET on a computer where you have access to radiographs. If this is not possible, copy the files you want to describe to a computer where you have Internet access (you can, for example, use a USB flash drive) and send to HELP4VET for description.
Unfortunately not.
The online case submission system via Help4vet allows you to quickly upload large image files in DICOM format, which is impractical or sometimes impossible via an email server. Images are automatically captured, tracked and archived, keeping your data safe and recoverable. In addition, patient information and history are permanently linked to photos, eliminating unnecessary administration and separate paper referral forms.
Due to e-mail limitations, mostly JPEG images would be sent, which are not ideal for diagnostic imaging purposes (see also: Can I send radiographs in other formats than DICOM, e.g. JPG?).
Images uploaded to Help4vet are archived and stored on our secure platform for at least one year. After this time, you can purchase an extension of this cloud-based image archiving service.
You can identify DICOM files by .DCM suffix at the end of a file name. One examination usually consist of a few DICOM files.
Each software managing CR and DR panels (digital X-ray systems) has the ability to:
- CD recording,
- stick recordings,
- sending an email,
- export to file.
If your computer is connected to the Internet, the easiest way is to export the DICOM file and download it to a folder you have created, eg on the C drive called "help4vet".
Then log in at app.help4vet.com and, in the "add a new case" section, place the files in this folder by moving them to the page or use the upload files option.
If your computer is not connected to the Internet, the best way is to rip DICOM files to a CD or USB Stick and move them to a computer with internet access. Then, just find files with the * DCM suffix and upload them all to Help4vet.
If you have a problem with this, please contact us, our technical support will try to help you.
It is not possible to send new photos to the case already described. The system is designed in such a way that it is not possible to add new photos to the case as they may change the interpretation of the research. Therefore, when there is a need to send new photos, create a new case and send the full set of photos for description.
You do not need to change anything. Help4vet accepts DICOM files without an extension or with an unusual extension – the system recognises them by their content. Simply upload all files from the study folder. Files that are not DICOM images will be skipped with a message. If something does not work, contact us – we will help.
We report digital X-ray (radiograph), CT and MRI studies of dogs and cats, sent by veterinarians and clinics in DICOM format. Each study is read by a veterinary radiologist, who returns a written report as a PDF by email and in your account. Ultrasound studies are not reported at the moment.
Reports are written by veterinary radiologists: veterinarians with a radiology specialisation or the CertAVP certificate, members of EAVDI, trained at ESAVS. They work remotely through the Help4vet platform, read the full study together with the history you provide, and sign the final report. The service is available 24/7.
The report describes the findings region by region, followed by a conclusion that summarises the main abnormalities. It lists differential diagnoses based on the history and clinical signs you entered, and gives recommendations for further diagnostics or treatment where appropriate. The PDF contains annotated images. For radiographs, we also comment on positioning or exposure when they limit the interpretation.
Send at least two orthogonal views of the region of interest, usually a lateral and a ventrodorsal (or dorsoventral) view. For the thorax, right and left lateral views plus a VD or DV view are the usual set when looking for metastases. For the abdomen, send a lateral and a VD view; for limbs and joints, craniocaudal and mediolateral views, including the joint above and below when relevant. Use side markers and describe the clinical question in the history. If the study does not cover the area of concern, a repeat view is better than a guess.
Yes. Many veterinarians send studies they have already assessed themselves, for example when a finding is subtle or the result does not fit the clinical picture. Write your own assessment or clinical question in the order form – the radiologist will address it in the report. We do not provide further case correspondence after the report has been issued. The second opinion is a written report in the same format as a first report.
Upload the complete study with all series, not only selected images: the pre-contrast and post-contrast series, and both soft-tissue and bone (or lung) reconstructions where you made them. Thin slices work best for small structures. Add the patient's weight, the clinical question, and the contrast agent used with the timing of the post-contrast series.
CT is most useful when radiographs are inconclusive or when you need cross-sectional detail: nasal disease, tympanic bullae and skull, thoracic metastasis screening, complex fractures (for example of the carpus and tarsus), spinal disease, and surgical planning for masses and vascular anomalies. Radiographs usually remain the first step because they are quick, widely available and help you decide whether CT is needed.
Yes. Contrast-enhanced studies usually give more information about masses, vascular structures and inflammatory disease, so send both the pre- and post-contrast series. Please state in the history which contrast agent was used and when the post-contrast images were acquired. Decisions about anaesthesia and contrast use remain with the treating veterinarian.
Send every series you acquired. For the brain, a typical set is T2-weighted images in transverse and sagittal planes, FLAIR, T2* or gradient echo, and T1-weighted images before and after contrast. For the spine, T2-weighted sagittal and transverse images and T1-weighted images are the core, with STIR or post-contrast series when the clinical question requires them. Protocols vary with the scanner's field strength and the clinical question, and the radiologist will report on what you send.
Yes, studies from low-, medium- and high-field scanners can be reported. Image quality and the range of available sequences depend on the scanner, and the radiologist will mention any limitation of the study in the report. Please include the scanner type and field strength in the history if you know it.
MRI shows soft tissue far better than CT. It is the preferred study for the brain (inflammatory, developmental and neoplastic disease, ventricular size), the spinal cord and meninges, and for soft tissues around joints such as ligaments and tendons. CT remains better for bone detail and for the thorax and abdomen. See also our pages on CT reports and MRI reports.
Studies are uploaded through an encrypted connection and stored on our secure platform, where only your clinic and the reporting radiologist can access them. Uploaded studies are archived for at least one year, and you can buy an extension of the cloud archive afterwards. More detail is in our Privacy Policy.
At the moment we report studies of dogs and cats only. Contact us if you are unsure.
We report for veterinarians and clinics across Europe and beyond, wherever you can use a web browser and have access to your DICOM files. Reports are written in English. The same platform is available in Polish at help4vet.pl.