MVHS donates X-ray equipment to Utica Zoo

UTICA, N.Y. — The Mohawk Valley Health System (MVHS) announced it has donated used X-ray equipment to the Utica Zoo.

The equipment includes analog portable equipment, cassettes, and cassette readers, MVHS said.

“Last year, we were able to purchase four new digital X-ray machines for the medical imaging department at MVHS,” Anthony Dischiavi, administrative director, medical imaging, interventional radiology at MVHS, said in a release. “This meant that our old equipment no longer had a use for us. I remembered a conversation I had with a board member about the Zoo needing this type of equipment, so I reached out and they were very excited to take it. I’m so glad that we were able to find a use for our old machines and that we could help a great local business at the same time.”

Prior to the donation, the zoo had to transport animals to either Burrstone Animal Hospital in New Hartford or Beaver Meadow Veterinary Clinic in Barneveld to get X-rays, which sometimes required sedating the animals. Having X-ray equipment at the zoo will reduce the frequency with which this happens, MVHS said.

It’s the first time in more than 17 years that the Utica Zoo will have such equipment.

“The Utica Zoo animal care team is elated to receive this contribution of X-ray medical equipment from MVHS,” Andria Heath, executive director of the Utica Zoo, said. “With this quality machinery, the Utica Zoo can continue to progress in meeting the needs of the animals under our care in new ways. In this case, what might have been an off-site visit to our partnering veterinary clinics can now be an on-grounds procedure.”