The Iams Company and ProScan Launch Iams Pet Imaging Center to Bring Life-Saving MRI Scans to Bay Area Dogs and Cats

Bay Area pet owners and veterinarians will now have the option oflimiting invasive exploratory surgery for their nearly two milliondogs and cats with the opening of the Iams Pet Imaging Center inRedwood City, between San Francisco and San Jose. The Iams Company andProScan are providing state-of-the-art magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) technology to the Bay Area, which is designed to provide thesame "look" inside dogs and cats that has revolutionized humanmedicine.

The Iams Pet Imaging Center is the first of its kind on the WestCoast and will provide veterinarians and pet owners access to powerfultechnology and expertise to help diagnose soft tissue injuries,tumors, and other conditions that previously required invasiveexploratory surgery. Utilizing U.S. Census data and industry formulasestablished by the U.S. Pet Ownership and Demographics Sourcebook(American Veterinary Medical Association), it is estimated that nearlytwo million dogs and cats live in approximately 1.6 million Bay Areahouseholds in the counties of San Francisco, San Mateo, Contra Costa,Marin, and Alameda.

"We are excited to be able to offer this advanced pet healthcareservice to Bay Area residents," said Jeffrey P. Ansell, president ofThe Iams Company. "MRI has been a tremendous factor in humanhealthcare, and it's made a difference in the lives of more than 5,000dogs and cats at our first two Iams Pet Imaging Centers nearWashington, D.C. and on the campus of North Carolina StateUniversity's College of Veterinary Medicine in Raleigh. Making MRItechnology more readily available to dogs and cats everywhere helpsfulfill The Iams Company mission of enhancing pet well-being."

MRI is an advanced diagnostic tool that uses magnetic energy andradio waves to create detailed images of tissue. With this technology,veterinarians can more accurately pinpoint the cause and location ofdiseases - such as cancer, stroke, and orthopedic injuries - in petsso they can be treated quickly and efficiently by the referringveterinarian.

"Our technology has proven to be incredibly valuable to humans,and now MRI is being used to help diagnose conditions in petsnon-invasively," said Dr. Stephen Pomeranz, founder and president ofProScan International, a leader in providing human MRI services. "Weare excited to team up with Iams to offer MRI technology to the BayArea's dogs and cats."

The Iams Pet Imaging Center mission fits well in a city renownedfor its love of pets - especially dogs and cats. The Bay Area isrecognized for dogs being more than just best friends, but family. Petowners will now be able to work through their veterinarians to gainaccess the most advanced diagnostic information available.

"We are changing the way veterinarians can practice medicine,making diagnosis not just faster, but more accurate -- which leads tobetter treatment, better outcomes, and better pet health," said Dr.Liesa Stone, technical services veterinarian at The Iams Company."Undergoing an MRI is a quick, easy, and pain-free process for ourpets and enables us to immediately identify tumors, soft tissueinjuries, strokes, and muscle and joint inflammation (such asarthritis and bursitis) that were difficult or impossible to detectwith traditional x-ray technology.

"Most important, we can identify and diagnose medical problems ina non-invasive procedure enabling veterinarians to start treatmentright away. The result can be dramatic, saving the life of a belovedpet or enhancing his or her quality of life," she added.

About Iams Pet Imaging Centers

The Redwood City facility is the third Iams Pet Imaging Center inthe United States. In September 2002, the Iams Company opened itsfirst Iams Pet Imaging Center in Vienna, Va. which quickly became theworld leader in pet MRI scans. The Iams Company opened the secondcenter on the campus of North Carolina State University (NCSU) at itsSchool of Veterinary Medicine in August 2004. Combined, the twocenters have treated more than 5,000 pets referred by veterinarians.

Iams Pet Imaging Centers feature the human-quality imaging andmonitoring equipment with a highly trained staff that includesveterinarian anesthesiologists and radiologists who rely uponSiemans-engineered and manufactured MRI equipment and technicalexpertise provided by ProScan, a world leader in MRI technology andeducation. While the cost of MRI varies, it averages about$1,500-$1,800 depending on the size and complexity of the body regionbeing scanned.

Pet insurance carriers may cover a portion of the cost, dependingon the plan, and that's something that is especially applicable in theBay Area. California is the leader in the number of pet insurancepolicies purchased, according to Veterinary Pet Insurance Corp.

Located at 410 Brewster Ave. in Redwood City, Calif., the Iams PetImaging Center operates between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Allpatients must be referred through their veterinarian.

About The Iams Company

For nearly 60 years, The Iams Company, a division of Procter &Gamble (NYSE: PG), has enhanced the well-being of dogs and cats byproviding world-class quality foods and pet-care products. To learnmore about Eukanuba(R) and Iams(R) Dog and Cat Foods and the EukanubaVeterinary Diets(R) line of canine and feline therapeutic diets orgeneral pet care and nutrition information, call the Iams ConsumerCare Center at (800) 446-3075. You also can visit us on the Web athttp://www.iams.com or http://www.eukanuba.com.

About ProScan International

ProScan International (www.proscan.com) is a provider of medical,technical, and educational support in all areas of diagnostic medicalimaging. Through the vision of its founder Dr. Stephen Pomeranz,ProScan Imaging - a venture of ProScan International - has evolved asthe world leader in medical imaging technology. ProScan currentlyserves clients on six continents and performs more than 600 primaryand secondary MRI and CAT scan reads daily. Licensed in the majorityof states, the ProScan team of readers provides reading services tophysicians and healthcare entities across the nation and the world.