Diagnostic Imaging
Pet Radiography (X-Rays)
Sometimes, it’s necessary to use medical imaging, like x-rays, to accurately diagnose our pet patients. X-rays help our veterinarians determine exactly what’s bothering your pet in order to provide safe and effective treatment.
What Are X-Rays?
Radiographs (x-rays) for pets are just like x-rays for humans. They use small amounts of radiation to create images of a pet’s internal structures, including both soft tissues, organs, and bones. X-rays allow veterinarians to visually evaluate your pet’s internal structures, looking for signs of abnormalities, injuries, and/or disease.
When Are Radiographs Necessary?
Our veterinarians recommend taking x-rays in a variety of circumstances, all of which are characterized by the need to diagnose a problem that cannot be diagnosed with the naked eye or laboratory tests alone. X-rays allow our veterinarians to determine the exact nature or extent of damage caused by an injury. They allow us to locate ingested foreign objects. They also can reveal problems with your pet’s bones, ligaments, cartilage, joints, or organs.
As pets age, we also might recommend taking x-rays at regular wellness appointments in order to diagnose any age-related illnesses, such as osteoarthritis, in early stages of development. Early diagnosis and treatment of many age-related diseases often provide pets the best chance of arresting the progression of the disease, preventing pets from suffering severe symptoms.
What to Expect During Your Pet’s X-Ray Appointment
X-rays are quick, safe, and painless procedures for cats and dogs to undergo. Most pets can successfully have x-ray images taken without the need for any level of sedation. Like snapping a picture, your pet just needs to remain still for a few seconds in order to capture clear images.
Once x-rays have been taken, our veterinarian will evaluate them and discuss any notable findings with you.
Ultrasound Services
Our hospital offers ultrasound (sonogram) examinations as a non-invasive diagnostic procedure to evaluate your pet's internal organs. Ultrasound can be used to examine the abdominal organs, reproductive organs, eyes and heart. Ultrasound is non-invasive and well tolerated by most pets. In most cases, ultrasound is relatively brief and your pet is able to go home the very same day.