X-ray and Diagnostic Imaging

X-rays, also known as radiography, use electromagnetic radiation to take a picture of your pet’s insides. This allows your veterinarian to get a look at the bones and internal organs to see if there are any problems internally. This very safe procedure is excellent for dental exams or when checking for trauma injuries, evaluating broken bones, or looking for foreign objects in the body. In order to ensure that they remain still during the process, it may be necessary to anesthetize your pet.

There are some key advantages to using an X-ray:

• Fast and easy process
• Clear images of organs and bones
• Wide views of body parts

The disadvantages of X-rays include:

• Exposure to small doses of radiation
• A single snapshot of a moment in time

Ultrasound imaging uses sound waves to provide real-time images, allowing the vet to move the image around to see different areas inside the pet. Some of the things we can look for include heart function and diagnosing pregnancies. The process is painless, non-invasive and requires no chemicals. Your pet will be alert and awake during the procedure.

The advantages of ultrasound are:

• No known risks
• Safe during pregnancy
• Non-invasive use of sound waves as opposed to radiation
• Real-time images can show blood flow and organ motion
• Excellent for use as a guide during biopsy procedures

The disadvantages of ultrasound include:

• Sound waves cannot penetrate deeply into the body, or through bone
• Ultrasound images cover only a narrow area