Medical Imaging for Your Pets

What happens when your pet is sick or injured and your veterinarian needs to have a "closer look?" Sometimes, we need to use medical imaging to find out what's wrong with your furry friend and give him or her the best care possible.

That's normal enough, but do you know what medical imaging is, what options exist in veterinary care, or how medical imaging affects your dog or cat? Read on to learn more!

What is medical imaging?
Medical imaging is a diagnostic tool that allows our veterinarians to take pictures of the inside of your pet in order to diagnose an illness. A major benefit of medical imaging is that it is non-invasive, which means that no incision is necessary to produce an image of your pet.

Medical imaging is usually recommended when one of our veterinarians believes there is a problem with your pet that cannot be detected using a basic physical exam or blood test. We offer two main types of medical imaging in our office.

X-rays
X-rays, also known as radiographs, are the most common form of imaging used by our veterinarians. Taking an x-ray involves exposing your pet to a beam of x-rays and taking a picture of their distribution as they pass through your pet. They are particularly useful for diagnosing fractures, arthritis, and pneumonia. However, not all diseases and conditions are apparent through x-rays, and for this reason your veterinarian may recommend other types of imaging .

As for the radiation, don’t worry: the amount of radiation your pet is exposed to during x-rays is minimal and harmless. If you see x-ray operators wearing protective gear, it is only because they are taking a precaution against accidental exposure to themselves.

Ultrasound
Imaging with sound waves is called ultrasound imaging, and is the second most common form of medical imaging in our office. When an ultrasound examination is performed, a harmless, high-frequency sound beam – not detectable by humans or pets – is projected into the body of your pet. Ultrasound examinations are complementary to x-rays: they are especially useful in detecting abdominal diseases and are often able to provide a diagnosis when x-rays cannot.

Will my pet need anesthesia or sedation?
This depends on how nervous or comfortable your pet is during the procedure, and to some degree on the type of imaging test performed.

For most x-ray procedures, no sedation or anesthesia is needed unless your pet is in pain and such options make your pet more comfortable. The same goes for ultrasound examinations.

Does medical imaging always provide the final diagnosis?
That’s the goal, and occasionally it is possible to obtain a final answer from an imaging test.  For example, x-rays might reveal a fracture as the cause of a limp or an ultrasound examination might clearly show a kidney stone.

However, many times the results of multiple tests are needed to determine a diagnosis. In fact, imaging tests often reveal the need for a totally different type of test, such as a biopsy. As a pet owner, you should be prepared for a logical progression of fact-finding, through multiple tests, to determine a final diagnosis of your pet’s ailment.

Information gathered from an article found on Pet Health Network Pro