Digital Radiology
Southeast Animal Hospital provides digital radiology enabling our doctor to obtain the best quality images thereby facilitating the diagnosis of your pet’s illness.
A veterinarian might recommend an X-ray for your pet for a number of reasons, including:
- Diagnosing injuries: X-rays can help diagnose broken bones, dislocations, and other skeletal issues.
- Identifying foreign objects: X-rays can help locate swallowed objects.
- Detecting tumors: X-rays can help identify tumors, but some small tumors may be difficult to see.
- Assessing pregnancy: An X-ray can help determine if a dog is pregnant and how many puppies are expected.
- Evaluating organs: X-rays can help assess the size and shape of organs like the liver, kidneys, and spleen.
- Diagnosing lung conditions: X-rays can help diagnose conditions like pneumonia, tracheal collapse, and chronic bronchitis.
- Diagnosing heart conditions: X-rays can help diagnose certain heart diseases.
- Diagnosing dental disease: Intraoral X-rays can help diagnose dental disease in dogs and cats.
Veterinary radiologists use imaging studies like X-rays to interpret a pet’s health and provide more detailed information about suspected diseases. X-rays are one of the most common types of medical imaging used in veterinary medicine. They can help vets diagnose a variety of issues, including:
Having a radiologist read your pet’s X-ray provides a significant benefit by offering a more accurate diagnosis due to their specialized training in interpreting complex imaging details, which can lead to better treatment decisions and improved pet health, especially when dealing with subtle abnormalities that might be missed by a general veterinarian; essentially, a radiologist can identify potential issues that could be overlooked on a standard X-ray reading.
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure
- Cancer
- Fractures
- Foreign objects swallowed by the pet
- Bladder stones
Whether or not you should sedate your pet for an X-ray depends on the pet’s behavior and the type of X-ray being taken:
- Pet’s behavior
If your pet is calm, relaxed, and able to lie comfortably, sedation probably won’t be needed. However, if your pet is anxious, in pain, or squirming around, sedation may be recommended. - Type of X-ray
Sedation may be necessary for X-rays of the skull, teeth, or spine, or if the muscles need to be relaxed for a clear image. - Stress
The stress of an exam without sedation can be more harmful to your pet than the effects of sedation.
Dental X-rays, also known as dental radiographs, are an important diagnostic tool for a pet’s dental health:
- What they show
X-rays show the inside of your pet’s teeth and gums, which can help identify issues like tooth fractures, cavities, and bone loss. - How they’re taken
A veterinarian uses a small X-ray machine and a sensor or film placed inside your pet’s mouth. Your pet will need to be under general anesthesia for the procedure. - How they’re used
X-rays help veterinarians diagnose dental issues, plan treatment, and evaluate your pet’s dental health over time. - How they’re different for pets vs humans
Unlike humans, dogs need to be anesthetized for dental X-rays.
Digital Radiology
Southeast Animal Hospital provides digital radiology enabling our doctor to obtain the best quality images thereby facilitating the diagnosis of your pet’s illness.
A veterinarian might recommend an X-ray for your pet for a number of reasons, including:
- Diagnosing injuries: X-rays can help diagnose broken bones, dislocations, and other skeletal issues.
- Identifying foreign objects: X-rays can help locate swallowed objects.
- Detecting tumors: X-rays can help identify tumors, but some small tumors may be difficult to see.
- Assessing pregnancy: An X-ray can help determine if a dog is pregnant and how many puppies are expected.
- Evaluating organs: X-rays can help assess the size and shape of organs like the liver, kidneys, and spleen.
- Diagnosing lung conditions: X-rays can help diagnose conditions like pneumonia, tracheal collapse, and chronic bronchitis.
- Diagnosing heart conditions: X-rays can help diagnose certain heart diseases.
- Diagnosing dental disease: Intraoral X-rays can help diagnose dental disease in dogs and cats.
Veterinary radiologists use imaging studies like X-rays to interpret a pet’s health and provide more detailed information about suspected diseases. X-rays are one of the most common types of medical imaging used in veterinary medicine. They can help vets diagnose a variety of issues, including:
Having a radiologist read your pet’s X-ray provides a significant benefit by offering a more accurate diagnosis due to their specialized training in interpreting complex imaging details, which can lead to better treatment decisions and improved pet health, especially when dealing with subtle abnormalities that might be missed by a general veterinarian; essentially, a radiologist can identify potential issues that could be overlooked on a standard X-ray reading.
- Pneumonia
- Heart failure
- Cancer
- Fractures
- Foreign objects swallowed by the pet
- Bladder stones
Whether or not you should sedate your pet for an X-ray depends on the pet’s behavior and the type of X-ray being taken:
- Pet’s behavior
If your pet is calm, relaxed, and able to lie comfortably, sedation probably won’t be needed. However, if your pet is anxious, in pain, or squirming around, sedation may be recommended. - Type of X-ray
Sedation may be necessary for X-rays of the skull, teeth, or spine, or if the muscles need to be relaxed for a clear image. - Stress
The stress of an exam without sedation can be more harmful to your pet than the effects of sedation.
Dental X-rays, also known as dental radiographs, are an important diagnostic tool for a pet’s dental health:
- What they show
X-rays show the inside of your pet’s teeth and gums, which can help identify issues like tooth fractures, cavities, and bone loss. - How they’re taken
A veterinarian uses a small X-ray machine and a sensor or film placed inside your pet’s mouth. Your pet will need to be under general anesthesia for the procedure. - How they’re used
X-rays help veterinarians diagnose dental issues, plan treatment, and evaluate your pet’s dental health over time. - How they’re different for pets vs humans
Unlike humans, dogs need to be anesthetized for dental X-rays.
