We have radiography equipment on hand to take radiographs (X-rays) of your pet should they be required. After a full examination, your vet may determine that a radiograph is required for an effective diagnosis. This can help with diseases or injuries involving bones, abdomen and chest.
Most radiographs are scheduled ahead of time unless it is an emergency situation. For schedule radiographs pets should not have eaten on the day of admission. They will be anaesthetised or sedated depending on the pet to allow for good quality radiographs to be taken. The pet needs to be completely still and may be placed in unnatural positions. Once the radiograph has been taken, the vet will make a diagnosis or recommend further testing. Once a diagnosis is made, the vet can then advise you of a recommended treatment plan for your pet.
The radiograph effectively takes an internal photo using X-rays which penetrate matter. The tissues in the body absorb the X-rays in varying degrees. This allows for accurate assessment of bones. Some assessment of soft tissue and organs can also be done using the radiograph. We can explain the radiograph to you on release if you would like to know more.