Radiology:
A radiograph (“x-ray”) is a type of photograph that can look inside the body and provide information that may not be discernible from the outside. Radiology is one of the most common and valuable diagnostic tools – and is highly useful for screening areas of the body during illness or injury as well as general wellness exams. Radiography is painless and completely non-invasive imaging tool that uses very low doses of radiation and is safe for all patients including young or pregnant animals. X-rays can be used to evaluate bone and joint health as well as the size, shape, and position of many body organs. Tumors, depending on their size and location, can be detected using radiology. Dental radiographs help distinguish healthy teeth from those that may need to be extracted, and identify any abnormalities between the gums – including root damage, tumors, and abscesses. We may recommend x-rays as part of a diagnostic procedure if your pet is experiencing any health conditions or as part of a routine senior wellness examination.
Ultrasonography:
An ultrasound is a highly useful state-of-the -art tool when evaluating your pet’s internal organs. An ultrasound is usually recommended when our doctors find abnormalities on blood work or x-rays, or to monitor a disease process. An ultrasound machine generates ultrasound waves that bounce off structures (such as organs) in your pet’s body to reflect echoes that create an image on a screen in real-time. These ultrasound waves generate excellent images of abdominal organs including the liver, spleen, bladder, kidneys, etc. The ultrasound can also be used to evaluate the heart and detect abnormalities in the motion of heart valves, blood flow through the heart, contractions of the heart muscle, and assess for other heart defects – this form of ultrasound is commonly referred to as an echocardiogram. The ultrasound is also useful for assessing fetal health and monitoring pregnancy in breeding animals. Ultrasonography is a completely non-invasive and painless way to diagnose and evaluate for many common diseases.