Radiography and Ultrasound

Radiography Radiographs (x-rays) are an important part of the diagnostic work-up.  Radiographs help diagnose fractures, chest fluid, intestinal foreign bodies, cardiac disease, lung disease, etc.  We are equipped with a high quality x-ray machine and automatic radiographic processor, which enables us to have radiographs available within minutes.

 

Ultrasound Ultrasound has become a very valuable tool for imaging and evaluating organs.  Ultrasound is an imaging modality which uses sound waves produced from a transducer to visualize the soft tissues and fluids of the body.  The transducer is gently placed and moved on your pet's body and the sound waves bounce off internal organs to create an image on a computer monitor.  These images can then be interpreted and analyzed.  Through the use of ultrasound, the soft tissue architecture of organs and structures can be defined and the ability to assess organ function can be accomplished. Ultrasound helps to diagnose many internal medicine problems involving the heart, kidneys, liver, urinary bladder, etc.  In addition, the ultrasound can visualize specific areas inside the internal organs.  Therefore, needle biopsies of these areas can be performed with just a light sedative.  The advantage of this procedure would be to avoid general anesthesia and abdominal surgery to obtain biopsy samples.