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Radiography and Ultrasound

Radiography and Ultrasound

The use of ultrasound and Radiography in small animal veterinary medicine has grown rapidly in the past few years. This has allowed early diagnosis and better management of diseases which previously went undetected for months.

What is Ultrasound?

An ultrasound examination is an imaging technique in which deep structures of the body can be visualised by recording echoes of ultrasonic waves which are directed into the tissues.

Because you get a moving image with ultrasound you can see precisely how parts of the body such as the heart, kidneys, liver and spleen are functioning in a non-invasive way.

We can check the size, structure and appearance of internal organs to see how each one is working in action.

What are the benefits to a pet?

There is no need for sedation or anaesthetic, it is well tolerated by pets and there is no pain. One of the greatest benefits is that it can help us identify problems, like an adrenal gland tumor, which one might not see on x-ray.

Do you use both ultrasound and x-ray?

When it is appropriate, we may use ultrasound in conjunction with x-ray to give a full picture of what might be wrong.

As part of our continued development we have recently invested in a digital x-ray machine. Advantages of digital x-rays include immediate image preview, therefore the animals are not kept sedated longer than necessary. It also bypasses the chemical process and has the ability to digitally transfer and enhance images.