Digital X-ray — radiography
Digital X-ray examination of a dog or cat, with the report given on site. Bones and joints, chest, abdomen, looking for foreign bodies — high-resolution images available immediately.
What it involves
X-ray is the basic imaging examination: radiation passes through the animal's body, and bone, soft tissue, gas and fluid absorb it to different degrees, producing an image in shades of grey. It is best at showing bones and joints, the outlines of the organs of the chest and abdomen, air in places where it should not be, and foreign bodies that are opaque to X-rays.
Our digital machine produces an image on the screen within seconds, with no film to develop, at a resolution that allows details to be enlarged. The veterinarian reports on the images straight away, and in difficult cases we consult an external radiologist. You receive them in digital form, so you can show them to another veterinarian without repeating the examination.
X-ray has its limits: it does not show the internal structure of parenchymal organs (that is what ultrasound is for), and foreign bodies made of fabric or plastic may be invisible. That is why we often combine it with ultrasound.
When it is used
We take X-rays for lameness, injuries, suspected fractures, cough and breathlessness, vomiting with a suspected foreign body, problems passing urine (stones), spinal pain, and also as a precaution before anaesthesia in older patients and as part of oncological assessment (metastases to the lungs).
The examination is also part of the assessment before orthopaedic procedures, the evaluation of joint dysplasia and the monitoring of fracture healing.
Indications: symptoms that should prompt a visit
- A dog is limping after a jump or a fall, is not putting weight on the leg, and the leg is swollen or held in an unnatural position.
- A cat comes back from outside with an obviously painful hind end, drags a leg or cannot jump onto the sofa.
- An animal has been coughing for several weeks, tires more quickly or breathes with effort.
- A dog is vomiting and may have swallowed a toy, a bone or a stone.
- A cat goes to the litter tray often and passes urine in drops or with blood — stones are suspected.
- A dog has a stiff back, is painful when lifted and does not want to climb stairs.
- An older dog before anaesthesia, or one with a diagnosed tumour, needs the lungs assessed.
Conditions for which we use it in particular
Diagnostics beforehand
A routine X-ray requires no preparation or prior tests. For images of the abdomen it helps if the animal has fasted and has emptied its bowels — faeces and gas obscure detail. A contrast study (for example, a gastrointestinal transit study) requires fasting and an agreed appointment time.
Correct positioning for the image can be painful or impossible in a conscious animal — X-rays of the hip joints, the spine and detailed orthopaedic images are taken under sedation, after a brief assessment (clinical examination and, in older patients, blood tests). This means the image is sharp, in a good position and does not need to be repeated.
How it proceeds
We place the animal on the table in the appropriate position — most often in two views, because a single image can hide an abnormality. For images of the chest we try to capture the moment of inhalation. A patient without sedation is held by staff wearing protective clothing; owners do not enter the X-ray room for reasons of radiation protection. The whole examination takes 10–20 minutes.
The image appears on the screen immediately; the veterinarian assesses it straight away and goes through the result with you at the same visit. If the findings are ambiguous, we add extra views, an ultrasound scan or follow-up images after a few days — for example, when a foreign body is suspected but not directly visible.
Aftercare
After an X-ray without sedation the animal can return to normal activities straight away. After sedation it may be drowsy for a few hours — do not leave it alone on stairs or near water, and feed it only when it is fully awake.
You receive the images in digital form and the report at the visit or by email. If the result requires a radiologist's consultation, we usually pass on the answer within 1–3 working days and agree the next steps then.
Frequently asked questions
Is the radiation harmful to my pet?
The dose from a single examination is small and safe. Radiation protection mainly concerns the staff, who carry out examinations every day — which is why we hold the patient, not the owner.
Does the animal have to be anaesthetised for an X-ray?
For most images, no. We use sedation when the position is painful (hip joints, injuries) or the animal is too restless for the image to be clear enough to read.
Will I get the images?
Yes, in digital form — on a storage device or by email, together with the report. You can show them to another veterinarian without repeating the examination.
The X-ray showed nothing, but the dog is still limping. What next?
X-ray does not show ligaments, muscles or early changes in cartilage. The next step is an orthopaedic examination under sedation, or an ultrasound scan.
We manage every case individually. The scope, indications and course described above are indicative; we agree the exact diagnostic and treatment plan during the consultation. This content is for information only and does not replace a veterinary consultation.
Do you have questions about digital X-ray?
Call us or book a consultation. We will set out the diagnostic and treatment plan in writing, before you decide.