Radiography

Our hospital is fully equipped to take radiographs (often called x-rays) of your pet.  Our veterinarians will discuss your pet’s case and conduct a thorough physical examination to determine if your pet requires radiographs. Radiographs are a very important tool to help us diagnose diseases in animals, particularly for conditions involving bones, the chest or abdomen.

What happens to my pet when it is booked in for radiographs?

Most of our patients are admitted into hospital for the day to have radiographs taken, unless it is an emergency and we’ll take them immediately. We ask that you bring your pet in unfed on the morning of admission, as they will most likely be sedated or anaesthetised to allow us to take the best quality radiographs possible.

Once the radiographs have been taken we will give you a call or book an appointment for our veterinarians to show you the images and to discuss the diagnosis and treatment plan for your pet.

Why do pets need to be sedated or anaesthetised to have radiographs taken?

When we have radiographs taken the radiographer asks us to keep perfectly still, often in unnatural positions.  Most pets would never lie still enough, in the correct position, for us to take good quality radiographs required to diagnose their condition. Sedation and anaesthesia allow us to get the most useful radiographs possible, while maintaining safety for our staff.

How are radiographs made?

Taking a radiograph is very similar to taking a photo, except that we use x-rays instead of light rays. Different tissues in the body absorb x-rays to differing degrees. Where the X-rays land the image turns black. Of all the tissues in the body, bone absorbs the most x-rays. This is the reason that bone appears white on a radiograph. Soft tissues, such as the heart, kidneys or other organs, absorb some but not all of the x-rays, so they appear on a radiograph in different shades of grey. The air-filled lungs absorb relatively few X-rays, so they appear dark grey or black on a radiograph. We will demonstrate and explain the radiographs when your pet goes home.

Interpretation of radiographs is not always a simple task and in some cases we ask for specialist review by our specialist colleagues in relevant disciplines, or from specialist radiologists through our telemedicine systems. Telemedicine referrals typically provide written reports within 1-2 days depending on urgency and the level of service requested.

Radiography makes use of ionising radiation with the potential to harm those exposed. With due caution and good technique, risks are very sal with modern systems and precautions. We use sedation or anaesthesia of the patient to reduce exposure for the patient and those involved in the process. Our X-ray room is radiation protected, and we use special protective clothing and monitoring to ensure the safety of staff and others in the surrounding areas. Radiation operators are required to have appropriate qualifications and licences, and our facility and equipment is licensed by the Department of Health.

We have a digital X-ray system that allows us to view images within seconds of taking them. This also makes it extremely quick and simple for us to share images with specialists and other veterinarians when needed. Digital radiography also allows for much lower doses of radiation to produce diagnostic images and increases patient and operator safety.

We are happy to provide you with copies of your pet's images by email once we have reviewed them with you.