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Ardee Veterinary Hospital 041 685 3722

Diagnostic Imaging

  • What is diagnostic imaging?
  • Digital Radiography (X-ray)
  • Ultrasonography
  • Referral Diagnostic Imaging

What is diagnostic imaging?

Diagnostic imaging procedures are non-invasive methods of imaging your pet's internal structures such as organs and bones. We have two methods of diagnostic imaging available at our Ardee Hospital;

  • Digital Radiography (x-ray)
  • Ultrasonography


 

Digital Radiography (X-ray)

Our digital x-ray machine helps us create digital radiographs that can be viewed on a computer. Radiographs (images created by the x-raying process) help us image bones, joints, large body cavities e.g. lungs, abdomen and screen for abnormalities such as foreign bodies and cancer. Radiography is often used to help detect fractures, tumours, injuries, infections, and deformities. X-rays have limitations; especially when it comes to soft tissue structures. There are specialised techniques that help image these structures with x-rays which we can refer your pet to have done.
 

Ultrasonography

Ultrasonography or more commonly known as ultrasound, is when a handheld probe is used to scan the body of your pet - usually the abdomen and chest areas. The ultrasound machine and probe work in much the same manner as a bat's echo-location does, with the use of sound waves. This makes an ultrasound exam both a non-invasive and painfree procedure. It produces realtime images for diagnostic intepretation but it does have limitations. Most soft tissue structures like liver, heart etc can be scanned but ultrasonography is not very effective for scanning gas filled structures like the lungs and intestines.
 

Referral Diagnostic Imaging

There are other diagnostic imaging techniques available in specialist veterinary practices which include Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Computer Tomography (CT). Should your pet require such specialised services as these we can refer to these centres.