Ultrasound and Radiology

Our on-site, digital X-ray equipment provides high-quality radiographs to aid in the quick diagnosis of many disorders, especially those of the musculoskeletal system, respiratory tract and abdominal organs.  When your pet is injured or sick digital radiography allows us to:

• take fewer radiographs compared to older x-ray systems
• view the image more quickly
• send the images for review by a radiologist easily, if needed.

There are various reasons why we may recommend radiographs for your dog or cat. These include (but are not limited to):

• Evaluate bones for fractures
• Screen older dogs, cats, and horses for arthritis
• Screen dogs for hip dysplasia or elbow dysplasia
• Look for evidence of something lodged in the stomach or intestines
• Evaluate the size of the heart in a dog or cat with a heart murmur
• Evaluate the lungs in animals that are coughing or having difficulty breathing
• Check for stones in the bladder in dogs or cats with chronic urinary issues
• Count the number of puppies or kittens in a pregnant animal

Ultrasonography: 

Ultrasound is a wonderful technology that can diagnose a myriad of diseases in a safe, pain free way. TOVWC has recently invested in a state of the art touch screen/voice controlled human-grade ultrasound unit which produces high resolution still images and video clips.

Unlike radiographs, ultrasound waves do not harm the body in any way.  Pets lie comfortably on a padded surface.  Hair is usually clipped to allow for good image quality.  If your pet is very anxious, we may discuss sedation to make sure your pet is relaxed so that a thorough exam can be completed.  When your pet is injured or sick, ultrasound allows us to:

• make a fast (< 5 min) assessment of the abdomen (AFAST) and thorax (TFAST) to check for fluid or air accumulation
• evaluate the patient safely without sedation and without unnecessary manipulation or positioning
• send the images for review by a veterinarian who specializes in reading ultrasounds, if needed.

There are various reasons why we may recommend ultrasound examination for your dog or cat.  These included, but are not limited to:

• annual wellness exam for all pets
• detect and sample fluid or masses in the abdomen or chest
• identify a foreign body in the gastrointestinal tract
• locate and assess the bladder and collect urine using a sterile technique
• evaluate the heart size, shape and contractility
• Detect pregnancy in early gestation
• Evaluate the musculoskeletal system (muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints)
• Monitor the progression of certain chronic heart and soft tissue problems.

MRI/CT: 

Sometimes, radiographs and ultrasound are still unable to diagnose certain conditions.  In these cases, we are fortunate that there are several independent imaging centers that take referrals.

Scans are performed, interpreted by local experts and then the results are reported directly to our doctors. These scans are useful in diagnosing problems of the nervous system and other areas that are difficult to image with traditional radiographs and ultrasound.