What Is Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging?

Veterinary diagnostic imaging includes radiographs (X-rays), ultrasound, MRIs, and CT scans, all of which are used as diagnostic tools to collect information about your dog's health. The vast majority of imaging is non-invasive and completely painless. However, some imaging may require sedation or even anesthesia because the dog must be kept still to allow for adequate images to be produced. Veterinarians use these images to collect information on your dog to help them make a medical and sometimes surgical plan. Please note that at Seven Hills, we refer clients to a specialist for MRI and CT scans. 

When Is Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Necessary?

After your veterinarian has examined your dog, he or she may begin collecting more information to lead to a diagnosis and a treatment plan. X-rays are usually the first line of imaging. The X-ray may lead to a diagnosis that allows them to move forward with a plan. However, sometimes the next step may be an ultrasound to get a more thorough or specific look at a particular area of the body.

For instance, if your dog is vomiting and feeling ill, your veterinarian may take an X-ray to look for possible causes, such as obstruction of the intestines or an obvious foreign body. While the x-ray may show some signs of intestinal obstruction, before proceeding to surgery, it may be prudent in some cases to follow with an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound will provide more detail about the questionable area and, therefore, allow more confidence in the treatment plan to move forward with surgery. Occasionally, X-rays and ultrasounds allow for a definitive diagnosis, but other times they provide additional information to help put the puzzle together and develop the best treatment plan for your dog.

The four types of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging our veterinarians may utilize to assist in the diagnosis of your dog's condition are:

  • X-rays
  • Ultrasounds

Please note that at Seven Hills, we refer clients to a specialist for the following procedures:

  • MRIs
  • CT scans

More information on each type of radiograph is provided below.

Dog X-Rays

Dog X-rays have been in use throughout the medical community for many decades. Dog X-rays are by far the most commonly used form of diagnostic imaging in the veterinary industry because they are cost-effective (by comparison). They can accurately diagnose the condition of the skeletal structure and composition, the condition of large body cavities, and the presence of many foreign objects. Dog X-rays are totally painless, but some dogs can benefit from sedation to reduce anxiety and stress.

Dog x-rays usually proceed as follows:

  • The dog is placed on the X-ray table
  • A technician positions the X-ray machine so that the X-ray beam targets only the area of interest.
  • Modern X-ray equipment allows for low levels of radiation and, when used only occasionally, is perfectly safe for your dog.
  • Because dog X-rays are static images, the procedure usually takes less time than an MRI.

Dog X-rays have traditionally been captured on film and can still be when necessary. However, our X-ray images are now digital, allowing us to store them on a secure server that our veterinarians can access at any time and share with specialists, if necessary.

Dog Ultrasounds

A dog ultrasound is the second most common type of diagnostic imaging tool veterinarians use to diagnose a dog's medical condition. Ultrasounds use sound waves to examine and photograph internal tissues in real-time. An ultrasound allows a veterinarian to see inside a dog's body in real time, making it easy to view organs from angles not readily achievable with X-rays. The functioning of various organs and blood flow can be observed to determine if they are malfunctioning.

A dog ultrasound procedure usually proceeds as follows:

  • A dog ultrasound technician gently presses a small probe against the dog's body that emits digital sound waves
  • The sound waves are directed to various parts of the dog's abdominal area by manually shifting the probe's position
  • The sound beam changes velocity while passing through varying body tissue density, which causes echoes
  • Our ultrasound equipment converts these echoes into electrical impulses, which are then further processed into a digital image representing the appearance of the tissues.
  • These images can be viewed in real time by a veterinarian and stored for further review at any time.

In modern scanning systems like the ones Seven Hills Veterinary Hospital, Inc has on-site and uses on our canine patients, the sound beam sweeps through the body many times per second. This produces a dynamic, real-time image that changes as the dog ultrasound device moves across the dog's body. We can use ultrasound results to determine what is ailing your dog and to devise the most effective treatment protocol.

Common symptoms that may cause a veterinarian to use an ultrasound include vomiting, weight loss, kidney impairment or blockage, and heart disease.

Dog MRI

Please note that at Seven Hills, we refer clients to a specialist for MRI services.

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is the newest form of diagnostic imaging being used for both human and veterinary medicine. Dog MRI equipment generates a very powerful magnetic field, resulting in detailed anatomic images of whatever part of a dog's body is being scanned. No X-rays are involved, and a dog MRI is considered extremely safe.

A dog MRI procedure usually proceeds as follows:

  • Dogs must be sedated for this procedure because they cannot be restrained by humans and must remain still during the procedure.
  • For the procedure, a dog is placed in a tubular electromagnetic chamber.
  • The dog's body is continuously pulsed with radio waves for 10-20 minutes.
  • The pulsing causes the dog's tissues to emit radiofrequency waves, which the MRI equipment can detect. Many repetitions of these pulses and subsequent emissions are required to generate sufficient digital feedback for the equipment to interpret.
  • The feedback is then converted into images that can be displayed on a screen and saved for future study.

A dog MRI is not used as regularly as an X-ray or ultrasound because the equipment is costly, very large, and requires specially trained technicians to operate.  At Seven Hills, we refer our clients to specialists for this procedure.

CT Scans For Dogs

CT scans for dogs, also known as "cat scans," are computer-enhanced dog X-ray procedures most often used to evaluate complex parts of the body, such as the head, chest, some joints, and various internal organs. CT scans show different levels of tissue density and produce more detailed images than X-rays. Unlike MRIs, CT scans for dogs do not use magnetic field waves, so they cannot compare changes in fluid levels due to inflammation or bleeding. Therefore, CT scans for dogs are used in situations where an MRI is considered unnecessary, but a traditional X-ray is inconclusive or insufficient. Please note that at Seven Hills, we refer clients to a specialist for CT scans. 

CT scans for dogs usually proceed as follows:

  • Dogs must be sedated for this procedure because they cannot be restrained by humans and must remain still during the procedure.
  • The dog is placed on a motorized bed inside of a CT scanner, a machine that takes a series of X-rays from various angles.*
  • When one series, or scan, is completed, the bed moves forward, and another scan is taken.
  • A computer uses these scans to create cross-sectional images of the body part under investigation and then display the images on a monitor (An X-ray dye may be injected intravenously to make it easier to see abnormalities).
  • By sequentially scanning an entire body area, an organ or other structure can be imaged without invasively penetrating the body or disrupting neighboring structures.

CT scans for dogs are most often used by our veterinarians to detect structural changes deep within a dog's body, including:

  • Tumors
  • Deep abscesses or foreign body presence
  • Fractures

Just like MRI equipment, CT scan equipment is very expensive, large, and requires trained technicians to operate. However, it is our mission to make sure all diagnostic imaging tools are available for your beloved canine companion to benefit from, so we refer our clients to specialists for CT services.

How Canine Radiographs Influence Veterinary Recommendations

The goal of canine radiographs is to establish a diagnosis or provide a definitive answer without performing further invasive tests or procedures. For example, an X-ray might show soft-tissue swelling in the knee. Still, an MRI would reveal the specific tendon or ligament tear causing a dog to limp and allow for a more specific treatment plan, diagnosis, and prognosis.

Veterinary diagnostic imaging offers an array of handy tools that are a part of a veterinarian's toolkit. Sometimes a diagnostic imaging session can prompt further diagnostics. This is why it is important to understand that diagnostic imaging may lead to a progressive fact-finding mission that must be undertaken to diagnose your dog's ailment.

Schedule An Appointment For Dog Radiographs Today

If you are concerned that your dog might be injured or experiencing internal problems, or if you would like to discuss how canine radiographs can benefit them, please contact us to schedule an appointment with one of our veterinarians today.