Digital X-Ray
When a pet is ill or injured, it can sometimes be difficult for a veterinarian to determine the underlying cause of illness or the extent of the injury without first gathering more information through diagnostic testing, like x-rays.
What Are X-Rays?
An x-ray is a type of radiation, like the light you can see or the warmth you can feel but with a much shorter wavelength.
In medical terms, x-rays refer to diagnostic images that are taken using x-ray radiation. These images are like photographs, except that they reveal the internal structures of the targeted location on a patient’s body. X-ray images are also sometimes called radiographs.
How Do Veterinarians Use X-Rays?
Veterinarians use x-rays in a variety of ways to screen pets for early signs of disease and congenital problems, diagnose illness, locate ingested foreign objects, and evaluate injuries.
X-rays can help veterinarians assess a variety of medical concerns such as new growths, lumps, bumps, and musculoskeletal problems. They can also be used to evaluate the size, shape, and location of a pet’s internal organs.
Dental x-rays are also taken during pet dentistry appointments to look inside a pet’s teeth and below the gum line into the jawbone to screen your pet for dental health problems that cannot be seen with the naked eye.
How Are Digital X-Rays Better?
Traditional x-rays are taken on film. As a result, they require a longer exposure time, a longer time to develop, and a longer time to get your pet’s results. This longer exposure time also meant pets often needed to be sedated to have x-rays taken.
Digital x-rays are taken with a shorter exposure time, meaning pets don’t have to stay still as long. As a result, they usually don’t require any sedation. Images are also instantly available for quicker results.
Complete In-House Diagnostics at Takoma Park Animal Clinic
The veterinarians and patients at Takoma Park Animal Clinic enjoy access to complete in-house veterinary diagnostic capabilities. In addition to digital x-rays, our office provides ultrasound services and has an in-house laboratory.
When you bring a sick or injured pet to us for treatment, our veterinarians can quickly diagnose your pet to determine the underlying cause, illness or evaluate their injury and then recommend the most appropriate course of treatment.
To learn more about the diagnostic testing available at our veterinary clinic, we welcome you to contact us today.
