Our practice is equipped with the latest diagnostic imaging technology in order to aid reach a diagnosis for your pet.
Digital X-rays
We have digital X-ray at both our Monton and Urmston clinics. X-rays are routinely used to provide further information on internal health.
Abdominal X-rays can be used to diagnose obstructions in the intestine or stomach. They allow our vets to see any foreign objects which your pet may have swallowed. They can also help our vets to diagnose bladder stones, heart or lung disease and some tumours.
X-rays can be used to diagnose fractured bones and create a plan on how to repair them. They can be used to aid the diagnosis of other orthopaedic conditions such as cruciate disease, patellar luxation and hip problems.
Unlike people, pets are unlikely to stay very still for us to take an X-ray, and therefore we sometimes need to sedate them. A sedation is a lighter level of sleep than a general anaesthetic and relaxes the patient so they will lay still so we can get a clear picture. The sedation lasts for a short amount of time.
Ultrasound
Ultrasound scanning allows our vets to obtain high definition images of the internal organs. Ultrasound works by emitting sound waves from the ultrasound robe, and these sound waves bounce of the organs to produce an image on the screen. An ultrasound scan is a painless method of obtaining an insight in the structure and function of the abdominal or thoracic organs. Ultrasound can be used to examine the internal organs such as the stomach, liver, kidneys, bladder and heart.
Ultrasound can be performed conscious in some cases such as pregnancy scanning. In other cases for more detailed scans a light sedation can be required. If required we can use ultrasound guidance to take biopsy samples from any abnormal looking organs or urine from the bladder.
Echocardiography is the process of obtaining images of the heart. This can provided invaluable information on the structure and function of the heart. It can assess the pumping capacity, size of the heart chambers and function of the valves. We have access to colour Doppler ultrasound which assesses the blood flowing through the heart and can identify any leaking heart valves.
What happens during an ultrasound scan?
The fur will be clipped to allow the probe to be placed directly on the skin. Ultrasound gel is then applied to improve the contact between the probe and the skin which improves the image quality produced. The animal is often positioned laying on their side, and the images are produced in real time, allowing the vet to view them straight away.
