{"id":8998,"date":"2023-10-03T15:29:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-03T15:29:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aercmn.com\/?p=8998"},"modified":"2023-10-03T15:29:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-03T15:29:01","slug":"the-benefits-and-limits-of-x-rays-for-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aercmn.com\/blog\/the-benefits-and-limits-of-x-rays-for-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"The Benefits and Limits of X-Rays for Pets"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"x-rays,<\/p>\n

We want the best possible care for our pets, but they can\u2019t always verbally tell us what\u2019s going on. This is why imaging has proven to be invaluable when diagnosing and understanding our pet\u2019s health issues. One of the most common types of imaging in veterinary medicine is radiographs \u2013 also known as x-rays. While x-rays are often needed, it\u2019s important for pet parents to understand not only the benefits of x-rays, but also the limitations of x-rays in veterinary medicine and how results can be used to aid in the overall well-being of your beloved pet.<\/p>\n

\"x-rays,

Abdomen x-ray in a young vomiting dog. The stomach is mild to moderately filled with gas (arrow), small intestines mildly filled with gas and fluid (curved arrow), and feces in the colon are less formed than normal (dotted arrow). These findings are suggestive of non-specific inflammation of the intestinal tract.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

Benefits of X-rays<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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  • Accurate Diagnosis <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
      \n
    • X<\/span>-rays allow veterinarians to see inside your pet\u2019s body without invasive procedures. X-rays are especially useful for diagnosing conditions <\/span>such as<\/span> fractures, tumors, foreign objects, and changes in organ size, position, or density. <\/span>They <\/span>provide<\/span> valuable information that helps veterinarians decide on an effective treatment plan.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
    • Rapid Results<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
        \n
      • \u00a0X-ray images are obtained quickly<\/span> by<\/span> your family veterinar<\/span>y<\/span> clinic, emergency clinic, or specialty hospital <\/span>and<\/span> provid<\/span>e<\/span> immediate images that can be viewed by your veterinarian as well as sent to <\/span>a board-certified veterinary radiologist<\/span> for viewing and reporting.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
      • Non-invasive<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
          \n
        • X-rays are often taken in <\/span>awake patients, but sedation can also be <\/span>provided<\/span> to<\/span> allow pets to be <\/span>calmer and more comfortable<\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
        • Monitoring Progress<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
            \n
          • X-rays <\/span>are often<\/span> used to <\/span>monitor<\/span> the progress of <\/span>a<\/span> pet’s condition and treatments. Examples include evaluating the chest for spread of cancer to the lungs, pneumonia, and bone healing after fractures.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
            \"x-rays,

            Chest x-ray in a young adult dog with sudden breathing difficulty. There is free gas in the pleural space (space around the lungs), highlighted by arrows. This results in compression of the lungs and pushes the heart up on the x-ray. Sometimes this can be treated medically by removing the free gas, but continuous or severe air leaks require surgery to remove the leaking portion of the lung.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

            Limitations<\/span> of<\/span> X-rays<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n
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            • Shadows<\/span><\/span>\n
                \n
              • X-rays are <\/span>comprised<\/span> by taking your pet<\/span>\u2019<\/span>s anatomy and compressing it into shadows on an x-ray image. Bones often show up clearly on an x-ray,<\/span> but<\/span> soft tissue organs (<\/span>such as the<\/span> liver, spleen,<\/span> or<\/span> kidneys) <\/span>may<\/span> blend together<\/span> due to their similar densities and <\/span>the way they <\/span>overlap on the image<\/span> – <\/span>sometimes making it diff<\/span>icult<\/span> to <\/span>identify<\/span> abnormalities<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
              • Lack of Function Information<\/span><\/span>\n
                  \n
                • X-rays take a <\/span>snapshot<\/span> in time and do not show movement of structures (such as mobile fractures) or function of the intestines. We can sometimes work around this by repeating an x-ray study within <\/span>a short period<\/span> of time to compare.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
                • Some P<\/span>atients<\/span> Require<\/span> Different Diagnostic Tools <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\n
                    \n
                  • Some <\/span>pets<\/span> require<\/span> more advanced imaging types such as CT, MRI, and ultrasound<\/span>. These modalities<\/span> each have their own benefits but <\/span>generally provide<\/span> more specific details of internal anatomy.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
                    \"x-rays,

                    Front limb fracture (radius and ulna) in an adult dog following unknown trauma (arrow), with surrounding soft tissue swelling (dotted arrow).<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n

                    Overall, x-rays are <\/span>a<\/span> commonly <\/span>available <\/span>and useful <\/span>tool <\/span>to <\/span>assist<\/span> veterinary teams <\/span>in figuring<\/span> out why a pet is<\/span> ill<\/span>. X-rays have their limitations <\/span>(<\/span>which you can discuss more specifically with your veterinarian,<\/span>)<\/span> but the<\/span>ir<\/span> benefits often far <\/span>outweigh<\/span> the<\/span>ir<\/span> limitations<\/span>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                    If you have any questions or concerns about needing x-rays or other<\/span> imaging for your pet, talk to your family veterinarian. In some cases, <\/span>they<\/span> may choose to refer your pet to our <\/span><\/span>Imaging Service<\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/a> W<\/span>e <\/span>offer <\/span>x<\/span>–<\/span>ray, CT,<\/span> MRI<\/span> (Magnetic Resonance Imaging<\/span>,<\/span>)<\/span> and ultrasound<\/span> technology<\/span>. Our board-certified veterinary radiologists help interpret imaging findings to<\/span> provide<\/span> results <\/span>that <\/span>pet parents can trust.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

                    \"Jon<\/p>\n

                    \"Animal<\/p>\n