Diagnostic imaging is an important tool used by our Hoquiam vets to help pinpoint the cause, extent, or seriousness of your pet's illness or injury. Depending on your cat or dog's condition, the type of diagnostic imaging used will vary. Below, our Hoquiam vets explain some of the most commonly used tools, such as x-rays, ct scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds.
X-rays
An X-ray is a quick, painless test that produces images of the structures inside your cat and/or dog's body, mainly their bones. X-ray rays pass through their body, and are absorbed in different volumes depending on the density of the material they have to pass through.
X-rays are one of the most helpful, and frequently used tools in veterinary healthcare. X-rays can help your vet to get a view of your pet's bones, tissues, and internal organs so that they can diagnose problems such as broken bones, bladder stones, swallowed foreign objects, and more. X-ray images can also help vets diagnose some tumors, and enlarged organs which may lead to a diagnosis such as heart disease or cancer.
An x-ray of a pregnant dog can also help you to prepare for the birth of puppies by allowing you to know how many puppies your dog is expecting, and whether a c-section may be required for any reason. For cats and dogs suffering from periodontal disease, much of the damage is hidden below the gum line where it can't be easily seen. That's why we use digital dental X-rays to determine the state of your pet’s oral health.
What an X-ray will not provide is a detailed view of your pet's organs, tissues, or ligaments. In these cases, other diagnostic imaging such as MRI and Ultrasound is more beneficial.
CT scans
Computed tomographic imaging, also known as a "CT" or "cat scan", works by producing multiple individual images or "slices" throughout a region of interest in the cat or dog's body through the use of radiation and a computer. A common comparison to an image produced by a CT scanner is individual slices of bread that make up a complete loaf. The CT machine produces two-dimensional slices of a section of your pet’s anatomy and then configures them into a complete image we can view. These slices can also be used to create three-dimensional reconstructions that can be very useful for things like surgical planning. Once the images are produced, they are sent to a veterinary specialist to review and interpret.
The high-resolution images produced by a CT machine help vets to evaluate your pet's anatomy in great detail - a detail that we would otherwise not be able to see using standard x-rays. CT scanners provide excellent detail of bony and soft tissue structures in the body. The most common areas of your pet's body a CT scan may be used for include the spine, the nasal cavity, the inner ear, bones/joints, and the chest/lungs. Vets can also use the CT machine to assess lymph nodes, the thyroid gland, abdominal organs, the skull/brain, and vascular structures, and diagnose what may be wrong with your cat or dog in these areas.
The difference between a CT scan and a PET scan is that the PET scan (or Positron Emission Tomography scan) utilizes a contrast agent given to your pet through an IV to allow vets to see increased areas of blood flow in the animal's body.
MRI - Veterinary Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Dogs & Cats
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) has been readily available to help diagnose human health concerns since the early 1980s, but it is only recently that veterinary MRIs have become more widely used.
MRI scans can provide your vet with high-resolution, detailed images of your pet's soft tissues including the brain, spinal cord, ligaments, tendons, and abdominal organs. For many types of soft tissue injuries or diseases, the use of veterinary MRIs can provide a more detailed image of your pet's body than other diagnostic imaging tools such as X-Rays or CT Scans.
If your dog or cat is exhibiting symptoms such as limping, lameness, seizures, joint pain, neck pain, back pain, or paralysis, an MRI might be recommended to help diagnose the cause of your pet's symptoms.
Dog and cat MRIs take between 45 minutes to an hour to perform. For an MRI to be successful the patient needs to remain absolutely still. In order to ensure that your pet's MRI is successful, a general anesthetic will be administered to your dog or cat prior to their scan MRI scan. Vets typically recommend blood tests and X-rays be done before the MRI to help ensure that your pet is strong enough to be put under general anesthetic.
Ultrasound Imaging for Pets
Our beloved cats and dogs often get into things they shouldn’t or develop health issues such as cysts or tumors that require treatment. Ultrasounds are a form of imaging technology that transmits sound waves into your pet’s body to produce a 'picture' of a specific body part. Veterinary ultrasounds are non-invasive and can be used to diagnose or evaluate problems with your pet's internal organs or check on your pet's pregnancy.
An ultrasound can help our vets examine the structure of your pet’s organs so we can discover and identify blockages, tumors or other problems.
Ultrasounds on different parts of your pet's body require different preparations. Speak to your vet to find out how to prepare your pet for their ultrasound. You may be required to withhold food and water for between 8 and 12 hours, particularly for abdominal ultrasounds. We can best examine the urinary bladder when it is full of urine. This is why your cat or dog should not urinate for about 3 to 6 hours before the ultrasound, if possible.
The area to be examined will likely be shaved so clear images can be produced. While most pets will remain still and cooperative during the ultrasound, some will need to be sedated.
Diagnostic Imaging at Raintree Veterinary Hospital
Our Hoquiam board-certified specialists and emergency vets are pleased to provide advanced veterinary diagnostics including x-rays and ultrasound. These diagnostic tools to allow us to provide you (or your primary care vet) with an accurate diagnosis of your pets’ medical issues. If it turns out that your dog or cat needs a ct scan, we will refer you to a nearby hospital with that equipment.
Note: The advice provided in this post is intended for informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice regarding pets. For an accurate diagnosis of your pet's condition, please make an appointment with your vet.