It’s incredible how far our technology has come, from the cars we drive to the computers we use and the hospitals we visit. Additionally, you can experience the advancements in technology in your local veterinary clinics as well! You may be used to older X-ray technology, but we have made advancements to better our practices for everyone involved. Just in the last 10 years or so, our digital radiology has progressed into the advanced systems you see today.
This newer form of radiology for your furry friends is amazing and can help us better care for them the way we want and deserve.
Potential Reasons For Digital Radiology
There are many reasons to use digital radiology on your pets if they seem distressed. This includes evaluating potential trauma from an accident, assessing probable broken bones, and detecting any potential abdominal obstructions that could be causing them pain. It’s also a great way to check for arthritis or see the progression of arthritis in older animals.
These digital tests can also test for more serious concerns as well. They are a great way to evaluate your critters for cancer or tumors, check for kidney stones, inspect organ integrity, and monitor heart disease. These tests provide peace of mind and closure in more detailed ways than ever!
Steps For Veterinary Digital Radiology
We take specific steps to ensure the safety and comfort of your pets and get you the most accurate answers as soon as possible. These steps include:
Positioning Animals For Their Imaging
The way we position the animals we see changes depending on what we are imaging. We may have them lay on their side, stand up, and position their legs in a particular way to see problem areas better.
Capturing And Reviewing Images
We want to make sure we see every angle we can for a better diagnosis, which is why we take multiple images of troubled areas. Once that’s complete, we review them on-site for an initial assessment.
Additional Analysis Of Images
Digital radiology provides us with more precise images than older technology, but sometimes, we must take a second look at the photos. The veterinarian reviews the images on higher-quality screens as well to double-check for anything unseen before.
Diagnosis Based Off Images Captured
Sometimes, the images captured with digital radiology are enough to concisely diagnose what is causing your fuzzies discomfort. We can determine fractures, arthritis, joint problems, and other internal wounds this way.
Additional Testing Possibly Needed
While these digital tests are excellent tools to help us diagnose and determine the next steps, there will be times when they alone are not enough. It’s important to remember that your pet may need additional tests to officially confirm ailments they may have. Blood work, physical exams, and CT scans are other tests that could assist in determining what’s “wrong.”
Trusting The Right People With Pet Care
Unfortunately, bad things happen to our furry loved ones, and they need to be considered and examined. However, it can be nerve-wracking to put your faith in someone else who doesn’t know your animals like you do, even with something simple like digital radiology imaging.
Of course, we at Old Dominion Vet Clinic are here to put you at ease knowing we have the education, technology, and love of animals to care for them properly. You should just be able to focus on them and their healing, and that’s what we are here to provide from the moment you walk through the door until the moment you walk back out!