Advanced Digital X-ray and Ultrasound Imaging - Petaluma Veterinary Hospital

Advanced digital X-ray machine at Petaluma Veterinary Hospital.

Digital X-ray and Ultrasound Imaging are two accurate and reliable state-fo-the-art technologies that help our veterinarians evaluate and diagnose internal problems.

Digital XRays (Radiography)

We are proud to offer state-of-the-art digital x-rays to capture images digitally rather than on film. This system allows our Petaluma Vets to take the highest quality x-rays in minutes. This provides a quicker diagnosis for your pet (and less stress!).. Plus, it uses less radiation than the old fasioned x-rays.

To assist in diagnoses, we routinely use x-rays to help identify the cause of the problem, rule out possible problems, or provide a list of possible causes. We may use x-rays during a wellness exam to diagnose potential problems before they become serious.

Digital x-rays provide valuable information about a pet's bones, GI tract (stomach, intestines, colon), respiratory tract (lungs), heart, and genitourinary system (bladder, prostate). We use radiology alone or in conjunction with other diagnostic tools. Interpretation of radiographs requires great skill on the part of our veterinarians.

Ultrasound Imaging (sonography)

Ultrasound imaging is an accurate and reliable method to help our veterinarians evaluate and diagnose internal animal problems. This non-invasive tool allows us to diagnose internal organ problems without the need for surgery and with minimal restraint or sedation.

Ultrasound imaging, also called ultrasound scanning or sonography, involves exposing part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce pictures of the inside of the body without using ionizing radiation (x-ray). Images are captured in real-time and show the structure and movement of internal organs and blood flowing through vessels.

Veterinarians often use ultrasound to guide a small needle to diseased areas of tissue for biopsy. Abdominal ultrasound imaging is performed to evaluate the:

  • kidneys
  • liver
  • gallbladder
  • pancreas
  • spleen
  • blood vessels of the abdomen

Ultrasound is used to help diagnose a variety of conditions, such as:

  • abdominal pain
  • pancreatitis
  • enlarged abdominal organ
  • stones in the kidney or bladder
  • portosystemic shunts
  • needle biopsies when needles are used to extract cell samples from organs for laboratory testing