Sometimes we need to make use of advanced diagnostics to get to the bottom of whatever is ailing your pet and to recommend the best possible treatment plan. X-rays (radiographs) and ultrasounds are painless, non-invasive ways for our vets to obtain detailed “inside” views of your pet's body. These tools help assess the heart, lungs, abdominal organs, and bones for disease, blockages, fractures, and other “unseen” problems. To learn more about our diagnostic services or to book an appointment, please call us at 416-538-8387.
How does my pet get an ultrasound?
Ultrasound provides a 3-dimensional view of your pet's internal chest and abdominal organs, and allows us to obtain guided tissue samples if required for a comprehensive diagnosis. If we recommend an abdominal ultrasound, a mobile ultrasound technician is scheduled to examine your pet here at our clinic, and the images are sent to a Board Certified radiologist or specialist for interpretation – the same process as in human medicine. If your pet requires a heart ultrasound (echocardiogram) and/or ECG, the images can be taken by a mobile ultrasound technician and sent to a Board Certified Cardiologist for review OR a mobile Board Certified Cardiologist can come to our clinic to examine your pet directly and develop a treatment plan.
How are X-rays performed on my pet?
Our clinic is equipped with advanced digital radiology equipment, and our veterinary technicians are skilled at taking clear x-ray images using Fear Free techniques. We recommend sedation for x-rays whenever possible, in order to:
- Reduce your pet’s stress
- Improve the quality of the images. We can’t tell pets to stay still during x-rays, and any movement can blur the images and hide information that could have assisted with their diagnosis
- Avoid pain, especially if your pet is injured or is having orthopedic x-rays taken
- Reduce the veterinary technician’s exposure to radiation, by allowing them to step behind a protective wall when the x-ray is being taken