Radiography is a common imaging technique that uses X-rays to examine tissues, internal organs, and bones. It is a useful tool that can help your veterinarian diagnose and treat many medical conditions in pets.
How Does Radiography Work?
Radiography machines project a beam of X-rays, a form of electromagnetic radiation, onto a photographic plate. When radiographs are performed, your pet is placed on the machine between the X-ray beam and the plate. X-rays penetrate structures within the body differently, depending on their density. They pass easily through the air and soft tissue but are mostly absorbed by denser materials like bone.
X-rays that pass through the body interact with the photographic plate below, producing an image. Because X-rays are mostly absorbed by dense materials such as bone, these areas will appear white on the X-ray image. Less dense materials including muscle and tissue will appear as shades of gray, while air cavities will appear black as they are least dense.
Is Radiography Safe?
Radiography is noninvasive and painless. It is also considered very low risk since low doses of radiation are used to produce X-ray images. If your pet is very anxious or in a lot of pain, it may be difficult for your veterinarian to position them correctly in the X-ray machine. In these cases, sedation may be required to obtain high-quality radiographs.
Abdominal Radiography
The abdomen, or belly, is the area between your pet’s thorax (chest) and pelvis. Abdominal radiographs are used to investigate clinical signs such as gastrointestinal issues, weight loss, and abdominal pain.
They may also be performed as part of a routine health screening, or to check for signs of internal damage in pets that have swallowed foreign objects or sustained abdominal injuries. Additionally, abdominal radiographs are sometimes used to detect pregnancy and the number of fetuses in an animal’s womb.
Abdominal radiographs can reveal abnormalities in internal organs such as the stomach, liver, kidneys, and bladder. For this reason, they can help your veterinarian detect a wide range of health conditions including tumors, liver and kidney disease, cancer, and intestinal blockages.
Abdominal Radiography Procedure
Your veterinarian will prepare for abdominal radiography by measuring your pet’s abdomen. They will then calibrate the radiography machine based on the measurements. Your pet will be placed on their side in the machine and X-rays will pass through them onto the photographic plate below. Usually, your veterinarian will move your pet into a second position and repeat the procedure so that images can be taken from a different angle.
