​Diagnostic Imaging

The diagnostic imaging service at VSP allows the non-invasive visualization of a pet's internal organs and structures, enabling the accurate diagnosis of various conditions like bone fractures, internal tumors, foreign objects, organ abnormalities, and more, ultimately leading to better treatment plans and improved patient outcomes by providing a detailed picture of the animal's health without the need for invasive procedures. ​

Key benefits of veterinary diagnostic imaging:

• Accurate diagnosis:         
  Provides detailed images to identify the cause and extent of a pet's illness or injury, allowing for targeted treatment. 
• Early detection:                
  Can detect diseases in their early stages when treatment is most effective. 
• Non-invasive:                    
  Most imaging techniques are non-invasive, minimizing discomfort for the pet. 
• Treatment planning:        
  Helps guide surgical planning by visualizing the affected area and its surrounding structures. 
• Monitoring progress:       
  ​Enables vets to track the progression of a disease or the effectiveness of treatment over time. ​

Available imaging options at VSP

Digital Radiography (X-rays)

X-rays, or radiographs, are a cornerstone of veterinary diagnostics, offering valuable insights into your pet’s health. Here’s how they help:

Diagnosis: X-rays are instrumental in identifying a wide range of conditions, including:
    •    Broken bones and fractures
    •    Bladder stones
    •    Swallowed foreign objects
    •    Tumors
    •    Pregnancy
    •    Enlarged organs

Monitoring Health and Progress: X-rays play a key role in tracking your pet’s progress, such as:
    •    Assessing bone healing after fractures
    •    Detecting the spread of cancer to the lungs
    •    Monitoring ongoing conditions to evaluate treatment success

Specialized Studies: X-rays are also used for advanced diagnostic techniques, including contrast studies. These involve using a special dye to highlight the gastrointestinal or urinary tracts, helping diagnose blockages or other abnormalities.

Digital radiography ensures high-quality images with quick results, making it an invaluable tool for timely and effective veterinary care.

Ultrasound

Ultrasound imaging offers numerous advantages for diagnosing and treating pets, making it an essential part of veterinary care.

Non-invasive and Painless: Ultrasound is a gentle, non-invasive procedure that doesn’t require medication or anesthesia, ensuring a stress-free experience for your pet.

Real-Time Imaging: This technology provides live images of internal organs, making it particularly valuable for:
    •    Monitoring pregnancies and assessing the health of developing puppies and kittens
    •    Evaluating organ function and detecting abnormalities

Accurate Diagnoses: Ultrasound helps veterinarians pinpoint the cause and severity of conditions, such as:
    •    Heart issues, including structural and functional abnormalities
    •    Differentiating between soft tissue masses, foreign bodies, or fluid accumulations

Therapeutic Applications: In addition to diagnostics, ultrasound therapy offers therapeutic benefits by:
    •    Reducing inflammation
    •    Promoting faster healing
    •    Relieving pain

Safe for All Pets: Ultrasound is a safe procedure suitable for pets of all sizes, breeds, and life stages.

64 Slice Computed Tomography (CT)

Computed Tomography (CT) scans are an invaluable diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine, offering detailed insights into a pet’s anatomy to aid in diagnosing and treating various conditions.

    •    High-Resolution Imaging: CT scans produce exceptionally detailed, high-resolution images, enabling veterinarians to examine both bony and soft tissue structures with precision.

    •    Efficient and Fast: A CT scan typically takes only 5–30 minutes, allowing for quick acquisition of detailed diagnostic images.

    •    Painless and Noninvasive: CT scans are completely painless and require no invasive procedures, ensuring a stress-free experience for pets.

    •    Highly Versatile: CT scans are used to evaluate a wide range of conditions and areas of the body, including:
                •    The spine, nasal cavity, inner ear, bones, and joints.
                •    The chest and lungs.
                •    Lymph nodes, the thyroid gland, abdominal organs, the skull and brain, and vascular structures.

    •    Enhancing Treatment Outcomes
By providing critical diagnostic insights, CT scans contribute to more accurate diagnoses and effective treatments, ultimately improving the health and quality of life for pets.

Flu0roscopy

Fluoroscopy is an advanced imaging technique that enables veterinarians to view real-time motion within an animal’s body. By continuously capturing low-dose X-ray images, fluoroscopy provides dynamic, live footage of moving organs, such as the heart, lungs, and digestive tract. This makes it particularly effective in diagnosing conditions like tracheal collapse and swallowing difficulties, where observing movement is essential. It’s akin to watching an “X-ray movie” of the internal structures as they function.

Key Benefits and Uses of Fluoroscopy in Veterinary Medicine:
    •    Real-Time Imaging: Unlike standard X-rays, which provide static images, fluoroscopy offers live, continuous visuals of organs in motion, allowing for dynamic, real-time assessment.
  
    •    Common Applications

    •    Respiratory Issues: Fluoroscopy helps evaluate conditions like tracheal collapse by observing how the trachea behaves during breathing.

    •    Gastrointestinal Issues: It enables the veterinarian to monitor the movement of food through the esophagus and stomach, aiding in the diagnosis of swallowing problems, obstructions, or other gastrointestinal disorders.

    •    Cardiac Concerns: Fluoroscopy provides a detailed view of heart function and blood flow, helping diagnose various cardiac conditions.

    •    Joint Mobility: It can also assess the movement and function of joints during motion, useful for evaluating conditions like arthritis or joint instability.

    •    Contrast Agents: A contrast medium, such as barium, may be used to enhance the visibility of certain organs, particularly within the digestive tract, for a clearer and more detailed examination.

Benefits of Fluoroscopy:
    •    Dynamic Evaluation: Allows for continuous assessment of organ function in motion, providing a more complete understanding of the issue.

    •    Guides Procedures: Fluoroscopy can assist in performing procedures like stent placements or biopsies by providing real-time feedback.

    •    Monitoring Treatment: It is also useful for monitoring the effects of interventions during or after treatment, ensuring that veterinary teams can make timely adjustments.

Fluoroscopy is a powerful, non-invasive tool that enhances diagnostic accuracy and improves treatment planning by providing live, detailed images of a pet’s internal processes.