Here at Williamstown Veterinary Hospital we have a very high quality x-ray machine, able to obtain quality radiographs on any companion animal patient!

X-rays help our veterinarians evaluate muscular-skeletal, gastrointestinal, reproductive, urinary and cardiovascular (cardiopulmonary) systems. To obtain a good quality study we require:

• At least two different views of the same region (lateral- and ventro-dorsal or cranio-caudal). The view will depend on the region to be examined and the study to be performed.
• Good positioning by keeping our patients still during the procedure to avoid any movement (a thing that our four-legged friends don’t understand completely)
• The fewest number of personnel to hold the patient and perform the radiographic study during the radiation exposure

For these reasons we need to sedate or anaesthetise our patients during the studies, with the aim of reducing their stress and obtaining good quality radiographs first go, using the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) to avoid exposing our patients and personnel to unnecessary radiation.

In radiology we provide the following services:

• Survey radiographs (abdominal, thoracic and musculo-skeletal) Radiographs are obtained by positioning the area of interest in the centre of the X-ray beam in a minimum of 2 views for evaluating all the required structures.
• Dental radiographs. We have the facilities to take dental and oral cavity radiographs.
• Contrast radiographs increase the image contrast of anatomical structures which are not normally easily visualised. We often use them to evaluate the gastrointestinal and genito-urinary tract – to observe its motility, function, and to diagnose or confirm obstructions or foreign bodies.
  
  This technique is based on the administration of a positive substance (which has an increased absorption of X-rays and show up as white, like barium and iodinated compounds) or a negative substance (those which have less absorption and show up as dark/grey, like air or carbon dioxide). Depending on the compound and the study to be performed it can be administered orally, rectally, intravenously, intra-urethrally, intra-vesically or intra-vaginally.
  
  The studies we perform at Williamstown are:
  • Gastrointestinal contrast studies (with Barium, iodinated or BIPS)
  • Intravenous Pyelography (IVP)
  • Positive, negative and mixed Cystogram
  • Vaginourethrocystogram
  • Retrograde urethrograph
    
• PennHIP procedure for canine hip dysplasia (CHD). Developed in 1983 by Gail Smith VMD at the University of Pennsylvania, and consists of a series of 3 radiographs on of the hip joint in different positions using a specific device that helps to determine the degree of hip dysplasia based on a laxity index of the hip joint. It has provided an earlier and accurate diagnosis of CHD in dogs as young as 16 weeks of age. The scores used are specific for each breed, and can be used as a breeding selection criteria. Dr Cindy Turnbull is certified in PennHIP procedure, and in conjunction with veterinarians in Pennsylvania University will work through the radiographs taken to obtain the score for your dog.

Finally, the radiographs have to be interpreted in a report and sometimes a specialist veterinary radiologist has to be consulted for this purpose.

Our veterinary surgeons will be more than happy to discuss any recommended procedures and costs with you.