Pet Diagnostic Imaging

At Blue Oasis, every consultation will start with a thorough clinical examination of the patient. However, some cases require further diagnostic testing to gain more information regarding your pet’s condition. Blue Oasis has state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging equipment, such as Electrocardiogram, Endoscopy, Radiology (X-ray, Ultrasound (with Doppler Ultrasound) and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).

The techniques complement each other, each having benefits in a different field.

X-rays show bone changes, give detailed information on the heart and lungs, and give an overview of abdominal organs.

The Ultrasound scanner can pick up details in organ structure and slight abnormalities in organ architecture. Being a life technique, it allows us to see organs in action, such as the movements and flow through the heart or the mobility of the guts.

The MRI is the only means that can reach the inner structures of the skull and spine, allowing us to examine the brain, the spinal cord, the inner ear or the insides of joints that are otherwise difficult or impossible to image.

Every technique will be used depending on the clinical indication of the patient’s condition to ensure maximum gain of information with minimum distress and discomfort for the patient because we care more.

 

When Is Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Necessary?

After your veterinarian has examined your dog, he or she may want to begin to collect more information that will lead to a diagnosis and then, a treatment plan. X-rays are usually a first line of imaging. The x-ray may lead to a diagnosis which allows them to move forward with a plan. However, sometimes the next step may be ultrasound to get a more thorough or specific look at a particular area of the body.

For instance, if your dog is vomiting and feeling ill, your veterinarian may take an xray to look for possible causes such as obstruction of intestines or an obvious foreign body. The x-ray may show some signs of an intestinal obstruction, however, before proceeding to surgery, it would be prudent in some cases to follow with an abdominal ultrasound. The ultrasound will give more detail of the questionable area and therefore allow more confidence of the treatment plan to move forward with surgery. 

Occasionally, x-rays and ultrasound allow for a definitive diagnosis but other times they will simply add more information to help put the puzzle together for the best treatment plan for your dog.

types of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging available in the clinic

Veterinary x-rays have been in use throughout the medical community for many decades. X-rays are by far the most regularly used form of diagnostic…

An ultrasound is the second most common type of diagnostic imaging tool veterinarians use to diagnose a pet’s medical condition.

Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is the newest form of diagnostic imaging being used for both human and veterinary medicine.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Radiology is both a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. Diagnostic imaging employs a number of different modalities, such as plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and ultrasound to identify disease and other conditions within the patient’s body.

Once the imaging study is completed, they will be reviewed by a veterinarian within hours and a report generated. We can save the digital images to a USB or send them over to your referring veterinarian via email. Images are stored on a remote server perfectly secured so that they will always be accessible within seconds when you bring your pet to our clinic again.

Many times sedation or general anesthesia will be necessary for imaging, because most techniques require your pet to be completely still for a few seconds / minutes. If such is the case, your primary doctor will contact you to request your authorization and the procedure will be performed under the supervision of experienced and trained anesthesia nurses and doctors.