Accurate imaging tests enable veterinarians to better diagnose your pet’s condition and customise a treatment based on the findings. Paws N’ Claws Vet provides in-house imaging services at our Yishun and Upper Thomson clinics.
To get a better picture of what’s going on inside your pet, diagnostic imaging procedures such as radiology or radiographs (X-rays) and ultrasounds offer a safe and painless look beneath the surface.
These scans offer valuable insights into your pet’s health, reveal any hidden abnormalities, and may also be able to diagnose a variety of conditions — leading to faster and more effective treatment for your furry, feathered, or scaly companion.
Diagnostic imaging services, including X-ray and ultrasound, provide a clear picture of your pet’s internal health and guide the best course of treatment.
At both our Upper Thomson and Yishun clinic locations, we are able to perform imaging in-house for many different species, including dogs, cats, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, and more.
These scans are performed by trained professionals. We apply Fear-Free techniques, which includes taking a slow approach when handling each pet, gentle control for restraint, touch gradient, and speaking in calm and quiet voices.
What Are X-Rays And Ultrasounds Used For?
Radiology and ultrasound are a safe and painless way to visualise your pet’s internal structures and organs, providing information that can’t be obtained through a physical examination alone. This can be crucial to:
• Identify abnormalities: Imaging studies can reveal potential problems like fractures, internal injuries, organ enlargement, bladder stones, foreign objects, and even certain types of tumours. These can be helpful for the veterinarian to diagnose the condition.
• Guide further tests: The information gleaned from X-rays and ultrasounds can help us determine the most appropriate course of action, whether it’s additional blood tests, biopsies, or specialist consultations.
• Inform treatment plans: By visualising the extent and location of a medical condition, X-rays and ultrasounds allow us to tailor treatment plans specifically for your pet’s needs. This can lead to more targeted and effective care.
• Monitor treatment progress: Imaging can be used to track the effectiveness of treatment for various conditions, allowing us to adjust the treatment plan as needed.
What Is A Pet X-ray?
Also called radiographs, X-rays help veterinarians see inside your pet’s body. They allow us to examine your pet’s bones and organs without surgery.
X-rays use invisible electromagnetic waves to create detailed images of your pet’s bones and skeletal structures. They can be particularly helpful for diagnosing:
• Fractures: A clear visualisation of broken bones, revealing the location, type, and severity of the fracture.
• Bone abnormalities: Detect bone tumours, arthritis, and other abnormalities in the skeletal system.
• Dental problems: Reveal issues such as tooth root abscesses, jaw fractures, and unerupted teeth.
• Certain foreign objects: Sometimes identify metallic objects or dense materials your pet may have ingested.
During a veterinary X-ray, the equipment will be placed above the part of your pet’s body that needs to be examined.
To get a clear picture, your pet will need to be held still and may have to be in different positions to show different angles.
In some cases, for example if your dog or cat is in pain or squirming and moving around a lot, sedation or PVPs (pre-visit pharmaceuticals) may be needed to ensure your pet stays still and comfortable for a clear X-ray to be taken effectively. We will discuss this with you if required.
Have a question? WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).
What Is Veterinary Ultrasound?
Ultrasound technology uses high-frequency sound waves to create real-time images of your pet’s internal organs and soft tissues. The hand-held probe is placed over the area of interest, directing the sound waves into the pet’s body.
It is a non-invasive imaging technique that is considered safe, and does not involve radiation.
Veterinary ultrasound can be important for:
• Examining organs: It provides a detailed view of organs like the liver, kidneys, bladder, spleen, and uterus, allowing for the detection of abnormalities in size, shape, or texture.
• Identifying pregnancy: Ultrasound is a safe and reliable method for confirming pregnancy in dogs and cats. It can also determine the number of fetuses.
• Visualising soft tissues: It can examine soft tissues like muscles, tendons, and ligaments for abnormalities or masses.
• Guiding procedures: Ultrasound can be used to guide needle biopsies or other minimally invasive procedures with increased accuracy.
Fasting is usually needed beforehand for pets undergoing an abdominal ultrasound.
In most cases, we also need to shave your pet’s fur to perform an ultrasound, as the hand-held probe needs to make complete contact with the skin. This enables us to get better-quality images.
Typically, if your pet is cooperative and stays still for the ultrasound examination, no sedation or PVPs will be needed.
What Else Do I Need To Consider?
X-rays and ultrasound scans can guide further investigation and diagnosis. But it is also important to note that the findings may not always provide a definitive diagnosis on their own.
Here are some potential limitations or constraints to consider:
Interpretation required: The images need to be interpreted by a trained veterinarian. While some findings are very clear-cut, other abnormalities might require additional tests or specialist consultation for a definitive diagnosis.
Limited scope: X-rays primarily visualise bones and dense structures, while ultrasounds excel at examining soft tissues and organs. Certain conditions might not be easily detectable with either technology. Ultrasound is usually not helpful in examining organs that contain air.
Sedation: In some cases, particularly with anxious pets or furkids with aggression issues, sedation or anaesthesia might be necessary as they must stay still for the imaging or scan to occur.
Dense objects: Certain materials, like bone or gas-filled structures (like the intestines), can sometimes obscure underlying details on an ultrasound image. X-rays might not penetrate very dense materials, limiting their ability to visualise certain organs or tissues.
Hard-to-detect objects: Materials that don’t show up well in imaging scans include organic materials such as hair and food, many plastics, and wood. This means that some foreign bodies might not be easily visible on X-rays or ultrasounds.
Occasionally, there may be complicated cases or specialist scans that are beyond our current scope. If that is the case, we will discuss the possible options with you, and if you consent to it, we will engage a specialist to come to our clinic premises to perform the scans for your pet.
Open Communication Is Key
Rest assured that ultrasounds and radiographs (X-rays) are safe and non-invasive procedures.
Our friendly and dedicated team of veterinarians, nurses, and technicians at Paws N’ Claws are all Fear-Free aligned — we go the extra mile to make your pet feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible throughout the process.
We prioritise open communication with pet owners. To help you make an informed decision about your pet’s healthcare, we will discuss the estimated costs, potential limitations, and any expected outcomes with you. You can choose to proceed with the imaging service for your pet, or not.
We offer in-house specialist scans as well, if required. After the images are ready, your vet will explain the findings to you in detail, answer your questions, and work closely with you to develop the most appropriate treatment plan for your pet.
To discuss your pet’s imaging and healthcare needs, WhatsApp us at 8891 4417 (Upper Thomson) or 8809 0787 (Yishun).
Alternatively, please fill in the form below to send us a query.
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