Alpine Animal Clinic

X ray and Ultrasound

Imaging can be an important part of diagnosing what is, or is not, wrong with your pet. Ultrasound and x-rays are very different types of imaging, and "see" different things. X-ray is great for imaging bone, of course, but is also good at imaging 2-dimensions of organs and other "soft tissue" also, as well as through air-filled structures such as lungs and the intestinal tract. X-ray is an excellent way to image some foreign materials inside the body such as bullets, stones, metal, and some other materials. For soft items such as fabrics, wood, leather and plastics we can use barium, a special material that is swallowed, to outline these foreign materials in the intestinal tract.	The 2-dimensions X-rays give you, means you can see size and shape of things but not the full 3-dimensions of any particular structure. Ultrasound allows visualization of that 3rd dimension of soft tissues, such as liver, kidneys, urinary bladder, or spleen, but does not image air-filled structures much at all. It is excellent for imaging cancerous masses, for instance, and can use specialized functions, such as doppler, to evaluate blood flow to an area and detail how masses are growing. This can be very useful to decide if surgery could be helpful, or if a growth is likely to be cancerous or not, or if a mass has spread to other organs. Ultrasound is also helpful in obtaining a small biopsy sample of something difficult to reach, helping ensure the tissue you are sampling is in fact the tissue you are targeting. Here a cat is comfortable in a padded bed while Dr. Heidi Wampler images his kidneys. Ultrasound is painless and often does not require sedation, giving a great deal of information quickly, painlessly and without risk of surgery or anesthesia.

Imaging can be an important part of diagnosing what is, or is not, wrong with your pet. Ultrasound and x-rays are very different types of imaging, and "see" different things. X-ray is great for imaging bone, of course, but is also good at imaging 2-dimensions of organs and other "soft tissue" also, as well as through air-filled structures such as lungs and the intestinal tract. X-ray is an excellent way to image some foreign materials inside the body such as bullets, stones, metal, and some other materials. For soft items such as fabrics, wood, leather and plastics we can use barium, a special material that is swallowed, to outline these foreign materials in the intestinal tract.

ultrasound1

The 2-dimensions X-rays give you, means you can see size and shape of things but not the full 3-dimensions of any particular structure. Ultrasound allows visualization of that 3rd dimension of soft tissues, such as liver, kidneys, urinary bladder, or spleen, but does not image air-filled structures much at all. It is excellent for imaging cancerous masses, for instance, and can use specialized functions, such as doppler, to evaluate blood flow to an area and detail how masses are growing. This can be very useful to decide if surgery could be helpful, or if a growth is likely to be cancerous or not, or if a mass has spread to other organs. Ultrasound is also helpful in obtaining a small biopsy sample of something difficult to reach, helping ensure the tissue you are sampling is in fact the tissue you are targeting.

Here a cat is comfortable in a padded bed while Dr. Heidi Wampler images his kidneys. Ultrasound is painless and often does not require sedation, giving a great deal of information quickly, painlessly and without risk of surgery or anesthesia.

Alpine utilizes the best-quality modern imaging equipment with high-resolution digital x-ray and ultrasound machines. In the photo, one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians, Dionne, has just finished taking x-rays of this dog to evaluate the delicate structures of his spine. Digital x-ray is far more detailed than old technology using film that has to be developed, and uses lower radiation that is safer for your pet and our staff at Alpine Animal Clinic. We can give you all of your pets images on a compact disk to take with you for viewing at home or for your pet's medical record.	This ultrasound image shows the liver and gall bladder (GB) in a cat that began vomiting suddenly. This cat was referred to Alpine for ultrasound and treatment of gall stones blocking the gall bladder. In this image you can see the dilated outflow tract and stone blocking the duct (right lower portion of image). She was taken to surgery and her gall bladder and gall stones were removed. Princess recovered well and her owner reports she is doing great. See "Interesting Stories" if you would like to hear about her story in her owner's own words.

gall bladder

Alpine utilizes the best-quality modern imaging equipment with high-resolution digital x-ray and ultrasound machines. In the photo, one of our Licensed Veterinary Technicians, Dionne, has just finished taking x-rays of this dog to evaluate the delicate structures of his spine. Digital x-ray is far more detailed than old technology using film that has to be developed, and uses lower radiation that is safer for your pet and our staff at Alpine Animal Clinic. We can give you all of your pets images on a compact disk to take with you for viewing at home or for your pet's medical record.

This ultrasound image shows the liver and gall bladder (GB) in a cat that began vomiting suddenly. This cat was referred to Alpine
for ultrasound and treatment of gall stones blocking the gall bladder. In this image you can see the dilated outflow tract and stone blocking the duct (right lower portion of image). She was taken to surgery and her gall bladder and gall stones were removed. Princess recovered well and her owner reports she is doing great. See "Interesting Stories" if you would like to hear about her story in her owner's own words.

xray

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