Radiography (X-Rays) at Avoca Drive Animal Hospital – Serving Green Point & Erina

At AvocaDriveAnimalHospital Animal Hospital, conveniently located on the border of Green Point and Erina, we are fully equipped to take radiographs (also known as x-rays) of your pet. Our experienced veterinarians will discuss your pet’s case and conduct a thorough physical examination to determine if radiographs are necessary. Radiographs are a critical diagnostic tool that helps us identify conditions involving bones, the chest, and the abdomen, ensuring we provide the best care for your pet.

What happens to my pet when it is booked in for radiographs?

For most cases, pets are admitted into the hospital for the day to have radiographs taken. However, if your pet’s condition is urgent, we will take the x-rays immediately to ensure quick diagnosis and treatment. We kindly ask that you bring your pet in unfed on the morning of admission, as sedation or anaesthesia may be required to ensure the best-quality radiographs are taken.

Once the radiographs have been completed, we will contact you to schedule an appointment or provide a call to review the images, discuss the diagnosis, and develop a treatment plan for your pet. Serving the Green Point and Erina areas, our team is committed to ensuring your pet receives accurate, safe, and effective diagnostic care.

Why do pets need to be sedated or anaesthetised to have radiographs taken?

When we have radiographs taken the radiographer asks us to keep perfectly still, often in unnatural positions.  Most pets would never lie still enough, in the correct position, for us to take good quality radiographs required to diagnose their condition. Sedation and anaesthesia allow us to get the most useful radiographs possible.

How are radiographs made?

Taking a radiograph is very similar to taking a photo, except we use x-rays instead of light rays. Different tissues in the body absorb x-rays to differing degrees. Of all the tissues in the body, bone absorbs the most x-rays. This is the reason that bone appears white on a radiograph. Soft tissues, such as the heart, kidneys or other organs, absorb some but not all of the x-rays, so they appear on a radiograph in different shades of grey. The air-filled lungs absorb relatively few x-rays so appear dark grey or black on a radiograph. We will demonstrate and explain the radiographs when your pet goes home.