Call: 01780 322 333
prioryvetnurses@gmail.com

"Caring for your pet"

Diagnostic Imaging

Here at Priory Veterinary Practice we have state of the art digital imaging equipment for non-invasive diagnostics.

Radiography

Our digital equipment means that we can have an almost immediate image of all the radiographs we take.

All pets, unless for life threatening or emergency reasons, will need to be given a general anaesthetic or sedation for this procedure. This will be discussed with you by our veterinary team.

Ultrasound Imaging

Our ultrasound equipment is of referral centre quality. It is a safe and painless form of imaging that uses high frequency sound waves to give us an immediate image of structures in the body.

Frequently asked questions…

Why does my pet need an anaesthetic to have an x-ray? 

It is extremely important that your pet remains perfectly motionless during the x-ray to get the best image. Positioning can sometimes be uncomfortable and painful however it is crucial that we get a good quality radiograph first time so we can see if there are (sometimes tiny) abnormalities present.

X-rays are taken using small amounts of radiation therefore it is important that our members of staff are not over exposed. As with human radiologists, we disappear behind a protective screen too.

We usually sedate or anaesthetise pets for these reasons.

Can I see my pets x-rays?

Yes. We will always show you your pets x-rays. It makes it both easier for us to explain a diagnosis and helps you to understand what that diagnosis is. We can then discuss the next steps with you.

My pets x-rays have been sent for a second opinion, why is that?

Whilst our vets are all very highly skilled, sometimes a specialist opinion is needed if a problem has been picked up that is a little more complicated.

Some referral practices will offer a second opinion free of charge, unfortunately some will charge for their time. We do our best to inform you of this at the time.

Does my pets hair need to be clipped off for an ultrasound scan?

Yes this is necessary as the hair obstructs the ultrasonic waves and causes a ‘blackout’ on the picture.

Is my pet awake for an ultrasound?

We normally perform ultrasounds on conscious patients though occasionally if a pet gets very anxious or is in pain we will use a light sedation.

Can you scan my pet to see if she is pregnant?

Yes we do pregnancy diagnosis. This is normally done conscious and is done before or after our normal consulting hours.

Can you tell me how many babies my pet is expecting?

We will only give you an estimation of the amount of babies expected.