Diagnostic Imaging

Stratham-Newfields Veterinary Hospital offers a variety of imaging techniques to enable our Doctors of Veterinary Medicine to view the internal organs and structures of your pet in a pain-free, non-invasive manner. Our doctors have a thorough understanding of the indications and guidelines for x-ray and ultrasound examinations and are familiar with alternative and complementary imaging and diagnostic procedures.

Ultrasound room. The black rectangle on the right is a cushion for your pet to lie on while the ultrasound is being performed.

Did You Know?

The quality and diagnostic accuracy of an ultrasound is highly dependent on both the quality of the equipment and the skill of the sonographer.
Identifying and interpreting abnormalities through ultrasonography requires advanced training, extensive practical experience, and skill from the individual performing the diagnostics.
Dr. Dennis has extensive experience and in-depth training in the use of high-resolution ultrasound. As a Board-Certified Canine and Feline Specialist, she also has a complete understanding of the musculoskeletal system and the biomechanics of her canine and feline patients, which are essential elements to correctly identify structures using a very high-resolution ultrasound machine.
SNVH is equipped with a sophisticated high-resolution ultrasound imaging system for superior image quality and more accurate diagnostics.
SNVH's digital radiology improves patient safety and provides more diagnostic images.

Ultrasound

Bladder stones (indicated by the yellow arrows).

Ultrasonography is fast becoming one of the most useful diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine and is considered the imaging modality of choice for many diseases and conditions. Ultrasound produces a visual map of the interior of the body and is often a critical tool for to the comprehensive diagnosis of cancer, adrenal disease, liver disease, kidney disease, and gastrointestinal problems.

Click to see examples of when ultrasonography is important:

Heart Murmurs and Cardiomyopathy: The presence of any kind of arrhythmia can be an indication of cardiomyopathy, congenital defects, and more. Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive tool to quickly qualify and often quantify the severity of the condition, and is critical for prescribing the most effective therapy to maximize quality of life for your pet.

Urinary Dysfunction: Urolithiasis (urinary stones) is a common condition responsible for lower urinary tract disease in dogs and cats. Ultrasound's ability to visualize structures surrounded by fluid makes imaging a valuable tool for diagnosing kidney and bladder dysfunction. Many common problems can be detected early, allowing for more successful treatment. Ultrasound is a painless, non-invasive way of confirming the diagnosis of bladder stones and getting your pet on the road to recovery.

Radiographs

The left front limb (arm) with a dislocated radius and fractured ulna.

Radiographic imaging (x-ray) is the diagnostic modality of choice for problems ranging from broken bones to pneumonia to swallowed foreign objects. Radiographs are particularly useful for visualizing and diagnosing orthopedic problems such as bone fractures, hip dysplasia, and arthritic changes in joints. A contrast medium (dye) may be used in combination with x-rays, such as for an intestinal contrast study to diagnose a swallowed object.

Click to learn about where radiology helped treat patients:

Gastrointestinal radiography for a corn cob foreign body.
Orthopedic radiography for TPLO plates.

Dental Radiographs

Notice the severe loss of jaw bone due to infection (red arrows). This damage is not visible on the outside, which is why radiographs are so important.

Extremely important even during routine dental cleanings!

60% of the tooth lies unseen below the gumline. That's a lot of hidden disease! Dental radiographs are the cornerstone of quality veterinary dentistry, yet only 10-15% of veterinary practitioners are using this valuable diagnostic tool.

Our Digital dental radiography is the same technology that modern human dentists utilize for superior imaging and diagnostics. Not only does SNVH use dental radiography for identifying periodontal disease, SNVH has been using digital dental radiography for its dental imaging since 2006.

Learn about how dental radiographs helped a patient.