Advanced Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging in the Exeter Area

Your Pet’s Health, Up Close & Personal

When your pet isn’t feeling their best, it can be difficult to figure out what’s wrong. A physical or visual exam can only tell us so much about your pet’s condition, and can miss what’s going on under your pet’s fur. At Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, we offer advanced diagnostic imaging services to help us see beyond your pet’s fur to diagnose internal health problems.

As an American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) accredited animal hospital, we proudly offer a wide range of diagnostic imaging, including:

• Abdominal ultrasound
• Internal medicine consults
• Echocardiograms
• Rhinoscopy
• Bronchoscopy
• Endoscopy
• Myelogram
• Radiology

Each of the imaging services listed above gives us a fresh perspective on your pet’s internal health with detailed images of your pet’s organs and other internal structures.

For more information about our Exeter imaging services at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, please call (603) 288-1515 or contact us online.

X-Rays vs. Ultrasounds: What’s the Difference?

X-rays and ultrasounds are both forms of imaging which help us see beyond your pet’s fur and provide images of their internal organs, muscles, and bones. The most basic difference between X-rays and ultrasounds is that X-rays can be used to take images of the dense or solid tissues of your pet’s body, such as bones or muscles, while ultrasounds are used to image the soft tissues, like organs. Additionally, X-rays use a small dose of radiation to capture these still images, whereas ultrasounds don’t use radiation at all. Ultrasounds use high frequency soundwaves to penetrate the soft tissues and take both real time and still images.

The most important thing to understand about both X-rays and ultrasounds is that they are completely non-invasive and pain-free. Our Exeter veterinarians will let you know which form of imaging is appropriate for your pet’s condition.

Echocardiograms & Abdominal Ultrasounds

With ultrasound technology available at Veterinary Emergency & Surgery Hospital, we are able to take a closer look at the complex systems of your pet’s internal organs. Echocardiograms, also known as an ultrasound of the heart, and abdominal ultrasounds can be useful diagnostic tools when your pet is having trouble with their heart or digestive functions.

Rhinoscopy

If we suspect your pet is having issues with their nose or throat, our Exeter veterinary team may recommend a rhinoscopy. Because of the nature of the examination of your pet’s nose or throat, we will have to sedate them for this procedure.

Bronchoscopy

Like rhinoscopy, bronchoscopy is performed under general anesthesia for the examination of your pet’s trachea, bronchi, and lower airways.

Endoscopy

For examination of the upper intestinal tract, we may recommend an endoscopy for your pet. If your pet has chronic vomiting or diarrhea, weight loss, or a poor appetite, endoscopy can be a helpful diagnostic tool. The procedure is performed under general anesthesia.

Myelogram

Because the spinal cord is not visible on a normal X-ray, our Exeter veterinary team may recommend a myelogram to examine the spinal cord more closely. Dye is injected into the spinal fluid to help illuminate the spinal cord on an X-ray. Because of the nature of the exam, myelograms are performed under general anesthesia.

If your pet has a diagnostic exam coming up and you still have questions, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (603) 288-1515 so that one of our Exeter veterinarians can help put your mind at ease.