Pet Diagnostics & X-Rays in Philadelphia, PA
Accurate diagnostics are the foundation of effective veterinary care. Our in-house imaging tools help us see what’s happening inside your pet’s body—quickly and clearly.
Diagnostics for Your Philadelphia Pet
What Is a Pet X-Ray?
An X-ray allows our veterinarians to look inside your pet’s body without invasive procedures. The process works by passing low levels of radiation through body tissues—denser structures like bone absorb the radiation and appear clearly on the resulting image, while softer tissues appear differently, helping us identify abnormalities.
Digital X-ray technology allows our team to process images quickly and adjust them as needed—zooming, rotating, and correcting in real time for greater diagnostic accuracy. If your pet may need imaging, contact our team at Companion Pet Hospital in Pennsport to schedule an appointment.
Types of Pet X-Rays
We perform several types of X-ray examinations depending on your pet’s symptoms and health history. The most common imaging areas include abdominal, dental, chest, and orthopedic.
- Abdominal: Abdominal X-rays allow our veterinarians to examine the organs and structures within your pet’s abdomen. These images can help detect tumors, abnormal growths, foreign objects, and other conditions—including pregnancy. Abdominal imaging is often one of the first steps when a pet is showing signs of gastrointestinal distress or unexplained illness.
- Dental: Dental X-rays—also called intraoral radiography—involve placing a digital sensor inside your pet’s mouth to capture detailed images of individual teeth, roots, and the surrounding jawbone. This technique provides a level of clarity that external imaging cannot match, making it essential for detecting issues below the gum line, such as root fractures, abscesses, and bone loss. Dental radiography is a standard part of our pet dental care protocol.
- Chest: Chest X-rays give our team a detailed view of your pet’s heart and lungs. We use chest imaging to assess cardiovascular and respiratory health, identify trauma or fractures, and screen for masses or other abnormalities in the thoracic cavity. Chest X-rays are also commonly performed as part of pre-surgical screening before your pet undergoes anesthesia.
- Orthopedic: Orthopedic X-rays allow our veterinary team to examine your pet’s bone structure and joint health. These images can reveal fractures, bone deformations, joint disease, and orthopedic disorders—helping us determine the most appropriate course of treatment for pets experiencing limb pain, lameness, or mobility changes.
How Does a Veterinarian Take an X-Ray?
For an X-ray to produce a clear image, your pet needs to remain still during the process. In many cases, no sedation is required. When a pet is unable to stay still, or the imaging requires precise positioning, mild sedation or general anesthesia may be used to keep them safe and comfortable.
Once your pet is appropriately positioned, our digital X-ray system captures and processes the image quickly. Our veterinarians may take multiple images from different angles to ensure accuracy. All images are stored in your pet’s records for future reference and comparison. When sedation is used, your pet is given time to recover comfortably before going home.
If your pet is showing signs of illness or injury, our team is here to help. Schedule a diagnostic appointment at Companion Pet Hospital and get answers sooner.