What Makes Up an Xray for Animals?

Just like people, animals may require an x ray or two in their lifetime to make sure that they are healthy and happy. This blog will look at the x rays used for animals and their varied features and accessories.

X Ray Imaging Systems

These systems are medical equipment that are used as diagnostic machines. They take images of the inside of an animal's body so that a vet can see its skeleton. This can help them to see broken bones or other bone related injuries/illnesses. These are incredibly valuable tools that can help to give a more accurate diagnosis, leading to more helpful treatment, resulting in a better overall recovery.

X Ray Doors

While x rays are not harmful and don’t cause damage while taking a few images, they do use radiation to take images inside an animal's body. Being exposed to a large amount of radiation over long periods of time can be harmful for the vets and have negative side effects to their health. That is why x ray doors are helpful as they are built to block out as much radiation as possible. This blockage prevents too much radiation from reaching vets, allowing them to work without fear of illness.

X Ray Markers

Due to the fact that the only things that appear on x ray images are bones, it can sometimes be difficult to tell which angle the image was taken from in relation to the body of the animal. This can make it more difficult for a vet to diagnose a problem as they wouldn’t have a full picture of where exactly a problem is located. X ray markers help with this problem as they do appear on these images and help to give extra information about side and direction to make them easier to read.

X Ray Warning Lights

Another way that vets use x ray accessories to help protect against too much radiation exposure is through x ray warning lights. These are placed outside of the x ray room and only turn on when an x ray is being used. This can help to prevent someone from walking in and absorbing a lot of radiation by accident as they would not have any protective gear on.

Animal Positioning

In the event that an x ray is needed, it can be a stressful and scary time for the animal that is sick. That is why ensuring that the animal is comfortable and calm is very important as it makes it a less troubling experience and helps them to stay still to get a clear image. There are a few different methods that can be used to keep an animal still for an x ray image, the first being chemical sedation. This is the most effective method as it means that the animal is completely still and a vet is able to position them properly with ease. However, if the vet does not want to inject the animal with chemicals, you can also use sandbags. These help to weigh down the animals so that they will stay still during the imaging process, on the other hand, it may be distressing for the animal to be unable to move and even painful if the bags are too heavy. Finally, you can use foam wedges to help with positioning. As these are made from foam, they are more comfortable for the animal to lie on and can still help to position them for a clearer image. If the animal does feel scared or want to move, the foam won’t be strong enough to hold them in place for the image, this is why you need to consider the type of animal you are looking after and their behaviours before looking at positioning methods.

A vet utilising the accessories that they have to get a clear image is extremely helpful for diagnostics and treatment plans. By keeping an animal calm for those clear images it will improve their recovery process in the future.