Medical imaging
Medical imaging allows us to visualise structures in your pet's body that can't be assessed during a physical examination. Depending on the symptoms and the suspected condition, we use various techniques to image organs, bones, joints, teeth and other tissues.
Each technique has its own applications, advantages and limitations. That's why we always choose the diagnostic method that provides the most useful information for your pet.
Ultrasound
Iscavets Veterinary Practice has a modern ultrasound machine with colour Doppler. Ultrasound allows us to visualise and assess organs and tissues in your pet's body.
Depending on your pet's temperament, it may sometimes be necessary to give a sedative so the examination can proceed calmly and comfortably.
For an optimal examination, it's important that your pet hasn't eaten for the 12 hours before the ultrasound. Drinking water is not a problem. We also ask that you don't let your pet urinate right before the examination.
Not all body parts are equally suited to ultrasound examination. In areas with a lot of air, such as the lungs, radiography usually provides more information. For examining the abdomen, however, ultrasound is often the preferred method. Unlike radiography, ultrasound shows not only the outlines of organs but also the tissues themselves. What's more, image quality remains good even when free fluid is present in the abdominal cavity.
Cardiac ultrasound
A cardiac ultrasound holds a special place within medical imaging. This specialised examination allows the structure and function of the heart to be assessed in detail.
At our practice, this examination is carried out by colleague Frederic Bouvez, who visits us monthly for this purpose.
Digital radiography
Radiography is an important complementary examination for assessing bones and lungs. In certain situations, it's also the preferred method for examining the abdomen, for example when there's significant gas build-up.
Iscavets Veterinary Practice has a modern digital radiography unit, with images immediately available digitally and linked directly to your pet's medical file.
Most radiographs can be taken while the animal is awake. In some cases, however, a sedative or general anaesthesia is needed to obtain good-quality images. When this is necessary, we ask that you keep your pet fasted beforehand.
Dental digital radiography
High-quality dental treatment is unthinkable today without appropriate dental radiography. To work according to current standards, this technique is an essential part of modern veterinary dentistry.
Dental radiography allows us to assess not only the visible parts of the teeth, but also the tooth roots, the periodontal ligament, the jawbone and any lesions located beneath the gumline.
These images help us determine which teeth can be preserved and which are better removed. Only in this way can we aim for a healthy, pain-free mouth. After all, dental pain is a serious welfare issue for pets too.
Other medical imaging
Developments in veterinary medicine never stand still. Advanced imaging techniques such as CT scans, MRI scans and endoscopy have become increasingly accessible today and can provide valuable additional information in certain situations.
When such examinations prove useful or necessary for diagnosing or treating your pet, we're happy to refer you to a specialised practice or clinic that has these technologies available.