Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Abdominal Radiographs (X-rays)

An abdominal radiograph is an image of a pet’s abdominal cavity, commonly used to diagnose and monitor gastrointestinal and urinary problems and abdominal pain, swelling, and enlargement. Abdominal radiographs provide images and outlines of a pet’s stomach, liver, kidneys, spleen, intestines, bladder, diaphragm, lumbar vertebral bodies, and bones. They help screen for cancer and other diseases, reveal abnormalities, monitor the progression of an illness, and evaluate injuries. At Pet Health, radiographs are typically submitted to a board-certified veterinary radiologist for an expert interpretation, with results available immediately or within 24 hours. Depending on each pet’s anatomy, the images revealed on radiographs can occasionally blur or blend. Additional diagnostic testing or imaging, such as an abdominal ultrasound, endoscopy, or other laboratory tests, may be recommended if radiograph findings are inconclusive or unclear.