| X-rays can be used to diagnose or detect many | | | | conditions and disorders in dogs. Bone fractures, |
| conditions and disorders in dogs. Bone fractures, | | | | bladder stones and tumors can easily be detected |
| bladder stones and tumors can easily be detected | | | | through this technique. Some times dogs swallow |
| through this technique. Sometimes dogs swallow | | | | the most ridiculous things that can become lodged |
| the most ridiculous things that can become lodged | | | | in their gastro intestinal tract such as nails, rocks, |
| in their gastric-intestinal tract such as nails, rocks, | | | | fishhooks, safety pins, bones, toys etc.; all these |
| fishhooks, safety pins, bones, toys etc...all these | | | | things can cause serious damage if not detected |
| things can cause serious damage if not detected | | | | soon. Some dogs may also suffer from |
| soon enough. Some dogs may also suffer from | | | | hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip |
| hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip | | | | dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy |
| dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy | | | | and most of these diseases can be identified using |
| and most of these diseases can be identified using | | | | dog x-rays. |
| dog x-rays. | | | | Hip dysplasia results into severe arthritis in dogs. |
| Hip dysplasia results into severe arthritis in dogs. | | | | In this dog illness, the socket joining the femur to |
| In this dog illness, the socket joining the demur to | | | | the pelvis is shallow. The caput i.e. the ball of the |
| the pelvis is shallow. The caput i.e. the ball of the | | | | femur is not round and smooth but is misshapen. |
| femur is not round and smooth but is misshapen. | | | | This causes a lot of friction within the joint as it |
| This causes a lot of friction within the joint as it | | | | moves. This results in severe arthritis in the dog. |
| moves. This results in severe arthritis in the dog. | | | | The dog¡¦s natural repair system will |
| The dog's natural repair system will repair itself by | | | | repair itself by adding new cartilage. However, the |
| adding new cartilage. However, the cartilage repair | | | | cartilage repair is a relatively slow process |
| is a relatively slow process because the cartilage | | | | because the cartilage lacks blood flow, which is |
| lacks blood flow, which is necessary for rapid | | | | necessary for rapid bodily repairs. The degraded |
| bodily repairs. The degraded joint may not be able | | | | joint may not be able to support the body weight |
| to support the body weight as expected. The | | | | as expected. The joint then becomes inflamed |
| joint then becomes inflamed leading to a cycle of | | | | leading to a cycle of cartilage damage and |
| cartilage damage and inflammation. The bones of | | | | inflammation. The bones of the joint may also |
| the joint may also develop osteoarthritis, which is | | | | develop osteoarthritis, which is visible on a dog |
| visible on a dog x-ray as small outcrops of bone. | | | | x-ray as small outcrops of bone. Hence, the dog |
| Hence, the dog x-rays can help us to recognize | | | | x-rays can help us to recognize these fractures |
| these fractures so that we can treat them | | | | so that we can treat them efficiently. |
| efficiently. | | | | However, taking x-rays require dog to remain still. |
| However, taking x-rays require dogs to remain | | | | Sometimes, the dog squirms and moves during |
| still. Sometimes, the dog squirms and moves | | | | the x-ray. This results in unclear and distorted |
| during the x-ray. This results in unclear and | | | | images of the dog¡¦s insides. This |
| distorted images of the dog's insides, which can | | | | can lead to wrong diagnosis. Sometimes, it so |
| lead to wrong diagnosis. Sometimes, it so happens | | | | happens that a dog having hip dysplasia is not |
| that a dog having hip dysplasia is not diagnosed | | | | diagnosed because the veterinary surgeon cannot |
| because the veterinary surgeon cannot make out | | | | make out the slight shift of the bone. The dog is |
| the slight shift of the bone. The dog is already | | | | already living in infinite pain. On top of this, even |
| living in infinite pain. On top of this, even after the | | | | after you x-ray him, you do not find any thing |
| dog is x-rayed and found to have nothing wrong | | | | wrong in his system; do not think that your |
| in his system, do not think the efforts have been | | | | efforts have been wasted. X-rays should always |
| wasted. X-rays should always be neatly filed up | | | | be neatly filed up for future references. To |
| for future references. To determine the dog | | | | determine the dog illnesses, the x-ray is important |
| illnesses, the x-ray is important and so it is vital | | | | and so it is vital for the owner and the vet to |
| for the owner and the vet to position the dog | | | | position the dog properly on the table and take |
| properly on the table and take some measures to | | | | some measures to keep it still. Some dogs are |
| keep it still. Some dogs are naturally obedient and | | | | naturally obedient and wont move a muscle if his |
| won't move a muscle if his or her owner instructs | | | | or her owner instructs so. Sometimes, a light |
| so. Sometimes, a light anaesthetic is registered to | | | | anaesthetic is registered to keep the dog still. If |
| keep the dog still. if the dog is being x-rayed for | | | | the dog is being x-rayed for the muscles, |
| the muscles, anesthesia is unavoidable. | | | | anesthesia is unavoidable. |
| It happens more often than not, that the dog | | | | It happens more often than not, that the dog |
| x-rays might not turn out to be conclusive. In | | | | x-rays might not turn out to be conclusive. In |
| such cases, one should reserve breeding until the | | | | such cases, one should reserve breeding until the |
| x-rays show something definite. By the time the | | | | x-rays show something definite. By the time, the |
| dog is fully-grown the dog x-rays will reveal the | | | | dog is fully-grown the dog x-rays will reveal the |
| proper status of the dog's bone development. | | | | proper status of the dog¡¦s bone |
| The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals) will | | | | development. The OFA (Orthopedic Foundation |
| not classify hips in dogs until they are two years | | | | for Animals) will not classify hips in dogs until they |
| of age. | | | | are two years of age. |
| There are other dog diseases like blood clots, | | | | There are other dog diseases like blood clots, |
| esophageal achalasia and bladder stones which | | | | oesophageal achalasia and bladder stones which |
| x-rays can detect. People are having their dogs | | | | x-rays can detect. People are having their dogs |
| x-rayed these days to detect possible bone | | | | x-rayed these days to detect possible bone |
| fractures that the dog might have. | | | | fractures that he or she may have. X-rays |
| X-rays, therefore, have become inevitable in the | | | | therefore, have become inevitable in the field of |
| field of veterinary practice. In this way, dog | | | | veterinary practice. In this way, dog x-rays can |
| x-rays can help to cure the dog illnesses that | | | | help to cure the dog illnesses which trouble our |
| trouble our cuddly friends.Dog X-Ray | | | | cuddly dogs. |
| X-rays can be used to diagnose or detect many | | | | |