Pet Portal
Hands-Free Radiology
What Is Hands-Free Radiology?
Raintree Veterinary Hospital has adopted a policy to be ahead of the curve on limiting human exposure to radiation during x-rays. Traditionally in veterinary medicine, pets have been held down by nursing staff for x-rays. We are using the modern approach of hands-free radiology to protect our team from unnecessary radiation exposure. This may involve the use of sedation to help keep patients relaxed for their x-rays.
Instead of your pet being constantly held by staff members, we instead use alternative forms of restraint such as: mouldable sandbags, soft limb restraints, pillows, towels, foam wedges, and foam troughs. This allows our staff to move to a safe distance away from the radiation beam all while supervising your pet for any signs of discomfort. While it can take some time to become accustomed, we have noticed that our patients quickly adjust to the situation and can be more relaxed than with previous methods.
We appreciate your support in helping us protect our staff and keep your pet comfortable.
Why are we asking about sedation?
Know that your pet’s safety and comfort are always our first priority. Sometimes sedation is in their best interest. Many people are anxious about going to the dentist and find it helpful to utilize mild sedation to make it a less stressful experience, even if they know they are just getting their teeth cleaned. Imagine you are a dog getting an x-ray and don’t understand what is happening. This situation can be extremely anxiety provoking.
Sedation can be used for pets for a variety of reasons, including helping to take x-rays and to perform ultrasounds. Getting x-rays can be scary for some pets. They are in a dark, unfamiliar room with a machine that makes strange noises. They also need to stay still in a position that allows for high-quality x-rays that can give us the answers we need to help your pet.
We use various techniques to help make this less stressful for our patients, sometimes including sedation. Not every pet will need sedation. It all depends on the situation: pet’s temperament/anxiety level, x-ray view required, pain prior to procedure, etc. Please know that if your pet would benefit from sedation, it does not mean they are a naughty pet.
Our doctors will use their best judgment to determine the most appropriate type and dose of sedation for your pet. We strive to use the lowest dose of medications possible and always consider any known medical conditions when choosing sedation. We also have access to specialists with board certification who can help with these decisions — our doctors understand how to choose the best sedation for even the sickest patient.
Below, we have photos of three patients who received hands-free x-rays: Truman, Apple, and Bailey, respectively. Both Truman and Apple did NOT require any sedation for their x-rays! Truman was getting x-rays taken of his abdomen, Apple was getting abdominal views on his back, and Bailey was receiving hip views, also on her back. For the latter views, we use a soft trough to ensure spine support. All patients were very comfortable during their x-rays and received the utmost care.
