Radiography (x-ray)

An X-ray is a radiation used to create a picture.  As X-ray beams pass through tissues of the body, they are absorbed differently by various structures such as bones and soft tissues. These differences produce an image in shades of grey. X-ray imaging is also known as radiography.

X-rays can be used to diagnose disease and injury, including:

• bone conditions, e.g. fractures, dislocations, infection, arthritis and bone cancers
• lung conditions, e.g. asthma, pneumonia and cancer
• congestive heart failure
• stomach or intestinal obstructions, e.g. foreign bodies (objects eaten that get stuck – in cats commonly string, hair ties, bits of plastic toy, etc)

Different testing methods, such as CT or ultrasound, give different types of information and may be complemented by additional X-rays. Ultrasound is not very good at evaluating bones or gas-filled structures, so performing X-rays may also help identify a foreign body that is metallic (easily seen on X-rays). We will discuss with you which test would be best and explain why.

• Technically, an X-ray machine uses a small amount of radiation to create the image. Some types of X-rays, such as CT scanning, use higher doses of radiation than plain X-rays.
• The amount of radiation used in both X-rays and CT scans is unlikely to cause your cat any serious problems.
• Generally, the benefit of the X-ray in diagnosing a health condition is greater than the risk of radiation.