Imaging Services

X-rays (radiographs) are among the most valuable and widely used diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine, giving us a clear view of the structures inside your pet’s body. Our digital radiography system produces high-resolution images within seconds, which brings real, practical benefits for your pet:

• Faster answers — we review images instantly and make rapid decisions about treatment, rather than waiting for film to develop.
• Less time sedated — because the process is so quick, your pet spends less time under sedation or anaesthesia, reducing risk.
• Easy second opinions — images can be shared digitally with referral specialists in moments if further input is needed.
• Lower radiation — modern digital systems need a lower dose than older film X-rays to produce a diagnostic image.

X-rays are invaluable for investigating the bones, joints, chest and abdomen. We use them to diagnose and monitor a wide range of conditions — including fractures and joint disease such as arthritis, heart and lung conditions, gastrointestinal problems and swallowed foreign objects, and bladder or kidney stones. We sedate or anaesthetise all our patients so they stay relaxed and still, allowing optimum positioning and image quality. In addition, comfort and pain are assessed as part of our Zero Pain approach.

Veterinary dentistry has advanced enormously over the last decade, and dental X-rays are now considered the gold standard of care — so much so that a thorough dental assessment isn’t really complete without them. That’s because many of the most painful dental problems develop below the gumline, hidden from view during a normal visual examination. This is especially true in cats, who are prone to painful feline resorptive lesions that often can’t be seen by eye at all.

Our dedicated dental X-ray system allows us to:

• Detect hidden disease affecting the roots of the teeth and the surrounding bone
• Plan and perform safer, more precise extractions when teeth need to come out
• Assess bony involvement with oral masses
• Deliver a consistently higher standard of dental care for your pet

Dental radiography is carried out under the same general anaesthetic as your pet’s dental treatment, so the whole mouth can be assessed and treated in a single visit. You can read more about how we approach this on our dentistry page, where pain relief is planned around every stage of the procedur

Where X-rays are ideal for bones and the chest, ultrasound excels at examining soft tissues and organs in real time — and it does so with no radiation at all. Our imaging suite includes a top-tier ultrasound machine that meets the standard required for referral-level cardiology, producing clear, detailed, moving images that let us assess:

• Heart, through echocardiography, to investigate heart murmurs and cardiac disease
• Abdomen, including the liver, kidneys, spleen, bladder and intestines
• Guided sampling procedures, such as fine-needle aspirates or biopsies, with precision
• Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), used to assess for bleeding or collapsed lung in  trauma or emergency patients
• Ocular, looking for retinal detachment, masses, lens luxation
• Musculoskeletal, for tendons, muscles, ligaments, lumps & bumps

Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive and painless technique that provides real-time images — an invaluable tool for both accurate diagnosis and ongoing monitoring. We use light or deep sedation for anxious patients or more involved procedures, so we optimise image quality and relax the patient. The fur is clipped so the probe can make good contact with the skin, and food will need to be withheld beforehand.

We know any procedure involving your pet can feel worrying, so here’s what usually happens. Depending on the type of imaging, your pet may be seen during a normal appointment or admitted for the day. If sedation or anaesthesia is needed, we’ll ask you to withhold food from the evening before (water is usually fine) and talk you through a pre-procedure check.

During the imaging itself, your pet is cared for by our team in a calm, quiet environment, with their comfort actively monitored — pain and stress are assessed as standard, in line with our Zero Pain Philosophy accreditation. Because our equipment is digital, your vet can often review the results the same day and discuss the findings and next steps with you quickly. If a scan points to something that needs advanced cross-sectional imaging such as CT or MRI, we’ll arrange a prompt referral to a suitable centre and pass on your pet’s images and history.

At Whisker & Woof, we believe your pet deserves the very best, and investing in an in-house imaging suite is a big part of that. It means:

• Cutting-edge equipment producing the highest-quality diagnostic images
• Experienced, passionate clinicians trained to interpret findings accurately
• Fewer separate trips and referrals, because so much can be done under one roof
• A genuine commitment to minimising stress and risk, keeping every procedure as quick and comfortable as possible

As an independent, welfare-led practice, these are decisions we make for one simple reason: better information leads to better diagnoses, better treatment plans and better outcomes. Fast, accurate imaging is often the difference between guessing and knowing — and that’s care worth investing in.

If your pet has been unwell, is lame, or requires further investigation, our imaging suite is here to help provide answers.
? Call us today or book online to arrange a consultation or discuss the imaging options recommended for your pet.