Dog X-Ray

Title: Dog X-Ray
Author: Kang-pang Chan

X-rays can be used to diagnose or detect many conditions and
disorders in dogs. Bone fractures, bladder stones and tumors can
easily be detected through this technique. Sometimes dogs
swallow the most ridiculous things that can become lodged in
their gastric-intestinal tract such as nails, rocks, fishhooks,
safety pins, bones, toys etc...all these things can cause
serious damage if not detected soon enough. Some dogs may also
suffer from hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip
dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy and most of
these diseases can be identified using dog x-rays.

Hip dysplasia results into severe arthritis in dogs. In this
dog illness, the socket joining the demur to the pelvis is
shallow. The caput i.e. the ball of the femur is not round and
smooth but is misshapen. This causes a lot of friction within
the joint as it moves. This results in severe arthritis in the
dog. The dog's natural repair system will repair itself by
adding new cartilage. However, the cartilage repair is a
relatively slow process because the cartilage lacks blood flow,
which is necessary for rapid bodily repairs. The degraded joint
may not be able to support the body weight as expected. The
joint then becomes inflamed leading to a cycle of cartilage
damage and inflammation. The bones of the joint may also develop
osteoarthritis, which is visible on a dog x-ray as small
outcrops of bone. Hence, the dog x-rays can help us to recognize
these fractures so that we can treat them efficiently.

However, taking x-rays require dogs to remain still. Sometimes,
the dog squirms and moves during the x-ray. This results in
unclear and distorted images of the dog's insides, which can
lead to wrong diagnosis. Sometimes, it so happens that a dog
having hip dysplasia is not diagnosed because the veterinary
surgeon cannot make out the slight shift of the bone. The dog is
already living in infinite pain. On top of this, even after the
dog is x-rayed and found to have nothing wrong in his system, do
not think the efforts have been wasted. X-rays should always be
neatly filed up for future references. To determine the dog
illnesses, the x-ray is important and so it is vital for the
owner and the vet to position the dog properly on the table and
take some measures to keep it still. Some dogs are naturally
obedient and won't move a muscle if his or her owner instructs
so. Sometimes, a light anaesthetic is registered to keep the dog
still. if the dog is being x-rayed for the muscles, anesthesia
is unavoidable.

It happens more often than not, that the dog x-rays might not
turn out to be conclusive. In such cases, one should reserve
breeding until the x-rays show something definite. By the time
the dog is fully-grown the dog x-rays will reveal the proper
status of the dog's bone development. The OFA (Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals) will not classify hips in dogs until
they are two years of age.

There are other dog diseases like blood clots, esophageal
achalasia and bladder stones which x-rays can detect. People are
having their dogs x-rayed these days to detect possible bone
fractures that the dog might have.

X-rays, therefore, have become inevitable in the field of
veterinary practice. In this way, dog x-rays can help to cure
the dog illnesses that trouble our cuddly friends.Dog X-Ray

X-rays can be used to diagnose or detect many conditions and
disorders in dogs. Bone fractures, bladder stones and tumors can
easily be detected through this technique. Some times dogs
swallow the most ridiculous things that can become lodged in
their gastro intestinal tract such as nails, rocks, fishhooks,
safety pins, bones, toys etc.; all these things can cause
serious damage if not detected soon. Some dogs may also suffer
from hereditary dog illnesses like elbow dysplasia, hip
dysplasia, mitral valve disease, cardiomyopathy and most of
these diseases can be identified using dog x-rays.

Hip dysplasia results into severe arthritis in dogs. In this
dog illness, the socket joining the femur to the pelvis is
shallow. The caput i.e. the ball of the femur is not round and
smooth but is misshapen. This causes a lot of friction within
the joint as it moves. This results in severe arthritis in the
dog. The dog¡¦s natural repair system will repair itself by
adding new cartilage. However, the cartilage repair is a
relatively slow process because the cartilage lacks blood flow,
which is necessary for rapid bodily repairs. The degraded joint
may not be able to support the body weight as expected. The
joint then becomes inflamed leading to a cycle of cartilage
damage and inflammation. The bones of the joint may also develop
osteoarthritis, which is visible on a dog x-ray as small
outcrops of bone. Hence, the dog x-rays can help us to recognize
these fractures so that we can treat them efficiently.

However, taking x-rays require dog to remain still. Sometimes,
the dog squirms and moves during the x-ray. This results in
unclear and distorted images of the dog¡¦s insides. This can
lead to wrong diagnosis. Sometimes, it so happens that a dog
having hip dysplasia is not diagnosed because the veterinary
surgeon cannot make out the slight shift of the bone. The dog is
already living in infinite pain. On top of this, even after you
x-ray him, you do not find any thing wrong in his system; do not
think that your efforts have been wasted. X-rays should always
be neatly filed up for future references. To determine the dog
illnesses, the x-ray is important and so it is vital for the
owner and the vet to position the dog properly on the table and
take some measures to keep it still. Some dogs are naturally
obedient and wont move a muscle if his or her owner instructs
so. Sometimes, a light anaesthetic is registered to keep the dog
still. If the dog is being x-rayed for the muscles, anesthesia
is unavoidable.

It happens more often than not, that the dog x-rays might not
turn out to be conclusive. In such cases, one should reserve
breeding until the x-rays show something definite. By the time,
the dog is fully-grown the dog x-rays will reveal the proper
status of the dog¡¦s bone development. The OFA (Orthopedic
Foundation for Animals) will not classify hips in dogs until
they are two years of age.

There are other dog diseases like blood clots, oesophageal
achalasia and bladder stones which x-rays can detect. People are
having their dogs x-rayed these days to detect possible bone
fractures that he or she may have. X-rays therefore, have become
inevitable in the field of veterinary practice. In this way, dog
x-rays can help to cure the dog illnesses which trouble our
cuddly dogs.

About The Author: Visit
http://www.2knowabout.com/dog/dog_first_aid.php to learn more
about Dog First Aid and
http://www.2knowabout.com/dog/backyard_dangers.php to ensure
you'd have the most healthy dog ever.

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