X-ray Cases

X-ray case #1...Gastric Dilatation (Bloat)
Click on the x-ray to see a larger image.

The upper right image is of a dog with severe onset of retching and salivating.  At this point there is very little gas formation in the intestine.  A different case, strikingly displaying the severely gas-distended stomach of a dog with "Bloat", the lower right x-ray also indicates markedly distended loops of intestine.   When this happens the blood supply to the stomach and intestines is restricted, toxins from the inside of the intestinal tract are absorbed and the tissues begin to break down.  Bloat can occur rapidly; a dog can be dead within hours of the stomach distention.  Death is usually due to circulatory failure and shock.  The causes of bloat are still being investigated. Rarely seen in small breeds or cats, bloat is most common in large, deep chested breeds such as Great Danes, St. Bernards, Setters and Shepards.  The first signs are salivating, retching, unproductive vomiting attempts and a rounded belly.  Get to veterinary help as soon as possible...do not wait to see if there will be improvement.  Even when treated early by passing a stomach tube or emergency surgery, a high percentage of Gastric Dilatation cases won't survive.  See the surgery to relieve Gastric Dilitation (Bloat).

X-ray case #2...Surviving a Shotgun Wound

This unfortunate dog was the victim of real anger.  Someone fully intended to kill the dog with two blasts from a shotgun.  One
target was the head but no pellets
penetrated the skull (you can see one pellet over the skull and under the skin).  A large area of tissue destruction occurred behind one ear and along the base of the neck.  The wound was cleaned (under anesthesia, of course) and as many pellets removed as possible.  Since there is so much extra skin in this area the wound closed up well. 

The other blast ended up over the dog's back where most of the pellets embedded in the thick muscles along the back.   Again this wound was cleaned, damaged tissue removed and the skin pulled together for suturing.  If any pellets are not removed there aren't any consequences as long as the pellet does not act as a source of infection.  Even if the pellets are composed of lead there is very little leaching of the lead into the dogs circulation.  If lead is eaten, the stomach acids release the lead in a form that can be taken up into the blood stream and then may cause lead poisoning. 

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X-ray case #3...A Broken Bone

In this orthopedic case a cat was hit by a car. (By the way, almost all animal hospital employees call these cases  HBCs (Hit By Car).  Veterinarians all across America shutter when their receptionists turn to them and say...usually about 5 o'clock on Friday afternoon..."We've got an HBC coming right in!"

The cat's right thigh bone (Femur) was fractured into many pieces. Fortunately the break occurred in about the middle portion of the bone thus allowing the surgeon to stabilize the two end fragments better than if the break occurred close to the end of the bone.

Through an incision along the outside of the thigh, the bone fragments are inspected and in this case the surgeon elected to use a Pin and Wire Technique to fix the pieces together.  Sometimes a stainless steel plate and screws will be used to hold the bone fragments together for the 2 to 3 months it will take for the bone to heal.  A critical factor in any bone fracture repair mandates that the major pieces must be lined up properly, be tight together, and be held motionless long enough to allow the slow process of new bone to be laid down at the fracture. Sometimes the very tiny fragments cannot be stabilized but that generally won't be a factor as long as the major pieces are set and stabilized properly.

Take a look at an actual bone plating surgery to repair a fractured leg of a dog.

 

A Bladder Full of Stones

This X-ray clearly shows multiple bladder stones (called Cystic Calculi) inside the bladder.  These develop as a result of a wide range of factors such as genetic physiological factors, infections in the bladder or kidneys, and management factors such as water intake. The fastest way to get things back to normal is to surgically remove the stones.  As long as they are in the bladder they will cause irritation and thickening of the bladder wall, contribute to persistent bladder infections, and may even cause a dangerous blockage of the urethra which creates an emergency situation. Persistent urinary tract problems should always imply the need for x-rays. Long term prevention of stone reoccurrence can be aided by specific diets that decrease the chances of the stones developing.
Look at an actual bladder surgery to remove bladder stones.

 

Hip Dysplasia    (Please be patient with the download time, a high quality image is important!)  You might ask "Do cats get hip dysplasia, too?"  The answer is yes, but this disorder is much more prevalent in dogs than in cats. 
(Scroll up to see other x-rays while these load.)  Look at the entire article on Hip Dysplasia.

Here is a nice comparison of two hips.  The one on the  left is a normal hip.  You can see how smooth and round the head of the femur is and how nicely the "ball" fits into the "socket".  A hip with this structure is very unlikely to ever develop arthritis....unlike the abnormal hip on the right.  Here you can see the result of years of irritation resulting from a poor fit, a shallow "socket", and a short neck attaching the "ball" to the shaft of the femur.  This severe arthritis is a result of HIP DYSPLASIA.

 

Tumor Of The Spleen

This x-ray shows a large mass at one end of the spleen.  The spleen is built like an elongated, thick pancake and is richly supplied with blood.  Any cancer of the spleen is potentially dangerous because the mass can break open and bleed into the abdomen, plus the mass can be a source of   cancer cells spreading elsewhere in the body. The usual approach is to explore the abdomen surgically and remove the spleen...if there is no evidence of any other cancer sites within the abdomen or liver.

 

Esophageal Achalasia                (Scroll up to see other x-rays while these load.)
This disorder often has serious consequences.  Resulting from a number of possible sources, the ultimate problem is that the muscular esophagus does not have the ability to propel food and liquids directly into the stomach.  As the swallowed material builds up in the esophagus the esophageal walls stretch and often the food is regurgitated. Many dogs with Esophageal Achalasia suffer from aspiration pneumonia where regurgitated food is inhaled into the lungs and pneumonia and tracheitis results.  Chronic cough, weight loss, vomiting and discomfort await most dogs who suffer from this disorder.  It sometimes can be managed with liquid diets, feeding in a "standing" position, and careful attention to bouts of pneumonia. The x-rays below show you how this condition is diagnosed.  It is a good example of the use of Contrast Material in diagnostic radiology.

This plain view is from the side and shows the chest and upper abdomen prior to swallowing any Barium.	This view is shortly after swallowing liquid Barium. Instead of immediately being propelled into the stomach by muscular contractions of the esophagus, the Barium is collecting in the weakened and non-muscular esophagus.
This view is front to back prior to any Barium administration.	This view shows the collection of Barium in the esophagus, some of which has made its way to the stomach.

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