Dog & Cat HospitalCalabasas

Care

Diagnostic Imaging

Digital X-ray, ultrasonography, and CT scanning for fast, accurate answers — advanced imaging interpreted by specialist eyes, without a referral to another facility.

Imaging is often the turning point in a diagnostic workup — the moment when a suspected problem becomes a confirmed diagnosis and a treatment plan becomes possible. Dog & Cat Hospital Calabasas maintains a full imaging suite that includes digital radiography, diagnostic ultrasonography, and CT scanning, all available in-house. That breadth means most patients get the imaging they need at their own hospital, interpreted by the same specialists managing their care, without the delay, stress, or expense of an outside referral center. Our ACVIM internal medicine and cardiology specialists are directly involved in imaging interpretation — not outsourcing reads to a third party after the fact.

What's Included

Our imaging services cover the modalities most commonly needed for dogs and cats:

  • Digital radiography (X-ray) — high-resolution chest and abdominal films, orthopedic imaging, dental radiographs; results are immediate and high-quality compared to older film systems
  • Abdominal ultrasonography — organ evaluation (liver, spleen, kidneys, adrenals, GI tract), detection of masses, free fluid assessment, and ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates or biopsies
  • Cardiac echocardiography — real-time heart imaging performed and interpreted by our on-site ACVIM cardiologist
  • CT scanning — cross-sectional imaging for complex thoracic or abdominal disease, nasal and sinus pathology, lymph node staging, and surgical planning
  • Thoracic imaging — evaluation of lung patterns, pleural effusion, cardiac silhouette, and mediastinal masses

Fast answers with the right imaging tool

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What to Expect

Radiographs are fast — most X-ray series are taken and reviewed within the same visit, with findings discussed the same day. Ultrasound examinations require the patient to lie still and may use mild sedation for anxious or painful pets; most abdominal ultrasounds are completed within 30–45 minutes. CT scanning requires general anesthesia because even small patient movement ruins the diagnostic quality of cross-sectional images; most CT procedures are day-in, day-out appointments with your pet home the same afternoon. All imaging is reviewed in the context of your pet's clinical history and exam findings — not as isolated images — which is what specialist interpretation makes possible.

Why Our Team

Specialist-interpreted imaging.

Our ACVIM internist and cardiologist review imaging as part of the clinical workup — not a radiologist reading images in isolation days later.

Three modalities, one location.

Digital X-ray, ultrasound, and CT mean the right imaging tool is always available without sending your pet elsewhere.

Same-visit radiograph results.

Digital X-ray images are displayed and reviewed within minutes of being taken — no processing delay, no waiting by the phone.

Ultrasound-guided sampling.

Suspicious masses or organ changes can be sampled with fine-needle aspiration during ultrasound, providing cytology results with minimal invasiveness.

Frequently Asked Questions

1Does my pet need to be sedated for an X-ray?
Most dogs and cats can be positioned for radiographs with gentle manual restraint and do not require sedation. Painful, anxious, or fractious patients may need mild sedation to obtain diagnostic images safely — we'll make that call based on your pet's demeanor and the urgency of the images needed.
2What can an abdominal ultrasound tell you that X-rays can't?
X-rays show organ size and shape and are excellent for detecting gas, fluid, foreign bodies, and bone abnormalities, but they can't distinguish soft-tissue details within organs. Ultrasound reveals the internal architecture of the liver, spleen, kidneys, and GI tract — and can detect masses, cysts, adrenal changes, and free fluid that radiographs miss.
3Why would my pet need a CT scan instead of regular X-rays?
CT (computed tomography) produces three-dimensional cross-sectional images that reveal structures in far greater detail than standard radiographs. It's used when precise characterization is needed — for example, staging cancer, evaluating nasal or sinus masses, assessing complex fractures, or planning surgery where exact anatomy matters.
4How long does a pet CT scan take?
The scan itself is often completed in 10–20 minutes once the patient is under anesthesia; total procedure time including anesthesia induction and recovery is typically 1–2 hours. Most pets are alert and ready to go home a few hours after the procedure.
5What is an ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirate?
A fine-needle aspirate (FNA) is a procedure where a thin needle is guided into a mass or organ under real-time ultrasound visualization to collect cells for microscopic examination. It's a minimally invasive way to get diagnostic information about a lump or organ abnormality that often avoids the need for immediate surgery.
6My dog was referred for an abdominal ultrasound — can you do it here?
Yes. Our in-house ultrasound capability means we can typically accommodate abdominal ultrasounds without an outside referral. If your regular veterinarian has ordered one, we can also review any available records and images before the appointment.
7Are digital X-rays safer than older film X-rays for my pet?
Digital radiography uses significantly less radiation than older film-based systems while producing sharper, higher-contrast images that can be digitally adjusted after capture. This means both better safety and better diagnostic quality — and images can be shared electronically with specialists instantly.
8Can you do chest X-rays to check for cancer spread in my dog?
Yes. Thoracic radiographs are routinely used to screen for pulmonary metastasis (cancer spread to the lungs) in dogs and cats with a known tumor. A three-view chest series provides the most thorough coverage and is standard for staging many types of cancer.

Related

ProceduresDigital Radiography (X-ray)ProceduresAbdominal Ultrasound

Fast answers with the right imaging tool

Schedule your pet's imaging study and let our in-house specialist team provide the diagnostic clarity your pet's care requires.

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