X-ray has been one of the key diagnostic tools in veterinary medicine since the 1930s. Our x-ray unit is calibrated and tested regularly in order to meet standards set by the American Animal Hospital Association.

For excellent x-ray image quality, we have converted to digital radiology. Digital radiology is a new technology that produces higher quality diagnostic images than the traditional film and plate radiographs.

Digital x-ray equipment has many benefits to you, your pet and the environment.

The benefits for you:

• X-rays can be easily saved to a disk and sent home with you to share with the rest of your pet's health care team and specialists.
• As compared to x-ray film, disks are easier to store and transport.

The benefits for your pet:

• Images can be sent to specialists via email when a faster response time is needed. This ultimately allows your pet's health care team to easily collaborate to provide your pet with the best veterinary care possible.
• Since fewer radiographs are needed, exposure to radiation is greatly reduced. After the x-ray has been taken, the image density and contrast can be manipulated to enhance the quality of the image, and thus generally eliminates the need for additional x-rays.
• Fewer radiographs and no time needed for film development means less time that your pet remains on the x-ray table. Less time on the table means less stress for your pet!
• Our medical staff has access to your pet's radiographs almost instantly since images appear on a computer screen within 6 seconds. This saved time is crucial in emergency situation, and allows our staff to begin your pet's medical care more rapidly.

The benefits for the environment:

• There are no chemicals needed to develop the film, and thus no chemicals that need to be disposed of that would be toxic to the environment.
• There are no x-ray films, so there is ultimately less waste associated with digital x-rays.

Ultrasound (available at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital West)

Ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure similar to x-ray. Specially generated sound waves are focused towards the heart, abdominal organs or other tissues of the body. The returning "echoes" give us information about changes in the size, shape, density, and disease patterns in those organs and tissues. When appropriate, a biopsy can be taken during the ultrasound procedure.

At Shiloh Veterinary Hospital, ultrasound is used most commonly to evaluate diseases of the liver, pancreas, kidney, intestine, spleen, prostrate, uterus, adrenal glands, and urinary bladder. Sedation is sometimes required and most pets undergoing biopsy procedures go home the same day.

Video Otoscopy (available at Shiloh Veterinary Hospital West)

Ear disease is a common problem in our pets. Until now, diagnosing and treating most ear diseases have been difficult and the results have been mediocre at best. Shiloh Veterinary Hospital utilizes a computerized video otoscope in order to perform ear exams, diagnose diseases and treat external and middle ear problems.