Taking a radiograph of the dog’s elbow needs several steps to complete the process correctly and efficiently. As the dog is well-behaved, it significantly eases the task, as no tranquilizers should be used. Moreover, this method requires having personal protective equipment (PPE), as the dog might be infected. It is vital to understand how to prepare for taking lateral and A/P radiographs and describe the following steps to ensure the procedure is done correctly.
- Lateral and A/P radiography demand a doctor to wear a gown, shield, and gloves. If it is required to hold the dog during the procedure, it is recommended to wear special gloves to protect human skin from radiation.
- The doctor should take two views – the lateral measurement and A/P radiography.
- Lateral and A/P measurements should be taken in the dog’s joint, which is the point for x-ray analysis.
- The metric unit for the reading caliper is a centimeter.
- Three bones will be positioned under the central beam – humerus, ulna, and radius (Micheau et al., 2021, p. 27). In lateral view, the doctor examines the body of the humerus, proximal radioulnar joint, and ulna, while in A/P examination, the distal anterior humerus, radius, and ulna are seen (Micheau et al., 2021, p. 27).
- It is necessary to take two measurements to get each view.
- For the doctor to measure the thickness of the anatomical area, it is required to use a caliper; after placing this tool on the location of the examined tissue, it is necessary to count the units to get the correct measure.
- Required information to put in the radiology log includes the type of examination, date, and the patient’s name. In addition, it might be helpful to have the owner’s telephone number to contact them.
- f the dog feels well and no anesthesia or tranquilizers are used, it is allowed to return the patient to the cage or kennel after the procedure is over. If the owner waits for the dog to be done with the examination, the doctor can return the pet.
Reference
Micheau, A., Hoa, D., & Boroffka, S. (2021). Atlas of anatomy on x-ray images of the dog. Vet-Anatomy, 1-51.