Imaging plays a vital role in helping us to diagnose conditions before commencing treatment. X-rays are excellent at outlining organs, bones and joints and are not invasive. Ultrasound enables us to look inside body cavities and organs. We can examine the structure of the organs and blood flow. Ultrasound is carried out under light sedation and in some cases without sedation. With ultrasound we acquire valuable information in real time as to the pets state of health and we may use the ultrasound to guide a very fine needle into an organ to obtain a sample for analysis avoiding an operation. Cardiac scans are vital in helping us to determine the nature of cardiac disease and enable us to prescribe the appropriate treatment.