Radiography: How to use this imaging approach in acute vomiting patients

When it comes to identifying the cause of vomiting in veterinary patients, radiography is a good place to start, especially for acute vomiting patients, says Clifford (Kip) Berry III, DVM, DAVCR, diagnostic imaging specialist at the Veterinary Specialty Hospital of the Carolinas in Cary, North Carolina.

At this year's Atlantic Coast Veterinary Conference, Dr. Berry shared with dvm360 a few things to look for in a radiograph to help determine the cause of vomiting.

“What you're looking for is what I call 'big league abnormalities.' You're looking for an obstruction where the small intestinal tract is now abnormally distended and dilated, and you can see that radiographically," he said.

In the video, Dr. Berry also explains that an ultrasound has a one-up on the radiograph when it comes to identifying pancreatitis and also warns that a negative ultrasound scan does not neccesarily rule out disease.