What's Involved In A Guinea Pig X-ray?

[Amba]

My biggest concern is -- are they put on their backs?
Also, are the gassed, and how are they restrained?
Thank you

 

[helen105281]

Xrays can be done consciously. It varies from vet to vet, my Nigel was taped to the table with masking tape but I have seen blocks be used too. Sometimes a little fabric restraint bag is used but it can restrict the view.

I am not sure about whether they are on their backs or not, it would depend what needed to be xrayed. If the pig has breathing issues or a heart condition it should not be placed on it's back.

 

[sport_billy]

Our vet Rosie will sometimes administer a wiff of gas to lightly sedate them. We have never had an issue with many X-rays performed like this

 

[Pebble]

Could you please explain why you are asking these particular questions - some history perhaps? - might help us to give you better input to your question.
My first thought is that your guinea pig might have a URI/fluid on the lungs and that is why you are asking about being "put on their backs" for an Xray...I may be totally wrong so please elaborate.
x

 

[dearbarbie]

I was about to ask the same. If the piggy is seriously ill/not really moving much, they probably won't need to do anything except put them on the table x

 

[Amba]

My guinea has a uti, which was diagnosed after a urine analysis. But after a week on bayril, she still struggles, even after I thought she'd got better, she cringes while going to the toliet. I'm worried she has stones. But she is the most nervous, sensitive guinea I've had and won't cope with an x-ray well. I worry about giving such a small animal gas.

 

[Nicola_]

My vet told me recently that next step with my Frodo would be x-ray for possible stones (bladder or kidney - I can't remember now) which would involve him being put on his side.

 

[Freela]

To an extent, it will be what they need to see that will determine how they are placed on the x-ray plate. My pig, Sundae, had an x-ray to check for bladder stones/sludge. She was conscious for it- she tends to freeze when stressed, so essentially they set her on her feet on the plate, pulled their hands away, x-rayed her, and picked her back up. The vet has also said sometimes he will place them in a small box if it helps to keep them still. They did not do a second view, as they were able to see what they needed to see on the first scan which just involved her standing still. As for gas, my understanding is that if they could not get the pics any other way, they would give her a whiff of gas. There is always some risk to using anesthetics, but for what it's worth all three of the pigs I have owned were under anesthesia at one time or another, and all did very well, even those that were very ill at the time.

 

[Amba]

Thank you, it's a lot to think about. I'm worried how they'll restrain her, but putting her in a small box sounds like a good idea. Maybe they could give her an ultra sound, and I can hold her? Thank you all so much for you replies.

 

[scpiggy]

The one time one of my pigs was x-rayed they didn't need to sedate her they just put her in a box and she was good and stayed still.

 

[Amba]

Thank you all very much. I took Beano to a guinea specialist, who just held her to keep her still. She had no bladder stones and has been diagnosed with bloat.