Pet x-rays are the usual first imaging test for a limp, a cough or a swallowed object, and at Petfolk Ballantyne the digital images are ready within minutes. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne is a vet clinic on Ballantyne Commons Parkway in Charlotte, North Carolina, that takes digital radiographs on site, so your vet can look at bones, the chest and the belly during the same visit as the exam.
Call (980) 300-6982 or book online.
Who reads my pet's x-rays?
Your Petfolk Ballantyne vet reads the images first and goes over them with you on screen. Every x-ray at Petfolk is also reviewed by Radimal, an AI tool that gives the vet a second look.
Most studies get a third look. From October 2025 to September 2026, 81% of x-ray studies at Petfolk Ballantyne were also reviewed by a veterinary radiologist, a vet who specializes in reading images. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, 75% were.
Limps and upset stomachs lead the list
Limping and stomach trouble top the list at Petfolk Ballantyne. In that same period, 27% of Ballantyne visits for limping and 17% of visits for vomiting or diarrhea included x-rays. Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, x-rays were part of 18% of sick visits for limping and 18% for a pet that ate something it shouldn't have.
What can an x-ray show in a dog or cat?
X-rays work best on things with clear contrast: bone, air and dense objects. Petfolk Ballantyne uses them for:
Bones and joints. Fractures, arthritis, hip changes and bone growths.
The chest. Heart size and shape, fluid or patterns in the lungs, and signs that support a heart disease workup.
The belly. Bladder stones, an enlarged liver or spleen, gas patterns in the intestines and many swallowed objects.
Teeth and jaws, sometimes, when a tooth root needs a closer look.
Soft tissues that sit close together, such as the layers of the intestinal wall, are harder to see. The ultrasound page explains when vets reach for basic ultrasound instead.
Can an x-ray find a sock or toy my dog swallowed?
Sometimes directly, sometimes indirectly. Metal, stones, bones and some plastics show up clearly. Fabric, such as socks, often doesn't. Then the vet looks for a pattern of trapped gas that suggests a blockage, and may repeat the x-rays a few hours later to see whether things are moving. If you saw your pet swallow something, bring a matching piece or the packaging.
Does my pet need sedation?
Not always. Many calm pets lie still with gentle support from the team, and fear-free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic. A pet that is painful, anxious or very wiggly may need light sedation for comfort and a clear image on the first try. Your vet will explain the choice first.
You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.
A small dose, over in a blink
Diagnostic x-rays use a small dose of radiation for a fraction of a second, and pets are not radioactive afterward. The team wears protective gear. If your pet might be pregnant, tell the vet before imaging. The American Veterinary Medical Association publishes pet parent guidance on diagnostic care.
Before you come in
Ask whether to hold food that morning. If sedation is needed, an empty stomach makes it safer.
Bring a list of current medicines and any earlier x-rays or reports, since comparing images shows change over time.
Keep dogs on a short leash and cats in a carrier, especially if they are sore.
After the images are taken, the vet reviews them with you and explains the next step. Sometimes that is a treatment plan. Sometimes it is more testing, such as blood work.
When to skip us and go to the ER
If your pet was hit by a car, fell from a height, is struggling to breathe, or has a swollen belly with unproductive retching, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital. Those pets need stabilizing first, and the hospital will image them there. Petfolk Ballantyne does not provide overnight care.
Booking from Ballantyne or Indian Trail
A veterinarian in Ballantyne can take digital x-rays during your visit, whether you live nearby or are coming from Indian Trail. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Ballantyne sees dogs and cats at 5335 Ballantyne Commons Pkwy, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28277. Call (980) 300-6982 or book online.
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X-ray questions, answered
Digital X-rays on Ballantyne Commons Parkway