Pet x-rays (radiographs) are pictures that show bones, the chest and dense swallowed objects, and a vet orders them most often for a limp, a cough or a pet that ate something it shouldn't have. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville is a vet clinic in Huntersville, North Carolina, that takes digital x-rays on site, so the vet can look at the images while your pet is still in the exam room.
Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
When do Huntersville pets need x-rays?
At Petfolk Huntersville, x-rays are most often part of a sick visit for limping or stomach trouble. From October 2025 to September 2026:
About 1 in 6 Huntersville visits for limping (16%) included x-rays.
About 1 in 10 Huntersville visits for vomiting or diarrhea (10%) included x-rays.
Across Petfolk's Charlotte-area clinics, about 1 in 6 visits for a pet that ate something it shouldn't have (18%) included x-rays.
Senior screening, a slow limp or a lump on the chest wall can also lead to a planned x-ray at a routine visit.
Who reviews my pet's x-rays at Petfolk Huntersville?
The Petfolk Huntersville vet reads the images first and explains them to you. Nearly 4 in 5 Huntersville x-ray studies (79%) also get a specialist veterinary radiologist's review (October 2025 to September 2026), and each image is checked by Radimal, an AI review tool, as another look. The vet makes the call and tells you what the image shows.
Because the images are digital, the vet can zoom and adjust them on screen. You are welcome to see them; the vet will point out the stomach, the outline of the heart or the joint in question.
What can an x-ray show, and what can it miss?
An x-ray is strongest for bone, the chest and dense objects, and weaker for soft tissue and fabric.
Bones and joints. X-ray is the best first test for a break or joint problem.
Swallowed objects. A rock or a coin shows up bright white. A sock may not show at all, so the vet looks at the gas pattern in the intestines, because a blockage changes it. Sometimes that means a second set of x-rays a few hours later.
Heart and lungs. X-rays show heart size and lung patterns.
Kidneys, liver and bladder. X-rays show size, shape and most mineral stones. Our blood work and lab testing shows how organs are working, and a basic ultrasound adds an inside view of soft tissue.
If you saw your pet eat something, bring the packaging or a matching piece.
What happens during an x-ray visit?
Exam first. The Petfolk Huntersville vet feels the belly or moves the sore leg to decide which views are needed.
Positioning. Your pet lies on the table, usually on the side and then the back. Two angles of the same area give a far better picture than one.
Holding still. Most pets lie still with gentle hands and a soft towel; the team uses Gentle Handling throughout. If a pet is painful or too worried to stay still, the vet may suggest light sedation, with an estimate first.
Results. The vet reviews the images with you and recommends the next step.
They were very open about our options and I’m so glad we decided to do x-rays with them.
Tricia N., Google review
For more on pet health in plain words, the AVMA publishes guides written for pet parents.
When should a pet skip a day clinic and go to a 24-hour hospital?
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital if your pet is struggling to breathe, has a swollen, hard belly and is retching without bringing anything up, has collapsed, or was hit by a car. Call ahead so they're ready for you.
If your pet's doctor has recommended x-rays, a veterinarian in Huntersville can take them here, including for families in Birkdale. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville is at 14227 Boren St, Suite 100, Huntersville, NC 28078. We see dogs and cats. Call (704) 800-4149 or book online.
Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Huntersville, or see all veterinary services in Huntersville.
What pet parents ask before an X-ray
On Boren St in Huntersville