Pet X-Rays
A useful X-ray depends on the right views and a pet held still in the right position. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, takes digital X-rays on-site, and every image is reviewed by Radimal AI software.
Most results are ready the same day. X-rays start with an exam at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for trouble breathing, a swollen belly with unproductive retching, being hit by a car, a leg hanging at an odd angle, or a swallowed sharp object.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
What X-Rays Show Best
Bones and joints: fractures, arthritis, and hip or elbow changes
The chest: heart size and shape, and the lungs
The belly: organ size and outline, gas patterns, and many swallowed objects
Bladder and kidney stones, depending on the type
X-rays are weaker on soft-tissue detail, such as the inside of an organ, which is where ultrasound comes in. The Merck Veterinary Manual's guide to diagnostic imaging explains why bone shows white and gas shows black on an X-ray, and why ultrasound is better for the inside of organs.
Why One View Usually Isn't Enough
An X-ray is a flat picture of a three-dimensional body, so structures overlap. Most studies need at least two views from different angles. A limp may also need the healthy leg imaged for comparison.
Positioning matters as much as the machine. A chest rotated slightly, or a hip turned the wrong way, can hide a problem or create a false one.
Positioning and Sedation
Plenty of pets are imaged awake. Our Gentle Handling team uses towels, foam supports, and patience instead of force to hold the position. Sedation may help when:
Exact positioning matters, as with hip and elbow views
The area is painful to hold still
A pet is frightened and can't settle
Before sedation, the vet considers age, weight, heart and lung sounds, and current medications, and may recommend lab work first. You'll discuss it before anything is given.
“My dog gets very anxious at the vet and they were so supportive and caring.”
— Hannah D., Petfolk client
When an X-Ray Isn't the Next Step
An exam often tells the vet whether an X-ray will change the plan. Itchy skin, most ear infections, and problems that are chemical rather than structural, like many kidney or thyroid issues, are better answered with skin tests or lab work.
If an image won't change what happens next, the vet will say so.
After the Images
The vet reviews the images with you and explains what they show. For complex cases, images can be sent to a board-certified veterinary radiologist for an additional fee, with a report usually back within a few days. Imaging results are available in the Petfolk app.
What X-Rays Cost Depends On
How many views are needed
The body area
Whether sedation is used
Whether a board-certified radiologist reviews the images
Any recheck X-rays after treatment
You'll get an estimate before any images are taken. PetfolkCare members get 10% off X-rays.
Images That Answer the Question
Book an exam at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691, and leave knowing what the images showed and what comes next.