X-rays (radiographs) let a vet see bones, the outline of the heart and lungs, and many swallowed objects without surgery, and they are often taken the same day your pet is examined. Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark is a veterinary clinic on Old Sardis Road in Charlotte, North Carolina, with digital x-ray in the clinic, so images appear on screen within moments, and every x-ray is also reviewed by Radimal AI, an AI image-reading tool, alongside the vet.
Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
When does a vet recommend x-rays?
A Petfolk SouthPark vet recommends x-rays when the answer lies in bones, the chest or the gut. Common reasons:
Limping or a possible fracture. Bones show up clearly.
Coughing or fast breathing. Chest views show heart size and lung patterns.
Vomiting after eating something odd. Metal, bones, rocks and some toys show up. Fabric and soft plastic often don't, though the gas pattern around them can give clues.
Straining to urinate. Many bladder stones are visible.
A swollen belly. X-rays show organ size and fluid.
How often do SouthPark pets need x-rays?
X-rays are part of a minority of sick visits at Petfolk SouthPark, used when they will change the plan. From October 2025 to September 2026:
About 1 in 6 Petfolk SouthPark visits for limping (17%) included x-rays.
About 1 in 6 visits for coughing or breathing problems (17%) included x-rays.
Nearly two in three x-ray studies at Petfolk SouthPark (63%) also got a review by a veterinary radiologist, a vet who specializes in reading images.
How are pets positioned for x-rays?
The Petfolk SouthPark team usually takes at least two views at right angles, for example one from the side and one from above, because an object or shadow can hide in one view and show clearly in the other.
Before: there is usually nothing to do at home. If sedation might be needed, you may be asked to hold food for a few hours. Bring a list of anything your pet might have eaten, with any packaging.
Positioning: your pet lies on a padded table while the team gently holds each position for a few seconds, using Gentle Handling: soft voices, support under the body and short breaks.
During the exposure: x-ray rooms limit who stays inside, so you will usually wait nearby.
Reading: the digital images come up on screen right away, and the vet can walk you through them.
You get an estimate before any images are taken.
Does my pet need sedation for x-rays?
Most pets don't. At Petfolk SouthPark, sedation helps when a pet is painful, very anxious or needs to stay perfectly still for a clear image, such as for hips, the spine or a detailed chest view. The vet explains the choice, checks your pet's health first, and monitors your pet until awake. If blood work is needed before sedation, the blood work page explains what it checks.
What can't an x-ray show?
X-rays show shapes and densities, not fine detail inside soft organs. If the Petfolk SouthPark vet needs to see inside the liver, kidneys, bladder wall or heart chambers, the next step is often ultrasound; the pet ultrasound page explains how it differs. A normal chest, a healed old fracture or a clear stomach is useful information too.
I really like that they have testing there as we were able to get the X-rays and ultrasound needed for our dog to get a referral for the ER. Apiffany G., Google review
What happens after the x-rays?
Depending on what the images show, next steps at Petfolk SouthPark might include pain control and rest, more tests, a repeat x-ray to watch something change, or a procedure. The vet explains the options and costs before anything is done. The AVMA has more on how vets diagnose and treat pets.
Which injuries need a 24-hour hospital before any x-ray?
If your pet can't breathe comfortably, has a swollen, tight belly while retching, or has had a major fall or been hit by a car, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital first. Imaging can wait until your pet is stable.
Families from Olde Providence South and Barclay Downs can find a veterinarian in SouthPark at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - SouthPark, 4914 Old Sardis Rd, Unit C5, Charlotte, NC 28211. Call (980) 580-8079 or book online.
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X-ray questions from pet parents
Old Sardis Road, Unit C5