Pet X-Rays
When an exam can't answer the question, an X-ray often can. Our Sugar Land clinic across from Sugar Land Town Square takes digital X-rays on site, so you don't have to drive somewhere else for answers.
Every X-ray gets an AI review as a second check, and a board-certified radiologist can read the images when a case calls for it.
Call (346) 436-6295 or book online.
When it's an emergency: Go straight to a 24-hour emergency hospital for a pet hit by a car, a fall from a height, labored breathing, or a swollen belly with unproductive retching. We're open 8 AM to 6 PM, seven days a week, and we don't provide overnight care.
When an X-Ray Makes Sense
A limp, or a leg your pet won't put weight on
A fall, a car strike, or another hard impact
Coughing or fast breathing at rest
A swallowed toy, sock, bone, or corn cob
Repeated vomiting, or a painful belly
X-rays are best at bones, the chest, and the outline of organs. The Merck Veterinary Manual describes how radiographs are taken and read, including why more than one view is usually needed.
When an X-Ray Isn't the Next Step
A dog who took a bad step but is still walking, eating, and playing often has a soft-tissue strain. The doctor may suggest rest and a recheck before imaging.
Some questions need a different test. Soft-tissue detail inside the belly can show better on ultrasound, and many stomach upsets start with a fecal test or lab work instead.
What Happens During the X-Ray
The doctor examines your pet first and explains what the X-ray should show. You'll see an estimate before anything starts.
Radiation safety rules limit who can be in the room while an image is taken, so the team will tell you where to wait for those few moments. Then the doctor goes over the images with you. Most calm pets hold still with gentle positioning; a painful or anxious pet may need light sedation, which the doctor will discuss with you first.
“New clinic that was super clean... The staff were all very helpful... Dr Krueger and Rachel handled me and my dogs with great care...”
— Brian B., Petfolk client.
Loose Dogs and Hard Impacts in Sugar Land
Sugar Land's animal ordinance requires dogs to be under their owner's control whenever they're off their own property, and dogs running at large can be impounded. The rule exists for good reason: a dog that slips out near busy roads like Highway 6 or the US 59 frontage roads can be hit.
After any car strike, come in even if your dog seems fine. Broken ribs, a collapsed lung, or internal bleeding don't always show at first, and an X-ray is often the first test. If your dog is struggling to breathe, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital.
What Pet X-Rays Cost
X-ray costs vary with the case, so you'll get an estimate before we start. The main factors are:
How many views the doctor needs to answer the question
Whether your pet needs sedation to hold still safely
Whether you add a board-certified radiologist's read, which is available at added cost
The visit itself: an urgent visit is $135, or $36 with PetfolkCare, and a wellness exam is $99, or included with PetfolkCare
Get the Picture Before You Decide
If your pet is limping, coughing, or may have swallowed something, call (346) 436-6295 or book online, and we'll look inside instead of guessing.