Pet Diagnostic Imaging in Wake Forest, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is a vet in Wake Forest, NC, with digital x-rays and basic ultrasound in the clinic. When an exam and blood work don't give the full answer, imaging lets the vet look inside your pet without surgery, often on the same visit.

Call (919) 891-6444 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome for sick or hurt pets.

Which imaging test will my pet need?

The vet picks the test based on what your pet's signs point to. In short:

• Limping, a possible break or arthritis: an x-ray

• Swallowed a toy, bone or rock: an x-ray

• Coughing or a heart murmur: an x-ray of the chest

• Bladder infection or blood in the urine: an ultrasound-guided urine sample, plus an x-ray to look for stones

• Fluid in the belly or chest after a fall or bite: a focused ultrasound scan

Sometimes both tests are used. An x-ray shows the outline of the organs, and an ultrasound shows what is going on inside them.

How are x-rays and ultrasound different?

X-rays work best for bones, the lungs and anything dense, like stones or metal. They are fast, and most pets stay awake for them.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to show soft tissue and fluid. At Petfolk it is most often used to collect a clean urine sample straight from the bladder. Across Petfolk, nearly three in four ultrasound procedures (73%) were that kind of sample, from October 2025 to September 2026.

Who reviews the images?

The vet at Petfolk Wake Forest reads each study during the visit and walks you through it on a screen. Many studies also go to a board-certified radiologist for a second opinion. Across Petfolk, more than three-quarters of x-ray studies (78%) got that specialist review in the same year.

If your pet needs a detailed scan of every organ, or a CT or MRI, the vet will refer you to a specialty hospital in the Raleigh area and send the images ahead.

Is imaging stressful for pets?

It doesn't have to be. Fear Free handling is part of every scan: soft pads on the table, treats, low voices and breaks when your pet needs them. Most pets are awake and only need to lie still for a few seconds at a time. If your pet is in pain or very nervous, the vet may suggest light sedation and will explain the choice first.

What to bring to the visit

A few things help the vet choose the right test and read it well:

• Past x-rays or scans, even from another clinic, so the vet can compare

• Recent blood work, or the name of the clinic that ran it

• A short timeline: when the limp, cough or vomiting started and what changed

• The wrapper or a photo of anything your pet may have swallowed

If you think your pet ate something, note the time. That tells the vet how far it may have moved through the gut.

Cost and planning

Costs depend on the number of views, the type of scan and whether sedation is needed. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. A sick exam starts at $135, and CareCredit financing is available if you'd like to spread out the cost.

Common reasons for imaging in Wake Forest

Wooded yards and creeks around Heritage mean many dogs here chew sticks, swallow acorns or pick up rocks on walks. Most of these pass, but a dog that keeps vomiting after eating something odd should have an x-ray. Older dogs with stiff hips after a hike at E. Carroll Joyner Park are another common reason for x-rays.

If your pet is struggling to breathe, has collapsed, or has a swollen, painful belly with dry heaving, go to a 24-hour hospital right away. BluePearl Pet Hospital at 4640 Paragon Park Rd in Raleigh is one option.

Start with an exam

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587. Learn more about pet x-rays and pet ultrasound at this clinic.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest, or see all veterinary services in Wake Forest.