Pet X-Rays in Wake Forest, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is a vet in Wake Forest, NC, that takes digital x-rays of dogs and cats on site. Images show up on the screen in seconds, so the vet can often show you what they found during the same visit.

Call (919) 891-6444 or walk in if your pet is limping, coughing or swallowed something.

When does a pet need an x-ray?

The vet may suggest x-rays when an exam points to a problem inside the body. Common reasons include:

• A limp that doesn't improve after a few days, or a leg your pet won't use

• Eating a toy, a sock, a corn cob or a bone

• Vomiting that keeps coming back

• A cough, fast breathing or a heart murmur

• Straining to pee, which can mean bladder stones

• A swollen belly, or a lump the vet wants to look at from the inside

• Stiff, slow mornings in an older dog

What can an x-ray show?

X-rays are best for bones and for things that are dense or full of air. They show breaks, arthritis, the size and shape of the heart and lungs, many kinds of bladder stones, and swallowed objects like coins or rocks. Some swallowed items, like cloth or soft rubber, don't show up well. The vet may then look for a pattern of gas in the gut instead, or suggest an ultrasound.

X-rays help even when they look normal. Ruling out a break or a blockage can change the plan from surgery to rest and medicine.

Is my pet awake for x-rays?

Most pets are awake. A team member gently positions your pet on the table for a few seconds while the picture is taken, and it doesn't hurt. Fear Free handling keeps it calm, with soft padding, treats and a slow pace.

A pet in a lot of pain, or one that can't hold still, may need light sedation. The vet will talk with you first and explain why. Hips and spines often need very straight positioning, so sedation is more common for those views.

Who reads my pet's x-rays?

The vet reads your pet's images during the visit and talks you through them. For harder cases, the images can go to a board-certified radiologist for a second look. Across Petfolk, more than three-quarters of x-ray studies (78%) also got a specialist radiologist's review from October 2025 to September 2026. That extra read can catch small changes that are easy to miss.

Before you head over

If your dog is limping, keep them calm and off stairs until the visit. Carry a small dog to the car, and use a towel as a sling under the belly for a big one. Don't give human pain pills like ibuprofen or naproxen. They can hurt a dog's stomach and kidneys, and they can change what the vet is able to give safely. If your pet swallowed something, bring the packaging or a matching piece.

What to expect on cost

The cost depends on how many views your pet needs and whether sedation is used. 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. Petfolk accepts most pet insurance, and the detailed invoice helps with claims.

Limps from the greenway

Many x-rays in Wake Forest start with a weekend walk. A dog that lands wrong on the Dunn Creek or Smith Creek greenway, or twists a leg chasing a ball at Flaherty Dog Park, may come in with a limp. If the leg looks bent, swells fast or your dog won't put any weight on it, come in the same day.

If your pet was hit by a car, is struggling to breathe or can't stand, skip urgent care and go to a 24-hour hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital at 4640 Paragon Park Rd in Raleigh.

Visit for x-rays

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587, near Heritage. Bring your pet on a leash or in a carrier. For soft tissue questions, read about pet ultrasound in Wake Forest and our wider diagnostic imaging page.

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