Case Study: The Benefit of X-rays

The benefit of x-rays are endless in the medical world.  X-rays are pertinent in determining your pet's condition and help us to make correct assessments about their health. This case study involves Sawyer, an 8-year old mixed-breed, who was adopted by an officer from a local shelter several years ago. Sawyer came to us because of an unexplained swelling, drawing suspicion as a possible tumor.   As part of our routine evaluation, we took x-rays of Sawyer and to our profound shock, we discovered hundreds of birdshot pellets embedded in his face, neck, and backside.

Birdshots are metal shots comprised of hundreds of small spherical pellets or shots. When the shell is fired, it separates into individually dispersed pellets as seen in the  photo of Sawyer's x-ray.

Given the placement of these pellets in Sawyer’s body, we can assume that his previous owner, prior to the shelter, shot Sawyer in the face multiple times and once from the backside. In most cases only the pellets that cause serious health risks are removed.

We are so fortunate to help Sawyer and his family and are grateful that his owner noticed something amiss and brought Sawyer in for immediate diagnosis.  We are also pleased to announce that Sawyer has made a healthy recovery and is doing great!

At Animal Health Center, we take great pride in finding the root cause of our patient’s condition and continuously work to find solutions that will solve the issue and increase the quality of our patient’s lives.   Our in-house imaging and diagnostic laboratories allow us to give quick and accurate results, ultimately reducing the time lapse for resolve and allowing our patient’s a higher chance of survival.

If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, please contact us to make an appointment at (914) 941-4904.