[fennelcake]

I got the digital images back but, noticed the two radiation icons on the bottom with two squares next to one radiation icon and the other with one square next to the second radiation icon.

*Circled in red*

Can someone help to explain what this means? My vet doesn't know and I tried calling IDEXX but, they wouldn't help me since I'm not a vet or tech.


Also, how bad is the radiation with digital imaging? I'm afraid my baby moved around a lot and he needed more than one take- thus, increasing the radiation intake.

Thanks.

 

[animalcraker]

The image isn't showing for me. We use Idexx at my work and I can't think of any radiation icons on the images.

As far as the radiation risk for retakes it depends on many factors. If the techs are using proper techniques and have the machine set at the lowest effective settings than the risk is minimal. If they have the settings cranked up to blast through your pet or need to take lots of exposures to get the right shots then the risk is going to be increased, both to your pet and to the staff restrain in your pet. Unfortunately in vet medicine most of the time we don't get the luxury of telling our patients to stay still while we run and hide behind a lead lined wall and take the exposure. If your pet is not cooperative for the xrays then sedatives or anesthesia should be considered.

 

[fennelcake]

The image isn't showing for me. We use Idexx at my work and I can't think of any radiation icons on the images.

As far as the radiation risk for retakes it depends on many factors. If the techs are using proper techniques and have the machine set at the lowest effective settings than the risk is minimal. If they have the settings cranked up to blast through your pet or need to take lots of exposures to get the right shots then the risk is going to be increased, both to your pet and to the staff restrain in your pet. Unfortunately in vet medicine most of the time we don't get the luxury of telling our patients to stay still while we run and hide behind a lead lined wall and take the exposure. If your pet is not cooperative for the xrays then sedatives or anesthesia should be considered.

Is it visible now?

My baby had to get a digital xray done because he had possibly swallowed a Duracell rechargeable battery. (Luckily, he didn't swallow the battery and is fine.)

How much radiation or how high would the setting need to be for these types of digital radiographs?

I'm really worried that I subjected him to high doses (or even any dosage) of radiation only to find that there was no battery in his system.

I feel really awful about it.

Thanks for your response.

 

[MdDVM]

I'm nor sure that's supposed to be a radiation icon... I could be very wrong, but looks like maybe a "film cassette" icon next to one and two file folders?
When we use out digital imaging system we can edit and save images right there, but once those images are transferred, or saved, and sent to another computer (or put on memory device) they can no longer be edited. The symbols are still there but there just symbols. I wonder if why's on your films isn't just "save to file" icons???
VERY VERY VERY low risk of excessive radiation exposure from a couple of standard radiographs either way.

 

[lzrddr]

Supposedly 2 view X-rays such as those above are equivalent to taking a flight across the US and being exposed to cosmic radiation. It would take many hundreds of views, if not thousands, to accumulate a dangerous dose of radiation.

 

[fennelcake]

Thank you to those who have taken the time to respond.

I finally got word back from the vet (they were closed for an undisclosed amount of time due to personal issues)- and she said that they were "just icons and it doesn't mean he got radiation from the digital xray machine".

I'm still uneasy about it because she didn't recognize the icons but, this was an emergency and he's only done it once and he's fine.

Phew!