Are x-rays overkill here? Or is ultrasound enough?

[tailzzz24]

My cat, Willow, has chronic kidney disease. According to people in the CKD Facebook groups I joined, given his numbers, he shouldn't be looking so sick after he eats. Not every day, but a lot of the time. He often looks dehydrated on these bad days, and his vet has not put him on any sub-q fluids. He also was having constipation problems, but pumpkin has helped, though days he looks sickest, occasionally he'll leave his dish to go have a bowel movement.

I'm going to mention things he's swallowed years and years ago that his vet isn't concerned about since it's been so long ago. Rubber bands. Plastic wrap (saran wrap)...it was in his stomach for 6 days until it came up and I began seeing pieces come out in his stool (husband had to make a mad dash to the bathroom in the middle of their feeding routine). Gradually, over a period of yearsss, chewed and swallowed pieces of dental floss tied to a chair. (It was one long piece, but he chewed it off little by little.) Again, my vet is not at all concerned. This was a long time ago.

So I have an appointment tomorrow for both x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound. I asked her what benefit x-ray had over ultrasound. All I got was we'll be able to see the spleen and see the sizes and shapes of organs. Measurements. I already know he has a small liver. That showed up on x-ray years ago, but nothing was done about it. Our focus is pretty much his GI tract and kidneys. Inflammation. Tumors. I'm guessing the liver is included?

I'm funny when it comes to ionizing radiation. I don't even get my teeth x-rayed most of the time. Maybe once every 6 years. I lost a cat to a GI cancer back in 2019. I don't want this cat to have unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation, no matter how small the dose, especially if it's overkill.

 

[maggie101]

My cat, Willow, has chronic kidney disease. According to people in the CKD Facebook groups I joined, given his numbers, he shouldn't be looking so sick after he eats. Not every day, but a lot of the time. He often looks dehydrated on these bad days, and his vet has not put him on any sub-q fluids. He also was having constipation problems, but pumpkin has helped, though days he looks sickest, occasionally he'll leave his dish to go have a bowel movement.

I'm going to mention things he's swallowed years and years ago that his vet isn't concerned about since it's been so long ago. Rubber bands. Plastic wrap (saran wrap)...it was in his stomach for 6 days until it came up and I began seeing pieces come out in his stool (husband had to make a mad dash to the bathroom in the middle of their feeding routine). Gradually, over a period of yearsss, chewed and swallowed pieces of dental floss tied to a chair. (It was one long piece, but he chewed it off little by little.) Again, my vet is not at all concerned. This was a long time ago.

So I have an appointment tomorrow for both x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound. I asked her what benefit x-ray had over ultrasound. All I got was we'll be able to see the spleen and see the sizes and shapes of organs. Measurements. I already know he has a small liver. That showed up on x-ray years ago, but nothing was done about it. Our focus is pretty much his GI tract and kidneys. Inflammation. Tumors. I'm guessing the liver is included?

I'm funny when it comes to ionizing radiation. I don't even get my teeth x-rayed most of the time. Maybe once every 6 years. I lost a cat to a GI cancer back in 2019. I don't want this cat to have unnecessary exposure to ionizing radiation, no matter how small the dose, especially if it's overkill.

My cat had 2 radiographs done. They showed a possible obstruction but will not know for sure without an ultrasound. It is confusing!
Her first visit she had a urinalysis done which showed uti. Week later she had another urinalysis which showed the infection is gone but she has crystals so then the xrays

 

[carebearbaby1]

Xrays give a clearer image of the whole picture. You can see organs in relation to each other that you can't see on ultrasound.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I have to agree with carebearbaby1 on this. The x-ray will give a much clearer indication of the organs overall and in relation to each other. If this was some minor thing, I might feel differently, but in this case, you need as clear a picture of what is going on with him as you can get.

 

[maggie101]

good to know now I won't spend $400 for an ultrasound.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

good to know now I won't spend $400 for an ultrasound.

Well, the thing is, an ultrasound will show the organs actually functioning, so depending on why it was suggested, the two together give a very accurate look at what is what.

 

[She's a witch]

I’d definitely do both, they complement each other. In fact, I’d even ask for X-ray with contrast to check for potential blockage; I knew a cat that a plastic stuck somewhere in his GI track caused pancreatitis, so given your cat’s history, I’d want to check this out.