Small Mammal Radiology

Question 1

what type of radiology system should be used for small mammal rads?

Answer 1

a digital system is bests and a dental unit is almost more important

Question 2

T/F: all dyspneic animals should be sedated prior to radiographs

Answer 2

T, give midazolam

Question 3

overall what are we looking for on radiographs

Answer 3

symmetry

Question 4

latero-lateral dental rad views

Answer 4

most important and informative
- tympanae perfectly overlapping
- nose needs to be elevated so head center line is parallel to plate

Question 5

dorsoventral or ventrodorsal dental rads

Answer 5

both eyes are centered in the same horizontal plane

Question 6

30 to 40 degree left and right lateral obliques

Answer 6

offsets mandibular reserve crowns and opposite maxillary crowns, need to do each of side and label properly, label mandibular apices

Question 7

Rostrocaudal dental rad view

Answer 7

less necessary but can be helpful

head pointed straight up into the beam, centered on nose with midline on occlusion plane/tympanae

Question 8

what views are often sufficient for rat/mouse dental radiography?

Answer 8

laterolateral and dorsoventral

Question 9

what the most common issue found on small mammal dental rads?

Answer 9

caries and fractures

Question 10

what are some things you should consider about anatomy of herbivores on radiographs?

Answer 10

• many herbivores have large cecums or colons that obscure other organ details
• many herbivores have significant gas in areas of the GI tact and there is a wide variation of normal