Pet imaging, Geelong

Diagnostic imaging is one of the most powerful, non-invasive tools we use to assess your pet’s health at Bellarine Veterinary Practice in Geelong. We have a wide range of sophisticated equipment specifically designed to help us understand what’s going on beneath the surface, allowing us to get answers quickly and accurately.

Our veterinarians are trained in a range of imaging procedures, including:

• Diagnostic radiography
• Hip and elbow scoring, including PennHip
• Dental radiography
• Diagnostic ultrasonography
• Diagnostic endoscopy
• Computed Tomography (CT)

Diagnostic imaging helps us diagnose illness and precisely plan treatments, monitor ongoing conditions or detect problems early as part of a veterinary health program. We can also arrange referral for advanced imaging such as MRI and CT scanning.

We participate in the PennHIP scheme, an accredited imaging program that accurately assesses hip joint laxity in dogs – particularly important for breeds prone to hip dysplasia. This screening can be done as early as 16 weeks of age and helps guide decisions about breeding, lifestyle, and long-term joint care. Elbow and hip scoring is likewise available, and early intervention can be crucial when it comes to congenital issues like passive hip laxity and elbow dysplasia.

To book an appointment today to discuss how we can help your pet, contact one of our six clinics or book online.

Radiography

General radiography is one of the most valuable diagnostic tools we use at Bellarine Veterinary Practice to assess your pet’s health quickly, safely and accurately. As a non‑invasive imaging method, radiography allows our veterinarians to identify conditions affecting the bones, chest, abdomen and joints with exceptional clarity.

Radiographs help us diagnose illness, evaluate injuries and guide treatment planning across a broad range of species. They also play an essential role in monitoring ongoing health conditions and detecting emerging problems early, supporting proactive, long‑term care. For pets requiring screening assessments, such as hip or elbow evaluation, radiography forms the foundation of programs that help identify congenital issues, support early intervention strategies and plan breeding programs.

At Bellarine Veterinary Practice, radiography is performed with your pet’s comfort and safety as our priority. Sedation is used to reduce stress and produce the highest‑quality images for accurate interpretation.

Whether your pet requires investigation of pain, injury or internal concerns, our radiography services provide fast, reliable answers to support the best possible veterinary care.

Geelong PennHIP Accredited

Bellarine Veterinary Practice offers accredited PennHIP assessments to help identify dogs at risk of developing hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis. This specialised imaging technique measures hip joint laxity in dogs from as young as 16 weeks of age, allowing for early detection and informed decisions about breeding, lifestyle and long-term joint health.

Performed at our Newcomb veterinary clinic, PennHIP assessments provide valuable information to help protect your dog’s mobility and wellbeing.

Learn more about PennHIP assessments.

Dental radiography

Dental radiography is an essential component of comprehensive veterinary dental care at Bellarine Veterinary Practice. Many dental problems in pets occur below the gum line, where they cannot be identified through a standard oral examination alone. Our dental radiography services, performed under general anaesthesia, allow our veterinarians to accurately assess tooth roots, bone structure, periodontal health and hidden pathology, ensuring your pet receives precise and effective treatment.

Many patients with dental disease are older and have other concurrent diseases that we are managing along with their teeth. Their dental health performs a pivotal role in their overall health. Our vets are well trained in managing anaesthesia in patients with complex diseases safely.

Using advanced digital imaging, we can detect issues such as fractured teeth, resorptive lesions, unerupted teeth, abscesses and early-stage periodontal disease. These conditions may not be visible on the surface but can contribute to chronic pain and long-term oral health problems. Early detection through routine dental radiography helps guide timely intervention, reducing the need for more invasive procedures and supporting better outcomes for your pet’s wellbeing.

Diagnostic ultrasonography

Diagnostic ultrasonography is an advanced, non‑invasive imaging technique used to provide detailed insight into your pet’s internal health, allowing us to assess soft tissues and internal organs with precision.

Ultrasound imaging plays a vital role in evaluating the abdomen, reproductive system, heart and other soft‑tissue structures that cannot be fully assessed through radiography alone. This technology allows us to visualise organs in real time, helping guide diagnoses related to illness, pain, internal masses, fluid accumulation and other acute and chronic diseases. As ultrasonography is gentle and non‑invasive, it is often used as a first‑line diagnostic tool to gather rapid and accurate information while keeping pets as comfortable as possible.

At Bellarine Veterinary Practice, our skilled operators use modern ultrasound equipment to support timely decision‑making and personalised treatment planning. Ultrasonography enables investigation of subtle symptoms, monitoring of existing conditions, and detailed internal assessments to deliver proactive veterinary care which leads to improved health outcomes.

Diagnostic endoscopy

Diagnostic endoscopy is a highly effective, minimally invasive technique used at Bellarine Veterinary Practice to investigate internal health concerns with precision. Using a slender, flexible camera, endoscopy allows our veterinarians to examine areas such as the oesophagus, stomach, intestines, airways and nasal passages without the need for large incisions or exploratory surgery. This advanced imaging method helps us diagnose a wide range of conditions, including gastrointestinal disease, chronic vomiting or diarrhoea, respiratory issues, inflammation, ulcers and the presence of foreign objects.

Endoscopy enables real‑time visual assessment of internal structures and allows for tissue biopsies or safe removal of ingested foreign bodies, often avoiding more invasive surgical procedures. Its minimally invasive nature means reduced pain, faster recovery and less stress for pets, making it an invaluable diagnostic tool in modern veterinary medicine.

Computed Tomography (CT)

Computed Tomography (CT) scanning is one of the most advanced diagnostic imaging tools available to veterinarians, offering exceptional detail and three‑dimensional insight into the anatomy of your pet. At Bellarine Veterinary Practice, we provide access to high‑quality CT imaging through our trusted partners at Geelong Animal Emergency. This collaboration ensures your pet benefits from fast, accurate diagnostic information using state‑of‑the‑art technology.

CT scanning allows our veterinary team to assess complex structures that cannot be fully evaluated through standard radiography or ultrasound. It is particularly valuable for diagnosing conditions involving the head, spine, chest, abdomen, joints and complicated orthopaedic concerns.

Using cross‑sectional imaging, CT provides exceptional clarity for identifying fractures, tumours, internal abnormalities and subtle changes that may otherwise go undetected. This powerful diagnostic tool supports precise treatment planning, early disease detection and better long‑term outcomes. With our partnership‑based access to CT scanning, pets across Geelong and the Bellarine region benefit from comprehensive, modern veterinary care.