Veterinary Emergency Care Australia
Imaging for Pets: X-ray, Ultrasound and CT in Sydney
Digital X-ray, ultrasound and CT under one roof, any hour of the day.
Imaging for pets is how we see the things the examination cannot. A swallowed sock, the mass on the spleen, the hairline fracture, the fluid around the heart. VECA runs digital X-ray and ultrasound around the clock at both hospitals, and a CT scanner at Campbelltown. Results are read on site, so decisions get made during your visit.
Digital X-ray and ultrasound 24/7 at Campbelltown and Rouse Hill
On-site CT scanner at Campbelltown, with scans reviewed by board-certified radiologists
Sedation and anaesthesia monitored by a dedicated nurse for every scan
Written estimate before any imaging goes ahead
Walk-in for emergencies. Outpatient CT, ultrasound and echocardiogram referrals for GP vets
What imaging does VECA offer?
Our three modalities include digital radiography (X-ray), ultrasound and computed tomography (CT). Between them, they cover almost everything a dog or cat needs, from a suspected broken leg to staging a tumour. We do not offer MRI. If your pet needs one, we will say so and refer you rather than run a scan that will not answer the question.
Digital X-rays
Available at both hospitals. Best for bones, joints, the chest and anything dense enough to show up, including many swallowed objects. Most x-rays take minutes, often with light sedation so your pet holds still and the image is clean the first time.
Ultrasounds
Real-time pictures of soft tissue like the liver, kidneys, bladder, spleen, gut wall, heart and any free fluid. No radiation, and most pets tolerate it awake or with mild sedation. It is our first choice for vomiting, abdominal pain and unexplained bloods, and for guiding a needle to exactly the right spot.
CT scan for dogs and cats
The Campbelltown scanner builds a 3D picture in slices, which is what you need for the nose, skull, spine, lungs, complex fractures and cancer staging. Pets are sedated or under general anaesthesia so they stay perfectly still. Where the case calls for it, the study goes to board-certified veterinary radiologists for a formal report.
How does pet imaging work at VECA?
Step 1: Assessment and estimate
A vet examines your pet, explains which scan will actually answer the question, and gives you a written estimate. In an emergency, this happens at triage. For planned imaging, Call Us Now on (02) 9129 5888.
Step 2: Preparation
If sedation or anaesthesia is planned, your pet will usually need to be fasted, and we tell you how long when you book. Bring any previous x-rays or reports.
Step 3: The scan
X-rays and ultrasound take minutes. CT takes longer because of the anaesthetic, so plan for a day admission at Campbelltown. A nurse monitors heart rate, breathing and oxygen throughout, and your pet recovers in the ward before going home.
Step 4: Results and next steps
Our vets read X-rays and ultrasound on the spot. Formal CT reports from the radiologist take longer. Either way, you get the findings in plain language, and a copy goes to your regular vet.
Which hospital should I go to for veterinary imaging?
Campbelltown, at 5/10 Blaxland Rd
Has all three modalities and is the only site with CT. It serves Campbelltown, Bradbury, Glen Alpine, Ambarvale, Ingleburn, Minto, Leumeah, Rosemeadow, St Helens Park and the wider Macarthur region.
Open 24/7 with free on-site parking
Norwest, at 7/2 Capital Pl, Rouse Hill
Has digital X-ray and ultrasound with an in-house laboratory, and covers Rouse Hill, Bella Vista, Kellyville, Castle Hill and Baulkham Hills. If a Norwest emergency needs a CT, our team arranges it at Campbelltown or through our referral network.
Open 24/7 with free on-site parking
Why choose VECA for imaging for pets?
Most standalone imaging services run business hours and hand you a disc. At VECA, the scanner sits inside a 24-hour emergency hospital with surgery, internal medicine and cardiology in the same building. A dog X-rayed at 11 pm with a foreign body goes to theatre at 11.30 pm. A cat whose ultrasound shows a mass can have the sample taken then and there.
For GP vets, we take outpatient CT, ultrasound and echocardiogram referrals so your client stays your client. You get the images and report back, and we only take over the case if you ask.
How much does pet imaging cost?
It depends on the modality, how many areas are scanned and whether sedation or anaesthesia is needed. Digital X-rays start at, abdominal ultrasound at, and a CT with anaesthesia and radiologist report at. Emergency patients pay the standard $199 emergency consultation first, with no after-hours or public holiday surcharge, and imaging is quoted on top.
Nothing is scanned without your say-so on the estimate. We accept EFTPOS, Visa, Mastercard, AMEX, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay, Afterpay, Zip Pay, VetPay and GapOnly, and can lodge insurance pre-approvals for planned CT.