Search

Tests compared

CT, ultrasound and endoscopy: why might different tests be needed?

A plain-language comparison of three common investigations, and why your vet might suggest more than one.

Test explained

CT scan

Combines many X-ray images into detailed cross-sections and 3D views of the body.

Symptom guide

My dog keeps sneezing: what might my vet investigate?

Why dogs sneeze, when to contact your vet, and which tests might be considered if sneezing doesn't settle.

Procedure explained

Rhinoscopy explained: looking inside the nose

What happens during a camera examination of the nose, what it can and can't show, and what to expect on the day.

For vets

Rhinoscopy — professional overview

Anterior and posterior examination of the nasal cavity and nasopharynx, typically combined with CT under the same anaesthetic.

Test explained

Ultrasound

Uses sound waves to look at soft organs in real time, particularly in the abdomen and heart.

Test explained

Rhinoscopy

A small camera is used to look inside the nasal passages, take samples and sometimes remove foreign objects.

Test explained

X-rays (radiography)

A widely available way to look at bones, the chest and some abdominal problems.

Procedure explained

Endoscopy explained: what can a camera examination tell us?

How a camera examination of the gut works, what it can reveal, and the questions it can't answer on its own.

Condition guide

Bladder stones: understanding investigation and treatment options

Signs of bladder stones, how vets investigate them, and the range of treatment options — from diet to surgery.

Test explained

Endoscopy

A camera on a flexible tube is used to look at the inside of the gut or airways, and to take samples.

Test explained

Cystoscopy

A thin camera is passed along the urethra to look inside the bladder and, in some cases, remove small stones.

Test explained

Laparoscopy

A camera is passed through a small incision to look inside the abdomen and, in some cases, take samples or perform surgery.