Why Pets Sometimes Need Sedation for X-Rays or Ultrasound

If your dog or cat needs a diagnostic imaging procedure such as X-rays or ultrasound, your veterinarian may recommend sedation. While this may not always be strictly necessary, it often helps to ensure that the examination can be performed safely, accurately, and with as little stress as possible for your pet (Grimm et al., 1999).

In anxious or painful patients, sedation can help ensure a thorough and low-stress examination, particularly for cardiac or abdominal ultrasound studies (Grimm et al., 1999).

‍Why Sedation Is Used

Imaging examinations produce the best results when the animal remains still. Even small movements can blur the images and reduce their diagnostic value. Sedation may be recommended if your pet:

• Is anxious or stressed at the veterinary clinic
• Has pain that makes correct positioning difficult
• Is very young, very active, or difficult to restrain
• Requires particularly precise positioning (e.g., for hip or spinal radiographs, examination of small structures in ultrasound, etc.)

Studies show that appropriate sedation improves image quality and reduces the need for repeat examinations (Kocaturk et al., 2023).

Sedation vs. Anesthesia

Sedation is Not the same as general anesthesia.

• Sedation: Your pet is calm and sleepy, remains partially aware of its surroundings, and breathes independently.
• Anesthesia: Your pet is fully unconscious and closely monitored.

For most X-ray and ultrasound examinations, Light to moderate sedation is sufficient (Grimm et al., 1999).

Is Sedation Safe?

For healthy animals, sedation is considered very safe. The medications used are selected individually and adjusted to your pet's age, weight, health status, and temperament (ACVAA, 2025).

Studies in dogs show that commonly used sedation protocols cause only mild and temporary changes in heart rate and breathing when appropriate monitoring is provided (De Monte et al., 2023; Kocaturk et al., 2023).

Benefits for Pets and People

Sedation:

• Reduces Fear and Stress for the Pet
• Facilitates comfortable and pain-free positioning
• Improves diagnostic image quality
• reduces radiation exposure to veterinary staff during X-ray procedures

Most animals recover quickly and can return home the same day (ACVAA, 2025).

Summary

Sedation is sometimes recommended to provide your pet with comfort, calmness, and safety during diagnostic imaging procedures. Scientific studies show that sedation improves image quality and is very safe when used appropriately (Grimm et al., 1999; Kocaturk et al., 2023). When sedation is suggested, it is done in the best interest of your pet and to ensure the most accurate diagnosis possible.

References

• Grimm K.A., Tranquilli W.J., Lamont L.A. Sedation and chemical restraint in dogs and cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1999.
• Kocaturk M et al. Comparison of xylazine—fentanyl and dexmedetomidine—fentanyl for sedation during radiography in dogs. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2023.
• De Monte V et al. Effects of intramuscular alfaxalone and butorphanol sedation on cardiorespiratory variables and imaging parameters in dogs. Animals (MDPI), 2023.
• American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA). Small Animal Anesthesia and Sedation Monitoring Guidelines, 2025.