1. Small Animal Pelvis and Hind Limb
Radiology

2. Pelvis
Lateral view
Patient is in lateral recumbency with side of interest closest to cassette.
Femurs should be kept parallel to cassette.
Leg closest to cassette should be pulled slightly cranial and leg on top should be pulled slightly caudal.
View should include entire pelvis and portion of lumbar spine and femurs.
Pelvis should be centered on cassette.

3. Normal Pelvis Lateral View

4. Dye view

5. Pelvis Ventrodorsal view Frog Leg projection
Suitable when pelvic trauma is suspected.
Minimal stress and tension are placed on the pelvis and hip joints in this projection.
Patient is in dorsal recumbency and pelvic limbs can assume a normal, flexed position.
Limbs should be positioned identically.

6. Frog Leg projection

7. Pelvis Ventrodorsal View Extended Projection
Standard for evaluating hip joints for hip dysplasia.
Symmetry and precision is vital for this view.
Sedation is generally required (OFA certification).
Patient is in dorsal recumbency.
Tarsal joints are grasped firmly and rotated in to one another.

8. Positioning continued
1. Femurs are parallel to each other
2. Both patellae are centered between the femoral condyles.
3. Pelvis is without rotation; the obturator foramens, hip joints, hemipelvises, and sacroiliac joints appear as a mirror image.
4. The tail is secured with tape (if necessary) between the femurs.
5. Field of view includes pelvis, femurs, and stifle joints.

9. Positioning for extended view

11. Distracted or PennHIP method
Refers to a specific diagnostic technique of hip laxity information.
More reliable indication of hip laxity than extended view.
Stress radiographic procedure with 3 views (compression, standard extended, and distraction view).
To perform this method, veterinarian or technician must be certified.

12. Compressed view

13. Distracted Positioning View

16. Femur
Lateral view
Patient is in lateral recumbency with affected limb closest to cassette.
Opposite limb is abducted and rotated out of line of the x-ray beam.
Should include hip joint, femur, and stifle joint.

17. Femur

18. Femur Craniocaudal View
Patient is in dorsal recumbency with limb of interest extended caudally.
Proper alignment has patella between two femoral condyles.
View should include hip joint, femur, and stifle joint.

20. Stifle Joint Caudocranial View
Positioned in sternal recumbency with affected limb pulled into position of maximum extension.
Opposite limb may be elevated to help control the lateral rotation of the stifle joint under examination.
May also do craniocaudal view.

23. Stifle
Lateral View
Patient is placed in lateral recumbency with affected joint placed and centered on the cassette.
Stifle joint should be in a natural, slightly flexed position.

24. Stifle

25. Stifle Joint Skyline Projection of Patella (Sunrise View)
Demonstrates changes that can occur to patella and femoral trochlear groove.
Patient is in lateral recumbency with the opposite limb down on the table.
Affected limb should be in a fully flexed position.
Cassette is placed behind stifle joint, vertically, and a horizontal x-ray beam is centered to the patella.

27. Tibia and Fibula Lateral View
Patient is in lateral recumbency with affected limb on the cassette.
Stifle should be slightly flexed and maintained in true lateral position.
Opposite limb pulled cranially or caudally out of x-ray beam.
View should include stifle joint, tibia and fibula, and tarsal joint.

29. Tibia and Fibula Caudocranial View
Patient is in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended caudally.
Tibia and fibula are centered on the cassette.
Should be in true caudocranial position so that the patella is placed between the two femoral condyles.
View should contain stifle joint, tibia and fibula and tarsal joints.

30. Tarsus Lateral View Patient is in lateral recumbency
Tarsus is in a natural, slightly flexed position and centered on the cassette.
Tarsus must remain in true lateral postion
Opposite leg should be pulled cranially out of x-ray beam.

32. Tarsus Plantardorsal View
Placed in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended as for the caudocranial view of tibia and fibula.
Tarsus is centered on cassette.

33. Tarsus Dorsoplantar View
Placed in sternal recumbency with affected limb extended cranially alongside the body.

34. Metatarsus-Phalanges
Lateral View
Patient in lateral recumbency with the affected metatarsus centered on the cassette.
Opposite limb is pulled caudally or cranially out of view of x-ray beam.
Joint is positioned in a natural flexed position.
View should include tarsal joint, metatarsal and phalanges

35. Metatarsus-Phalanges
Dorsoplantar and Plantardorsal Views
Positioned similarly to those of tarsus.