The Gold Standard in Veterinary Imaging Diagnostic Evaluation
Kidney stones may obstruct urine flow and irritate renal tissue, leading to hematuria, pain, and sometimes infection. Imaging aims to identify calculus location and degree of obstruction, plus rule out bladder/ureteral involvement. CT is best for detecting radiolucent stones and mapping anatomy for management. Radiographs can detect radiopaque stones but may miss others.Ultrasound can show hydronephrosis and shadowing stones, though sensitivity varies. MRI is uncommon for stone detection, and nuclear studies are adjunctive for renal function.