Radiograph guidance

Submitting DICOM images

When making your submission, you can upload your radiographs directly to this online portal. All radiographs must be in a DICOM (.dcm) format - all other image types including JPEG, TIFF, EPS and GIF will not upload.

DICOM files are typically large and how much time it will take to upload to this portal will depend on a number of factors including your internal practice network and internet connection. We suggest you shouldn't try to upload multiple submissions across lots of browser windows at the same time as this will cause your uploads to slow down. 

Radiograph machines typically save radiographs with long numerical file names. This makes it tricky to identify them when you try to upload them to the portal. To make this easier we suggest saving the dog name as part of the file name. For example: “Millie Gillon-Left Elbow-Ext-1.DICOM”. It is important that each file is saved under a unique name because files with an identical name cannot be uploaded.

Marking your radiographs correctly

Radiographs which are not correctly identified will be returned to the submitting veterinary surgeon and an appropriately identified radiograph requested. When submitting your DICOM images you must ensure the following information is included:

  • The Kennel Club (KC) Registration Number (from the top right hand corner of the KC Registration Certificate) for dogs registered with the KC. No other form of identification for KC registered dogs is acceptable
  • For dogs not registered with the KC, identification as used by the veterinary practice, other registering body or breed club may be used
  • Microchip or tattoo number
  • The date of radiography
  • Left and/or right marker(s)

Radiograph quality

Some points to consider:

  • Correct exposure is essential to provide a radiograph of good diagnostic quality
  • When radiographing a large or fat dog it is usually necessary to use a grid to minimise the effects of scattered radiation on the image
  • The image should show good radiographic definition and contrast, and the dorsal acetabular edges (DAE) should be visible superimposed by the femoral heads
  • The radiograph should be checked for correct positioning, exposure and image quality while the dog is still restrained in case a further radiograph needs to be taken