Hips – ventrodorsal canine X-ray positioning guide

Hips – ventrodorsal canine X-ray positioning guide

Positioning

• Dorsal recumbency
• Dog ideally in a trough
• Fully extend the hind legs and adduct, so the femurs lie parallel to each other and parallel to the film/cassette
• The legs should be rotated inwards, patellae central - over the trochlea groves
• Align the tail straight between the thighs
• Centre in the midline, over the level of the cranial edge of the pubis, directly between the femoral heads
• Use ties and tape to retain this position
• Ensure left or right marker is visible.

What to look for

• Both patellae should be central to the trochlea groves, and the iliac crests and hips should appear symmetrical.

Top tips

• If the pelvis appears to be rotated this can be corrected by lifting the hip on the side which appears to have a smaller obturator foramen.