Foot X-rays – Part 2: Why we take more than one view

So now we know why foot X-rays can be so helpful… but here’s the next important bit:

Any time we take a picture of a 3D object, we end up with a 2D image.

That means one X-ray view can hide things, distort things, or simply miss the problem entirely.

That’s why when we X-ray feet, it’s really important we take at least 2 views (and preferably 3) so we can build an all-round picture of what’s happening inside the hoof.

The most common views we take are:

Lateral (side view)

Great for assessing hoof-pastern alignment, sole depth, the position of the pedal bone, and overall “balance” from the side.

DP/AP (front view)

Helps us look for medial/lateral imbalance (inside vs outside), joint symmetry, and how the foot is loading.

Top / skyline view (depending on what we’re investigating)

Useful for certain “hard to see” areas and gives us another angle when we’re chasing specific pathology.

Each view shows us different information — and they work best as a set.

Best not to skip a step!

Because the view you skip is usually the one that was going to show you the answer

This blog post was provided by Dr Lauren Jones of Kentaro Veterinary Services servicing the Coffs Harbour District in NSW