About Veterinary X-rays Specialists

Specialists in veterinary imaging since 1960

About Veterinary X-ray Specialists


  • Veterinary X-rays was founded by radiographer Pat Dorrell in 1960
  • The first x-ray company in the UK to focus exclusively on the veterinary profession
  • Our original aim of providing the profession with the very best x-ray products backed up by the very best service and support is still true today

Veterinary X-ray Specialists Workshop

  • Factory trained support and service team
  • Service and support packages
  • Telephone and remote support
  • Specialist in-house workshops with direct manufacturer support
  • Loan x-ray system availability ensuring minimal system downtime
  • Comprehensive stock of spare parts
  • In practice servicing with our mobile service engineers

Our History

Veterinary X-rays since 1960

1960

The very beginning

Pat Dorrell, a radiographer who worked for Watson and Sons, the x-ray division of GEC Medical (today Philips Medical Systems) recognised a growing trend for vets to have an in-house x-ray facility. He suggested the idea to senior management to create a division of the company to focus on the upcoming market, but tit was considered it far too small a market for such a large international company to be concerned with. 

Seizing the opportunity, he went ahead and formed Veterinary X-rays in 1960, becoming the very first company in the UK to provide specifically for this growing new market sector.

1977

Mikasa X-ray

Veterinary X-rays started exclusively working with Mikasa X-ray of Tokyo in 1977. 

Mikasa x-ray generators were both technically cutting edge and veterinary specific, changing the landscape completely
Products such as the Mighty Atom and Atom 90 x-ray generators became the gold standard for both equine and small animal practices throughout the UK

1985

Born to x-ray

Pat's son Steve joined his father in the company, launching  Fuji x-ray film and chemistry to the profession offering a complete turn key x-ray package to customers.


1997

Everything X-ray

Veterinary X-rays were delighted to purchase one of their most significant long time suppliers, Everything X-ray Ltd, the number one name in medical x-ray accessories since 1910.


2002

New premises

Bursting at the seams, a move to new premises was inevitable. The purchase and move to our new facility in High Wycombe was completed by the end of 2002, giving us much greater warehouse, workshop and office space, as well as easy motorway access.


2003

The digital age

With the profession always quick to adopt new technology, the change to digital imaging was underway. A cooperation with a European digital imaging specialist engineer led to our appointment as the sole supplier of class leading SoundEklin DR systems for the UK and Ireland

2010

Leafy Princes Risborough

In March 2010, with space rapidly running out, a relocation to larger premises in rural Princes Risborough was made. 

In July 2010 Champion Imaging, our long time supplier of x-ray chemistry became with Veterinary X-rays and Everything X-ray the third division of the newly formed VXR Imaging Ltd

2011

Pat Dorrell

In May 2011, Pat Dorrell, the founder of Veterinary X-rays, died at the age of 93. 

His ethos and integrity live on.

2026

Mikasa, Sedecal and Sound

Today we still have our x-ray generators provided by our superb long term partners Mikasa X-ray in Japan and Sedecal in Spain. Our Canon powered DR systems are provided by Sound in California, and our small animal DR systems by Vieworks in Korea
With x-ray equipment installed at thousands of veterinary locations, our simple stated aim since 1960 has been to provide the profession with very best x-ray products backed up by the very best service and support 
The same still holds true today.