A method and apparatus for imaging a subject animal. The method comprises the steps of treating the animal with an x-ray contrast agent and an imaging agent supporting the animal in an immobilized state on a support member acquiring an x-ray anatomical image of the animal acquiring an optical, dark-field image of the animal and registering the x-ray anatomical image and the optical image, whereby features of the optical image can be observed in relation to features of the anatomical image.
