Why would my pet need an ultrasound?

A veterinary ultrasound is an invaluable resource for evaluating heart conditions. It can detect alterations in abdominal organs and assist in the recognition of any cysts and tumors that may be present. Many times, x-rays will be utilized in combination with an ultrasound as they reveal the size, dimension, and position of the organ. With the ability for real-time monitoring, ultrasounds are also utilized for pregnancy diagnosis and development monitoring.

When would my pet get an ultrasound test?

An ultrasound is excellent at evaluating your pet's internal organs. An ultrasound is usually recommended when our doctors find abnormalities on bloodwork or x-rays, or to monitor a disease process.

How does ultrasound testing work?

Ultrasound equipment directs a narrow beam of high frequency sound waves into the area of interest. The sound waves either transmit through, reflect, or absorb in the tissues that they encounter. Any ultrasound waves that are reflected will return as echoes and convert into an image that is displayed on the monitor, giving a 2-dimensional image of the tissues under examination. With the ability to obtain real time information, outcomes can often be determined immediately.

The exam is completely painless. Light sedation may used to help the patient lie comfortably while the scan is being performed. Your pet may need to be shaved in the area of interest, as veterinary ultrasound images are of better quality if they have complete contact with the skin.

Ultrasounds & Your Pet

Ultrasounds use high frequency soundwaves to produce real time images of the soft tissues of your pet’s body. Ultrasounds can also be used to monitor pregnancies, just like in humans. These images can be viewed on a computer screen or printed out. Unless your pet is very anxious, we won’t need to sedate them for an ultrasound. Unlike x-rays, ultrasounds do not use radiation to produce their images.

Ultrasounds can be used for:

• Examining lumps or masses

• Monitoring pregnancy

• Examining the heart and other organs

Soft tissues like your pet’s internal organs are the best subject for ultrasounds. If we believe your pet is experiencing an issue with their bones or muscles, we’ll order an x-ray.