Ultrasonography

Less Recovery Time, Happier Pets

An ultrasound exam is a safe, noninvasive, and painless procedure that uses high-frequency sound waves to produce a real-time image of your dog or cat’s internal organs. This allows our veterinarians to look inside your pet’s body without having to perform surgery.

Ultrasound equipment uses a narrow beam of high frequency sound waves to produce an image that is displayed on a monitor, giving us a 2 dimensional image of the area under examination. Anesthesia is usually not needed for most ultrasound examinations. Most pets will lie comfortably while the veterinarian performs the ultrasound examination. Occasionally, if a biopsy is needed or if the dog or cat is frightened or agitated, a sedative may be necessary.

We use an ultrasound exam as a diagnostics tool to provide a better view of the internal organs such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, and lymph nodes. Ultrasound does not require any form of sedation, and can quickly help us identify and locate tumors, cysts, stones, and inflammation.

Ultrasound exams are performed for many reasons. Some of the reasons we may suggest an ultrasound for your pet include: • Abnormal bloodwork • Vomiting or diarrhea that has lasted for a long time • Weight loss with no change in eating habits • Change in urinary habits • Pregnancy • Fluid in chest or abdomen Following the ultrasound examination, we will contact you to discuss your findings. You may notice that your pet has been clipped. The air on the abdomen (for abdominal ultrasound) or on the chest wall will be shaved prior to the ultrasound exam. This is necessary to prevent any obstruction of the ultrasound waves.