So your veterinarian ordered an ultrasound for your pet?
Here are a few details on what you can expect
What is Ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a noninvasive procedure that allows veterinarians to see into your pet’s body to help diagnose or rule out disease. Ultrasound is a great way to see small details in tissues, including blood flow and perfusion, and allows for evaluation of organs and tissues in real-time, without radiation.
Why not an x-ray?
X-rays are good for seeing sizes, locations, and shapes of organs, but they are not good for seeing the actual architecture and minute details of the tissues. Unlike ultrasound, x-rays only capture one moment in time, similar to taking a photo with your camera. Sometimes, your veterinarian will recommend both x-ray and ultrasound to aid in their diagnosis.
What to Expect
Exam
An ultrasound exam typically takes anywhere from 20-40 minutes. We may have to shave your animal in order to get better images, especially if they are very furry!
Animal Temperament
Depending on your pet’s temperament and anxiety levels, different doses of sedation may also be used to make them more comfortable during their exam. That will be determined by your veterinarian.
Safety
A veterinarian will always be present during your exam to ensure the safety of your pet. During the exam, we will use ultrasound gel and an ultrasound transducer to obtain our images, similar to a human pregnancy scan.
Results
Once all the images are obtained, we will clean off the gel and allow your pet to recover from the sedation if it was used. All the images will go to our board certified specialists, and they will write up a report for your veterinarian within 24 hours of the exam being completed. Your veterinarian will then go over the results and their treatment plan with you.