Will my dog have to have an anesthetic?
Anesthesia is not usually needed for most ultrasound examinations, unless biopsies are to be taken. The technique is totally painless and most dogs will lie comfortably while the scan is being performed. Occasionally, if the dog is very frightened or fractious, a sedative may be necessary.
What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound examination, also known as ultrasonography, is a non-invasive imaging technique that allows internal body structures to be seen by recording echoes or reflections of ultrasonic waves. Unlike x-rays, which are potentially dangerous, ultrasound waves are considered to be safe.
Ultrasound equipment directs a narrow beam of high frequency sound waves into the area of interest. The sound waves may be transmitted through, reflected or absorbed by the tissues that they encounter.
The ultrasound waves that are reflected will return as “echoes” to the probe, and are converted into an that is displayed on the monitor, giving a 2-dimensional “picture” of the tissues under examination.
The technique is invaluable for the examination of internal organs and was first used in veterinary medicine for pregnancy diagnosis. However, the technique is also extremely useful in evaluating heart conditions and identifying changes in abdominal organs. Ultrasonography is very useful in the diagnosis of cysts and tumors.
Our Country Valley Veterinary Clinic team was excited to add this important diagnostic tool to our practice in 2017, and we have since helped countless pets with this advanced medical care. Our veterinarians may recommend an ultrasound exam for many reasons, including the following, which are three of the most common:
Our Country Valley Veterinary Clinic team is proud to offer this important diagnostic tool to help ensure your pet receives the most advanced quality medical care. Call our office if you have any questions about the benefits of an ultrasound exam for your pet, or to schedule an appointment.
Our furry pals are family, and fill our lives with lots of love, wagging tails, and couch cuddles. Caring for your pet requires regular veterinary care to ensure they thrive and remain healthy throughout all life stages. Fortunately, veterinary medicine advances have provided tools and medications that allow our pets to live longer, healthier lives, and have extended the time pets remain by our side. One of these advances is ultrasound, a safe, non-invasive imaging technique and a diagnostic tool your veterinarian uses to examine your pet’s organs and structures pain-free. Similar to a video, an ultrasound machine records echoes or sound reflections of high frequency sound waves to create a live on a computer screen. Unlike an X-ray, an ultrasound provides a two-dimensional, more detailed view of your pet’s internal organs, ligaments, and tendons, and their eyes. An ultrasound exam does have some limitations—because ultrasound waves cannot pass through air or bone, this technique cannot be used to examine healthy lungs, brain, spinal cord, or other bone structures—but an ultrasound examination on your pet still has numerous benefits, including:
Day 29 Ultrasound, Is She Pregnant?
So youve just discovered that your cat or dog requires an ultrasound procedure. What exactly does that even mean? And how can it help your pet? Here, our South Wilton vets describe how we perform ultrasound procedures on pets, how to prepare your pet for the procedure and what kinds of conditions can be detected with this testing.
Our pets can develop all sorts of illnesses and conditions like tumors or cysts and get into things they shouldnt that may get lodged inside them. Ultrasounds are a kind of diagnostic imaging technology that transmits sound waves into your pets body to produce a picture in real-time of an area of their body.
Veterinary ultrasounds are non-invasive and can be used to diagnose or evaluate problems with your pets internal organs or check on your pets pregnancy.