Conditions for which an ultrasound may be required
------Heart Problems
If your cat or dog has a heart condition, your primary care veterinarian may refer you to our specialists for a heart ultrasound or echocardiogram to assess the overall health of your animal's heart and look for anomalies.
------Results of abnormal blood or urine tests
If your dog or cat's blood or urine tests show abnormalities, your primary care veterinarian may recommend an abdominal ultrasound to get a clear picture of the health of your pet's internal organs such as the lymph nodes, spleen, kidneys, liver, urinary bladder, or other areas to learn why the abnormalities are occurring.
------Soft Tissue Examining
Ultrasound technology can be used to evaluate practically any soft tissue in your pet's body, including:
------Ligaments
Eyes
Fetal viability and development
Tendons
Thyroid glands
If your veterinarian or veterinary expert identifies abnormal tissue during an ultrasound, they may also utilize the ultrasound to take tissue samples from the affected area.
------Tissue Collection Assisted by Ultrasound
The following procedures are commonly used to gather samples:
------Biopsies with a true-cut
Fine needle aspiration using ultrasound guidance
If your veterinarian is going to use ultrasonography to gather tissue, your pet may be sedated to help keep them motionless. Ultrasounds allow us to perform biopsies in a less invasive manner than surgery.
How to Get Your Pet Ready for an Ultrasound
Ultrasounds on different parts of your pet's body necessitate different preparations. Speak with your veterinarian about how to prepare your pet for an ultrasound.
For abdominal ultrasounds, you may be asked to refrain from eating or drinking for 8 to 12 hours. When the urinary bladder is full of pee, we can inspect it more thoroughly. This is why, if feasible, your cat or dog should not urinate for 3 to 6 hours before the ultrasound.
The area to be examined will most likely be shaved in order to provide clean images. While the majority of pets will remain motionless and cooperative during the ultrasound, some need require sedation.
If we find an abnormal area of an organ, we may do an ultrasound-guided biopsy to collect a sample of the afflicted tissue. This biopsy allows us to obtain a tissue sample, which can then be examined under a microscope to disclose additional information. This will almost always result in a diagnosis.
If biopsies are required, your pet will require a powerful sedative or a short-acting anesthetic to help them rest and avoid potential issues that could delay success. If this is necessary, your veterinarian will inform you.
Obtaining Your Pet's Ultrasound Results
Because our veterinary doctors can see the ultrasound images in real time, we can frequently spot abnormalities right away. However, in some situations, ultrasound images are transmitted to a veterinary radiologist for review after they are taken. You may have to wait a few days for the final result in these circumstances.
