The use of ultrasound imaging is more often than not synonymous with the identification of pregnancy in both humans and animals. I have written several articles that discuss the use of ultrasound during pregnancy, and it would be fair to say that ultrasound imaging plays a very important role during gestation. However, the Vet Image Solutions website has also published a number of articles that look at slightly less well-known uses for ultrasound, including:, ocular scanning, assessing meat quality in farm animals, visualising tendon or ligament damage and in the sexing of Gila lizards. However, it appears that the benefits of ultrasound do not stop here, as evidenced by the introduction of a new ultrasound-related journal.

The Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound publishes articles that look at how ultrasound can be used in a manner distinct from those listed above. As the name suggests, rather than being used to produce an ultrasonographic image, therapeutic ultrasound is used as a treatment for the patient in question. Following on, it may be useful to think of ultrasound as ‘ultrasonography’ as opposed to ‘ultrasound imaging’, which could be considered inaccurate in this respect. This could be by helping in the delivery of drugs to a particular area in the body or in the breaking down of masses such as kidney stones. Although using ultrasound for such purposes may not come as a surprise to regular visitors to the Vet Image Solutions website, the publications of journals solely dedicated to this field helps to highlight how ultrasound can help in health and disease.

It is important to remember that although many of these uses for ultrasound have been described in humans, it is highly likely that similar uses for ultrasonography will be reported for the veterinary species. Veterinary ultrasound is a vastly expanding area of veterinary research, and we here at Vet Image Solutions can help you to realise the true advantages that come along with using ultrasonography whether you are a veterinarian, breeder or farmer. If you would like to arrange a consultation or demonstration of a particular product that we stock, please do contact us – we are only too happy to help! And why not get in touch/send us your ultrasound images and tell us what you use ultrasound for – we would love to hear from you!