In certain circumstances veterinary ultrasound imaging may be required to help in the diagnosis of various conditions of the kidney. This could be due to specific anomalies that were been detected in previous examinations (such as blood tests) or in the detection of polycystic kidney disease that is prevalent in Persian cats. Veterinary ultrasound can also be used in the detection of so-called artefacts… however, clear your thoughts of trips to the museum, as the artefacts I am talking about are those that can lurk within the body. As an example, kidney stones are one kind of artefact that can be picked up thanks to ultrasonography, with both humans and animals falling prey to this often painful condition. This article therefore focuses on the dual role ultrasound imaging plays in association with kidney stones.

To begin, what are kidney stones? As their name suggests, kidney stones are solid masses that can be said to adopt the appearance of a small stone. Kidney stones are formed when mineral salts that originate in the urine clump together to form a solid mass. It may surprise you to know that kidney stones can be formed on a regular basis and simply leave the body in urine, causing the individual no symptoms that are typically associated with this condition. However, if kidney stones are formed that are large in size they are not able to leave in urine and therefore can block the ureter – the tube that connects the kidney to the bladder and through which urine flows. It is this blockage that can be responsible for the pain an individual may feel when suffering from kidney stones.

So what role does ultrasound imaging play in this condition? Ultrasonography can play two distinct yet closely related roles in kidney stone removal using a process called extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL), which acts to break the stone down into smaller components that will eventually be passed out the body in urine. Initially, ultrasound can act as a ‘camera’, allowing the practitioner to determine the position of the kidney stone. This is vitally important to ensure that the shockwaves that act to break the kidney stone down into smaller components are directed towards the correct place. Then, ultrasound can act as a ‘real-time camera’, allowing the practitioner to see whether the treatment is working (Karlin G, et al. 1990 p579-81).

Utilising veterinary ultrasound as a treatment for kidney stone conditions bypasses the need for invasive surgery that can be stressful and traumatic for the animal in question. Moreover, the recovery time required following ultrasound is significantly less than that following surgery. As always, it is important that the right technology is chosen to ensure efficient and effective kidney stone removal. With such a vast range of veterinary ultrasound machines available, it is easy to get confused with which machine is right for you. For more information on this or any other ultrasound queries please do not hesitate to contact us.