Pet ultrasounds are used to help vets diagnose health conditions affecting your pet’s internal organs. They are an effective and non-invasive way for a veterinarian to see the pet’s heart, liver, kidneys and bladder (amongst other things) so that they can determine whether they are functioning correctly. Ultrasounds can often pick up problems before they become too serious, which means that potentially life-threatening conditions can be avoided with medication and/or surgery.

An ultrasound scan can also guide vets in deciding what other tests to order if the cause of your pet’s symptoms is not clear. For example, if your cat is sick, but the purpose of the sickness is not apparent, then the vet may order an ultrasound to help make a diagnosis or help decide what other tests and bloodwork need to be done. If the ultrasound shows an abnormality, it can also guide the vet as they take a sample for further testing.

How does it work?

An ultrasound sends out sound waves (through a probe) which are reflected into the ultrasound machine and are computed into a visual form, which can then be interpreted by the healthcare provider. You do not need to worry about your pet being in any pain, as an ultrasound is a very safe and painless procedure for dogs and cats.

An ultrasound scan usual does not take more than an hour to perform, but in most cases, the dog or cat stays at the vet’s office for either half a day or a full day. This is often necessary to ensure that your pet has time to relax and acclimatise to their surroundings before being prepared for the scan and then having the scan itself.

Many pets will be able to have an ultrasound without requiring any medication, but some dogs and cats will be given a mild sedative to aid them in relaxing. The ultrasound probe is placed on to the skin of your pet, where the fur will have been shaved or trimmed to help the sound waves pass more easily.

The results of an ultrasound can often be interpreted immediately, e.g. if the purpose of the ultrasound was to discover a pregnancy. Still, results usually take longer if samples need to be analysed at a laboratory.

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