Pet Ultrasound
Ultrasound Imaging at Your Family Vets
At Your Family Vets, we are dedicated to providing comprehensive and advanced diagnostic services to ensure the health and well-being of your beloved pets. Ultrasound imaging is a vital tool in our diagnostic arsenal, allowing us to visualize internal organs and structures in real-time without any invasive procedures.
What Is Ultrasound Imaging?
Ultrasound, also known as sonography, uses high-frequency sound waves to produce live images of your pet’s internal organs and tissues. This safe and painless diagnostic method helps us assess the function and structure of organs without the need for surgery or exposure to radiation.
Benefits of Ultrasound for Your Pet
- Non-Invasive and Painless: Ultrasound does not require incisions or anesthesia in most cases, reducing stress and recovery time.
- Real-Time Imaging: Provides immediate visuals, allowing for prompt diagnosis and treatment planning.
- Versatile Diagnostic Tool: Useful for examining a variety of conditions affecting the abdomen, heart, and other soft tissues.
- Guided Procedures: Assists in performing minimally invasive biopsies and fluid aspirations with precision.
- Abdominal Issues: Investigating causes of vomiting, diarrhea, weight loss, or abdominal pain.
- Organ Evaluation: Assessing the liver, kidneys, spleen, pancreas, bladder, and intestines for abnormalities.
- Cardiac Assessments: Evaluating heart structure and function in pets with suspected heart disease (echocardiography).
- Pregnancy Monitoring: Confirming pregnancy and monitoring fetal development.
- Mass Identification: Differentiating between cysts, tumors, and other masses.
- Fluid Detection: Identifying the presence of free fluid within body cavities.
- Preparation: In most cases, minimal preparation is needed. Fasting for a few hours may be recommended for abdominal ultrasounds to reduce gas interference.
- Procedure: Your pet will be comfortably positioned on a padded table. A small area of fur may be shaved to allow better contact with the ultrasound probe.
- Image Acquisition: Our veterinarian will gently move the probe over the area of interest, capturing images and videos in real-time.
- Analysis: The images are analyzed immediately, and findings are discussed with you promptly.
- Follow-Up: If further testing or treatment is needed, we’ll guide you through the next steps.
- Expertise: Our veterinarians are skilled in both performing ultrasounds and interpreting the results accurately.
- Advanced Equipment: We utilize state-of-the-art ultrasound machines to provide the clearest images possible.
- Compassionate Care: We prioritize your pet’s comfort throughout the procedure, handling them with gentleness and care.
- Comprehensive Diagnostics: Ultrasound services are integrated with our other diagnostic tools, such as laboratory testing and digital radiography, for a complete health assessment.
- Will my pet need sedation?
- Sedation is rarely required, but in some cases, if a pet is anxious or uncomfortable, mild sedation may be used to ensure accurate imaging.
- How long does an ultrasound take?
- The procedure typically takes between 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the area being examined.
- Is ultrasound safe for my pet?
- Yes, ultrasound is a safe diagnostic tool with no known side effects, as it uses sound waves instead of radiation.