Ultrasound

Our office now offers state of the art ultrasonography. This is just another tool that can be very useful in diagnosing many different conditions in your pet. Abdominal ultrasound explores the entire abdomen including the bladder, kidneys, spleen and liver. Your pet can be cradled in your arms as we perform this painless procedure. Echocardiograms are an ultrasound of the heart and help us access the size and efficiency of the heart. An ultrasound to demonstrate a viable pregnancy can be done as early as 28 days.

What Is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound (also called a sonogram) is a non-invasive procedure used to evaluate the internal organs. Ultrasound examinations can be used to examine the abdominal organs, heart, eyes and reproductive organs. For many abdominal disorders, both ultrasound and X-rays are recommended for optimal evaluation with the smallest amount of invasion. The X-ray shows the size, shape and position of the abdominal contents, and the ultrasound allows us to see inside the organs.

An abdominal ultrasound is indicated to evaluate pets with abdominal issues such as vomiting, diarrhea, straining to urinate or urinating blood. This test can also be helpful in cases of reproductive abnormalities, unexplained fever, loss of appetite or pain. An abdominal ultrasound is often done if an X-ray, blood tests, or physical examination indicate a problem with an abdominal organ such as the liver, spleen, or pancreas.

What Does an Abdominal Ultrasound Reveal?

Abdominal ultrasound helps in the evaluation of abdominal organs including the liver, spleen, stomach, intestines, kidneys, bladder, uterus and prostate gland. This test can be extremely useful for detecting changes in the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of organs. The exam also can identify most abdominal masses or tumors, abdominal fluid, and abnormal lymph nodes. Frequently abnormal tissue or fluid is sampled with a needle or biopsy instrument using the guidance of the ultrasound exam.

Ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic test and is noninvasive and painless. However, as with all tests it is neither 100 percent sensitive or specific. In some cases, additional diagnostic procedures such as endoscopy (scoping), contrast X-ray with barium or intravenous contrast (dye) study will be needed to diagnose an intra-abdominal problem. The last resort in most cases of unexplained abdominal disease is an exploratory surgery.

How Is an Abdominal Ultrasound Done?

Specialized equipment is required to perform an ultrasound exam. The hair on the abdomen needs to be clipped. The pet is placed on a padded table and held so the abdominal surface is exposed to our technicians. A conductive gel is placed on a probe that is attached to the ultrasound machine. The technician places the probe on the skin of the abdomen and moves it across the surface to examine the organs or regions of interest. Ultrasound waves are transmitted from the probe and are either absorbed or echo back from internal organs. Based on how many sound waves are absorbed or reflected, an image of the internal organs is displayed on a computer screen. Then the technician can create consistent images of the internal organs and recognize departures from normal. Abdominal ultrasonography is a safe procedure and generally takes about 20 to 60 minutes to complete. The only risk involved occurs during fine needle aspiration or biopsy of suspected lesions. Rarely, biopsy will lead to serious bleeding or damage to an internal organ. However, the procedure is far safer and less invasive than an exploratory surgery of the abdomen.

Is an Abdominal Ultrasound Painful?

No pain is involved. The procedure is noninvasive.

Is Sedation or Anesthesia Needed for an Abdominal Ultrasound?

Neither sedation nor anesthesia is needed in most patients; however, some pets resent laying on their backs and may require some sedation to allow a diagnostic procedure. If a biopsy needle is used to obtain a tissue sample, a local anesthetic or ultrashort anesthesia is used.