Ultrasound allows us to closely examine a patient’s heart, kidneys, spleen, liver, lymph nodes, pancreas, intestinal tract, eyes, and reproductive organs. It also enables us to monitor pregnancies and estimate the expected litter size. Some of the things we can diagnose during an ultrasound include masses, cysts, abscesses, and nodules. This technology also allows us to detect many abnormalities within the body.
During an ultrasound exam, we use a handheld device connected to a machine that turns reflected sound waves into images. We hold the device against your pet’s body in the area we are examining and move it around to capture the images we need, which are displayed in real-time on a screen. In most cases, it takes just a few minutes, and unlike x-rays, ultrasounds do not expose patients to radiation. The process is safe, pain-free, and provides us with the information we need to reach an accurate diagnosis.
