Seeing under the skin–that’s what’s possible with ultrasound technology. Ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool that creates a real-time internal image of an animal’s body, giving us important information about the circulatory, skeletal, and gastrointestinal systems.
When used in conjunction with other diagnostic tools like X-rays, an ultrasound can help identify disease, blockages, skeletal fractures, soft tissue damage, and other internal injuries.
An ultrasound works by broadcasting high-frequency sound waves that reflect off your pet’s internal structures. A small probe held against the skin collects the returning signals to create an image of the internal body, most commonly used to examine abdominal organs like the stomach, kidneys, liver, spleen, and gallbladder. An echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, provides precise information about heart valves, blood flow, chamber size, and contractions. Completely painless and non-invasive, ultrasounds sometimes require some sedation because the patient must remain completely still.