Ultrasound
Ultrasound is a painless, safe, non-invasive procedure that we use to evaluate your pet’s internal organs. It is one of the many ways we strive to give you peace of mind when it comes to your pet’s health. Using sound waves, ultrasound produces a real-time moving picture of your pet’s organs that allows us to visualize objects that cannot be detected by X-rays alone. We use an ultrasound service provider to assess the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of your pet’s abdominal organs, assess cardiac health (also called an echocardiogram), and diagnose pregnancy. It can also be used to identify masses or tumors and as a guide during surgical biopsies. One of the most important uses for ultrasound technology is to observe your pet’s abdominal organs, including the liver, stomach, spleen, pancreas, intestines, kidneys, bladder, uterus, and prostate. We offer this procedure in our office when needed for your convenience.
Board-Certified Radiologists & Cardiologists
We believe ultrasound is best performed by professionals who are specifically trained in its use and then the results read by a board-certified radiologist or cardiologist. The ultrasound procedure takes between 30 to 60 minutes to perform and, unless it is being used during a surgical biopsy, does not typically require sedation. A diagnosis based on what we see is usually available immediately, which means we can also provide you with treatment options at the time of your appointment and minimize your worry and stress.
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, ultrasounds can help identify disease, blockages, skeletal fractures, soft tissue damage and other internal injuries. Because ultrasounds don’t require radiation, they’re also used to monitor pregnancies and fetal health in breeding pets.
How Ultrasounds Work
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 usually require some sedation because the patient must remain completely still.
Arden Shoreview Animal Hospital employs advanced imaging technologies operated by board-certified veterinary radiologists, guaranteeing the highest quality of care for our patients.
Ultrasounds For Pets in Arden Hills, MN
To schedule a consultation or to learn more about our ultrasound services, call us at 651-636-2883.
