Why Choose Ultrasound?
Ultrasound technology offers a non-invasive, safe, and pain-free way to diagnose your pet’s health issues. By using high-frequency sound waves, this tool creates detailed images of internal organs. As these sound waves penetrate the area of interest, they interact with tissues by transmitting through, reflecting off, or being absorbed. The returning echoes are converted into visual images displayed on the monitor. This real-time data provides immediate results and allows for minimally invasive diagnostic sampling if needed, making ultrasound an invaluable tool in veterinary medicine.
For your pet’s ultrasound needs, consult your veterinarian. They can recommend the appropriate scan or you can request one through them. We ensure thorough communication with your primary vet to provide the best possible care for your beloved pet.
What to Expect (Pet Parents)
- Pet owners must sign all required forms (e.g., estimate, waiver, sedation consent) for our veterinary practice to provide mobile services.
- Your veterinarian will supply your pet’s medical history.
- The ultrasound exam is designed to be comfortable and painless for your pet. Light sedation may be administered to help them relax during the scan.
- The area of imaging will be shaved to ensure clear and accurate images. We are happy to shave at the time of the appointment.
- Due to liability reasons, pet owners cannot attend ultrasound exams. We apologize for any inconvenience.
What to Expect (Veterinarians)
For Optimal Comfort of Your Patient:
- Consider giving trazodone and/or gabapentin the evening before and the morning of the scan. These medications help reduce anxiety and relax the abdomen, resulting in better-quality images. Following this protocol often eliminates the need for additional sedation.
If Your Patient Needs Sedation:
- If you have any questions about sedation or suggested protocols, particularly for cardiac imaging, please reach out to us.
- The requesting veterinarian is responsible for administering any medications and continuously monitoring the patient.
- We prioritize patient comfort and safety during imaging or tissue sampling procedures. With owner consent, sedation can reduce patient anxiety and enhance diagnostic accuracy, especially for abdominal studies.
- For fine needle aspiration (FNA) procedures, sedation or anesthesia is particularly important and will be required.
Aspirates
Our top priority during the scan is the patient’s comfort. We can collect samples from abnormal organs or tumors to aid in further analysis, diagnosis, and treatment planning. We are highly skilled in performing ultrasound-guided needle aspirates, abdominocentesis, and pericardiocentesis. If these procedures are deemed safe for the patient, they can be performed during the appointment. All decisions regarding sampling procedures during the ultrasound are at the full discretion and collaboration of both the attending veterinarian and the sonographer.
