Things to know about Ultrasound in Pets and Animals. Has your vet recommended an ultrasound for your pet?
Are you clueless about pet ultrasound and how to prepare your pet for the procedure?
Ultrasound examination technology has helped medical professionals evaluate the internal system of humans and animals.
The process allows veterinarians at animal hospital Virginia Beach to diagnose illness and abnormalities in pets.
In this blog, we have covered a few essential things that every pet owner should know about ultrasound.
Understanding Ultrasound
Ultrasound is one of the most advanced techniques to evaluate internal injuries and soft-tissue damage in pets. Ultrasound is a completely pain-free, non-invasive, and quick process.
Through ultrasound, veterinarians can look for possible problems in organs, including liver, kidney, eyes, lymph nodes, intestines, uterus, heart, testicles, etc.
Pet hospital Virginia Beach veterinarians use an ultrasound machine to perform the test. The device releases ultrasound waves that penetrate the internal organs of your pet. The waves then reflect at a hand-held probe. The reflected sound waves create an image on the screen that the vet checks for any severe organ damage.
Most pet owners are concerned whether their pet will get exposed to the radiation while undergoing an ultrasound. However, there is no exposure to radiation in ultrasound. In ultrasound, the machine captures the image of the internal organs through reflected sound waves. No radiation is used while conducting ultrasound tests.
Types of diseases diagnosed through an ultrasound test
Ultrasound is an advanced form of testing that allows vets to examine internal organs of pets.
Ultrasound machines are capable of diagnosing organ damages and issues that other tests can’t detect.
For instance, an x-ray may enable the vet to see the liver but not the ruptured tissues.
Although ultrasound tests can be used to determine possible internal organs‘ potential problems, the method is very useful in diagnosing heart diseases.
Heart ultrasound is also referred to as echocardiogram or echo.
In heart ultrasound, the doctor can evaluate the size and thickness of the heart and its chambers.
This helps them to check for any blockage in the heart or look for signs of any heart disease.
Moreover, ultrasound also captures the heart’s motion, allowing vets to assess how well the heart is pumping blood.
While some diseases can be established through only ultrasound tests, some conditions may require other imaging methods.
What to do after an Ultrasound test?
One of the best advantages offered by ultrasound testing is the ability to diagnose critical internal organ damage.
The doctors can look for abnormalities in the organs and make a proper diagnosis.
Ultrasound allows the vet to get a precise biopsy of the affected area and capture it on the screen.
After determining which organ or area is affected by the disease, the doctor can collect the required sample or take proper action to treat it.
Is anesthesia essential when conducting an ultrasound?
Generally, pets are not required to be sedated when performing an ultrasound on the heart. However, if your pet is not cooperating or turning aggressive, the staff may give anesthesia. Sometimes, the doctors give anesthesia when conducting biopsies to avoid complications.