Understanding Ultrasound for Dogs, Cats, and Other Pets
If you’ve ever been an expectant parent or welcomed a new baby into your family, you’re probably very familiar with the terms ultrasound and sonogram. These non-invasive procedures are just as vital to veterinary care as they are to human medicine. Let’s explore why the ultrasound and sonogram are critical instruments in our diagnostic toolkit for pets.
An Overview of Ultrasound Technology
An ultrasound is a non-invasive way to look inside the body of your pet by using sound waves without utilizing invasive treatment options. It works using sound waves to bounce off structures within the body to paint a visual picture of what’s happening inside of your pet’s body. Think of the process as similar to the way Marvel’s superhero Daredevil, who despite his blindness, can ‘see’ people due to the way sound waves bounce back. A sonogram is the actual picture that the ultrasound generates.
Ultrasound at Work in Veterinary Care
At Cy-Fair Animal Hospital, we use ultrasound technology frequently in various ways. The most common application is what we refer to as a “point of care ultrasound.” This is an immediate, rapid investigation that helps us quickly develop the right care plan for your pet.
Our team performs two types of scans. The first, is the AFAS (Abdominal Fast Scan), which gives us a quick look inside your pet’s tummy so that we can immediately see what’s happening. The second is a Point-of-Care ultrasound utilizing our T-FAS (Thoracic Fast Scan). With T-FAS we can more thoroughly evaluate your pet’s thoracic cavity, (a.k.a. your pet’s chest area), for any abnormalities. It’s another vital tool in our toolkit when time is of the essence. For example, if your pet has experienced trauma that results in abdominal bleeding, we can use these diagnostic tools to make an immediate care assessment. The T-FAS allows us to see if there is any fluid build-up happening. We can also leverage it to help guide a needle to the right spot for aspiration if needed, which can potentially be lifesaving.
Ultrasound in Breeding
Pregnancy checks for dog breeding are also a common use for ultrasounds at Cy-Fair Animal Hospital. Beginning as early as 28 days into your dog’s pregnancy, we can perform an abdominal ultrasound to confirm the presence and viability of the puppies. Even prior to performing a C-section, we can scan to ensure healthy puppies are ready to be born.
Ultrasound for Urine Samples
Ultrasounds are also used in conjunction with other procedures, such as cystocentesis, which involves utilizing a needle to aspirate urine from the bladder. This method allows us to collect urine samples from animals for analysis. Unlike humans, our pets don’t always cooperate when we need a urine sample. A sterile sample collected through cystocentesis is often more accurate, especially when diagnosing urinary tract infections.
In-depth Ultrasounds for Serious Health Issues
When we suspect disease or need to investigate an abnormality further, we can use a more in-depth ultrasound procedure. This procedure is similar to the Fast Scan, but much more detailed and slow-paced. We examine abdominal organs in-depth, assessing their appearance, measuring their size, and creating a reference point for future comparisons.
Once we’ve captured these comprehensive images, we send them to a board-certified radiologist who interprets the ultrasound images, identifies any abnormal tissue, and provides our medical team with a detailed report. Collaboration between our team and the radiologist is invaluable in diagnosing conditions accurately and devising the best care plan for each pet.
Echocardiograms for Dogs and Cats
When discussing ultrasounds, you might also hear the term echocardiogram, which is an ultrasound procedure that specifically focuses on your pet’s heart. We offer echocardiograms to view, diagnose, and gauge the severity of heart conditions in both canine and feline patients.
We’re fortunate to partner with a fantastic radiologist who provides fast and accurate results. X-ray interpretations are ready in as little as 30 minutes, while ultrasound reports are usually available the same or the next day. This fast turnaround time is critical so we can act as quickly as possible to provide proper care.
Preparing Your Pet for an Ultrasound
We schedule full abdominal ultrasounds and echocardiograms in advance so pet owners can take important proactive steps needed to ensure the process goes smoothly.
One of the most important steps a pet owner can take is to withhold food from their pets before the procedure to help with the visibility of the ultrasound. In addition to fasting, some pets may require a mild sedative since animals aren’t usually comfortable lying still for extended periods.
Veterinary Ultrasound in Action at Cy-Fair Animal Hospital
We’ve seen first-hand how ultrasound technology can make a difference in preserving the livelihood of the pets we are privileged to care for.
Recently, we treated one of the most popular breeds world-wide, a french bulldog. The pet parent brought in the female bulldog, insisting that she was overdue for birth, and was adamant about proceeding with a C-section.
Our team immediately conducted our standard battery of tests, which included measuring progesterone levels and performing an ultrasound examination. Despite elevated progesterone levels, the ultrasound we performed revealed that something was wrong.
The puppies’ kidneys and GI tracts did not indicate that the puppies were ready for delivery and that it was too early to perform a C-section. Our recommended care, which was based on what the ultrasound indicated, may have saved the lives of both the mother and her unborn puppies.
This gives a clear example of the value of ultrasound technology as a vital diagnostic tool in veterinary medicine. It helps us provide the right care at the right time for our pets’ quality of life.
Our Pet Ultrasound Capabilities
While not every Veterinary clinic offers access to the latest ultrasound technology, at Cy-Fair Animal Hospital, we’re proud to offer three distinct probes for precision and tailored pet care. These include:
- A Microconvex Probe, widely found in most ultrasound-equipped offices.
- A Linear Probe that gives improved resolution for shallower structures.
- A Cardiac Ultrasound probe to specifically view the heart.
Whether it’s a routine check or an emergency visit, our team utilizes every diagnostic tool available to provide excellent care, everytime.
Pet Ultrasounds at Cy-Fair Animal Hospital
Our team is well-versed in handling complex ultrasound procedures including timely expert radiology interpretation. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for advanced ultrasound diagnostics to ensure the health and well-being of your pet for years to come.
