When your pet is unwell, sometimes the most important clues are hidden inside the body. Blood tests can tell us that something is wrong, and X-rays can show us the size, shape and position of many structures – but sometimes we need to look a little closer. That is where veterinary ultrasound can be incredibly useful.
At Cottage Vet Clinic, ultrasound is one of the diagnostic imaging tools we use to investigate everything from unexplained vomiting and weight loss to bladder problems, liver disease and abdominal masses. This allows us to examine the internal structure of many soft-tissue organs in real time.
How Does It Work?
Veterinary ultrasound uses high-frequency sound waves rather than radiation. A probe sends sound waves into the body and records the echoes that bounce back, creating an image on the screen.
If your pet is having an abdominal ultrasound, we will usually need to clip some fur so that the probe can make good contact with the skin. Ultrasound gel is then applied to the area.
Most pets tolerate the procedure remarkably well. Depending on the patient and what we need to investigate, sedation may occasionally be helpful.
What Can Veterinary Ultrasound Show Us?
X-rays are particularly useful for assessing bones, the chest, gas patterns and the overall size and position of organs. Ultrasound gives us much more information about the internal architecture of many soft tissues.
During an abdominal ultrasound, we may assess the:
- Liver and gall bladder
- Kidneys
- Bladder
- Spleen
- Stomach and intestines
- Pancreas
- Adrenal glands
- Lymph nodes
- Uterus and ovaries
- Prostate
For example, blood tests may tell us that your dog’s liver enzymes are elevated. Veterinary ultrasound can then help us look for changes within the liver or gall bladder that could explain why.
Similarly, a cat with repeated vomiting may have fairly unremarkable X-rays, while ultrasound may reveal thickening or changes within the intestinal wall.
Looking for More than Just Cancer
One common misconception is that ultrasound is mainly used to look for tumours.
Cancer is certainly one reason we use it, but veterinary ultrasound has a much broader role.
It can help us investigate bladder stones, kidney changes, gall bladder disease, pancreatitis, intestinal disease, internal bleeding, fluid within the abdomen and many other conditions.
Ultrasound can also help us determine whether an abnormality is solid, fluid-filled or associated with a particular organ.
Can We Take Samples During an Ultrasound?
Sometimes seeing an abnormality isn’t enough – we need to know what it is.
One of the advantages of ultrasound is that it can help guide a needle very precisely into an abnormal area so that cells or fluid can be collected for testing.
This can sometimes provide valuable diagnostic information without requiring exploratory surgery.
Ultrasound and X-rays Work Together
It isn’t really a question of ultrasound versus X-rays. They show us different things.
At Cottage Vet Clinic, we often use several pieces of the puzzle together: your pet’s history, physical examination, blood or urine results, X-rays and veterinary ultrasound.
In some cases, more advanced imaging such as CT or MRI may also be recommended.
Cottage Vet performs digital X-rays and ultrasound on site, while CT and MRI are available when advanced imaging is required. Cottage Vet
When Might Your Pet Need an Ultrasound?
We may recommend an ultrasound for ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea, unexplained weight loss, abdominal pain or swelling, abnormal liver or kidney results, urinary problems, suspected masses or unexplained fluid within the abdomen.
Sometimes the answer is reassuring. Sometimes we find something that needs further investigation. Either way, veterinary ultrasound helps us make more informed decisions about what your pet needs next.
If your pet has ongoing symptoms or abnormal blood results and you are wondering whether an ultrasound may help, contact Cottage Vet Clinic to arrange an examination.
