Veterinary Service
Pet Ultrasound
We can see your pet’s liver, kidneys, spleen, intestines, bladder, heart, and other internal organs using ultrasound. The equipment we employ is so sensitive that we were able to spot a bit of common string producing a blockage in one cat’s intestines.
Pet Ultrasound
When assessing internal organs, veterinary ultrasonography is a precious instrument. It can detect changes in the heart and abdominal organs, as well as assist in the identification of any cysts or tumors that may be present. Ultrasounds, capable of real-time monitoring, are also used for pregnancy diagnosis and development monitoring.
Ultrasonography is a diagnostic procedure that produces an image examination using ultrasonic waves. This means we can see internal images of the patient’s body when we perform ultrasonography. Ultrasonography, unlike some other imaging investigations such as x-rays, does not employ radiation. Instead, ultrasonography creates an image of what is inside your pet’s body by using high-frequency sound (ultrasound) waves. Ultrasonography is a non-invasive, painless method of diagnosing and evaluating a wide range of common disorders.
Abdominal Ultrasound at Mill Brook Animal Clinic
What to expect and how to prepare
An abdominal ultrasound is an imaging tool used to assess your pet’s abdominal cavity. The procedure is pain-free and takes 15 to 30 minutes depending on patient size, demeanor, concurrent disease, and exam requirements. Most ultrasound patients receive a relaxing medication called butorphanol to relax their abdominal muscles, thus improving the diagnostic quality of the scan. On some occasions, we will ask permission to sedate your pet to facilitate the scan.
The Night Before – No food from 10pm; water is okay!
Unless you have been instructed otherwise, your pet MUST be fasted for an abdominal ultrasound. Please withdraw your pet’s food at 10pm. Please allow your pet access to water overnight. Some clients may be asked to give a pre-medication the night before or the morning of the scan to reduce any anxiety for your pet.
The Day of the Procedure – 8 am admission!
Admission is at 8am. You will be asked to sign a sedation release form only in case this is needed. We will shave your pet’s abdomen for the scan. After the scan, we will call you for collection.
The results from the scan will be reported once the images have been reviewed by the specialist. The turnaround time is typically 1-4 business days. Although Dr. Sorbo is a trained sonographer, he is unable to comment on the images at the time of the scan.
The diagnostic quality of the ultrasound images is directly tied to the ease of the scanning procedure. If a patient is uneasy with the scanning, this can reduce the sensitivity of the diagnostic outcome, thus limiting the diagnostic quality. In these cases, the doctor will discuss potential contingencies to circumvent these challenges. These contingencies may include rescheduling for a different time, administering relaxing medications, trying again later, or, when a particular diagnosis is expected, accepting a scan of a smaller footprint which will still provide a diagnostic outcome.
Veterinary Services in Arlington, MA
Pet Sedation, Anesthesia, and Surgery
Pet Diagnostic Imaging