Ultrasound

         
          Ultrasound is a safe, non-invasive diagnostic procedure, which, unlike X-rays, does not result in your pet’s exposure to radiation. An ultrasound machine uses sound waves to penetrate the internal organs and creates an image that is displayed on a monitor. The procedure involves using a hand-held probe on the skin above the area being studied.

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Echocardiogram
          An ultrasound of the heart, or echocardiogram, is the most useful test for evaluating a heart murmur in a pet. With ultrasound, a veterinarian can look inside the heart, in the chambers, and visualize the valves. This non-surgical test can rule out or confirm a diagnosis and aid in determining the amount of leakage and the severity of an abnormality.
 
Some of the common reasons to ultrasound a heart are:

• Heart murmur
• Irregular heartbeats (arrhythmia)
• Labored breathing
• Birth defects

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Abdominal Ultrasound
          Abdominal ultrasound simplifies the diagnoses of internal disease by providing veterinarians with a clear view inside the patient’s stomach, liver, kidneys, and other internal organs. It consists of 65 images of the internal organs! For our furry patients, this means we will have the pet lie in a trough-shaped mat; most patients are very cooperative for this procedure and do not require sedation. The pet should be fasted for 12 hours prior and the abdomen will be shaved.
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Some of the common reasons to ultrasound the abdomen are:

• Liver disease

• Kidney disease
• Pregnancy
• Urinary bladder disease
• Collection of sterile urine samples
• Screening for cancer

 
          In order to schedule an ultrasound, please call our office at 937-372-6391 for a consultation appointment.