Ultrasound
Non-invasive Imaging for Pets
Veterinary Ultrasound offers our West Chester vets a non-invasive look at your pet's internal systems to inform treatment planning and diagnosis.
Please Note: A referral from your primary care veterinarian may be required before making an ultrasound appointment.
What is Veterinary Ultrasound?
Ultrasound imaging is used when we need to get a glimpse into what is going on inside your pet's body. We expose part of the body to high-frequency sound waves to produce images.
This imaging technique is captured in real-time, meaning that we can observe the movement of structures, including your pet's internal organs, and that of blood flowing through the vessels.
This non-invasive imaging technique can help diagnose internal conditions and is an exceptional asset to have in a veterinary office.
Uses for Ultrasound
There are many uses for veterinary ultrasound; listed below are the most common:
- Assessing causes for abdominal pain
- Evaluating internal organs
- Diagnosing pancreatitis
- Evaluating blood flow
- Checking for stones in the kidney or bladder
- Guiding biopsies in which needles are used to extract a sample of cells from organs for laboratory testing
What to Expect
If your pet is having an ultrasound at West Chester Veterinary Medical Center, there are a few details you should know.
You will need to withhold food and water for 8-12 hours, especially for abdominal ultrasounds.
During an ultrasound, the veterinarian uses a computer with a handheld probe. The probe is moved across the surface of the skin over the site of interest. Your veterinarian will shave the area to be examined in order to obtain better images.
Most pets stay pretty still during their ultrasound; however, some will require sedation by the vet.