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 Diagnostic Imaging for your Pet

 Ultrasound

What is ultrasound?

 

Ultrasound is an imaging technique that creates real-time images of a pet’s internal organs.  There are several types of ultrasound.  One example is an echocardiogram, which is ultrasound for the heart.

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Is ultrasound safe?

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Ultrasound is safe, non-invasive, and is excellent for viewing soft tissues (like the liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart) and assessing blood flow.  It is often used as alongside radiography. 

Dog Ultrasound in Gainesville, FL_edited.jpg

What does Ultrasound help identify or diagnose?

Ultrasound is a versatile diagnostic tool used to help diagnose or further evaluate your pet.  It helps with a wide range of issues, including:

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  • Abdominal Ultrasound

    • Abdominal Pain or Distension: Identifying masses, foreign bodies, or fluid accumulation.

    • Organ Abnormalities: Assessing the structure and size of organs like the liver, kidneys, or pancreas and evaluating for tumors, cysts, or inflammation.

    • Gastrointestinal Issues: Evaluating for an underlying cause of chronic vomiting, diarrhea, or intestinal obstructions.

    • Kidney, Bladder and Urinary Tract Disease: Detecting bladder stones, tumors, or infections.

    • Pregnancy Evaluation: Confirming pregnancy and monitoring fetal health.

  • Cervical (Neck) Ultrasound:

    • Organ abnormalities: Evaluation of thyroid glands, parathyroid glands, salivary glands

    • Lymph Nodes: Evaluation for tumor metastasis and inflammation

  • Musculoskeletal Ultrasound:

  • Ultrasound Guided Tissue Sampling: Safely guiding a needle to obtain cells or a tissue sample from a specific organ or mass for diagnosis.

    • Fine Needle Aspiration: Very small needle (25G or 22G), no skin incision necessary

    • Core needle biopsy: Slightly larger needle (14G, 16G or 18G), small skin incision made

  • Cardiac Ultrasound, also called an Echocardiogram. 

Why is it better to have a board-certified veterinary radiologist interpret the results?

  • Having your pet’s ultrasound results interpreted by a board-certified veterinary radiologist offers a significant advantage:

  • Unparalleled Expertise: Radiologists have dedicated, intensive training in interpreting diagnostic images, allowing them to spot subtle abnormalities that may be missed by a general practitioner.

  • Precise Diagnosis: This specialized interpretation leads to a more accurate and timely diagnosis, which is critical for formulating the most effective treatment plan for your pet.

  • Collaboration: Our in-house specialists work directly with your referring veterinarian and our internal medicine team to ensure a seamless continuum of care.

Are there any specific instructions to prepare my pet for an ultrasound?

  • Your pet may be prescribed anti-nausea and/or anti-anxiety medications to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for your pet.  

  • Fasting also may be recommended.

What type of information does the Boarded Radiologist need prior to scheduling an ultrasound?

  • A clinical history that includes existing conditions or diseases, any current medications, and whether any previous ultrasounds have been performed on your  pet  that may be used for comparison.

Veterinary Echocardiograph

Echocardiogram

What is a Veterinary Echocardiogram?

A veterinary echocardiogram (often called an "echo") is a specialized type of ultrasound used exclusively to examine the heart. It provides a detailed, real-time view of the heart's structure, function, and blood flow by creating a moving image.

What heart conditions are diagnosed or identified with an echocardiogram?

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  • Evaluate Heart Murmurs: Determine the cause and severity of a detected heart murmur.

  • Assess Valve Disease: Identify and stage chronic valve diseases (e.g., Mitral Valve Disease, common in small breed dogs).

  • Evaluate Myocardial (Heart Muscle) Disease: Diagnose conditions like Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) or Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM, common in cats).

  • Measure Cardiac Function: Quantify the efficiency and contractility of the heart muscle and the size of the heart chambers.

  • Detect Congenital Defects: Identify heart abnormalities present at birth.

  • Evaluate Fluid Around the Heart (Pericardial Effusion): Determine the amount and cause of fluid buildup.

Why is it better to have a board-certified veterinary radiologist interpret the results?

A board-certified veterinary radiologist is essential for accurate echocardiogram interpretation because:

  • Deep Cardiac Expertise: They have undergone extensive training focused solely on the complex pathology, anatomy, and physiology of the animal heart.

  • Precise Treatment Planning: Accurate measurements of heart chamber size, wall thickness, and blood flow velocity are crucial for staging heart disease and determining the precise timing and dosage of life-extending cardiac medications.

Are there any specific instructions to prepare my pet for an echocardiogram?

  • Your pet may be prescribed anti-nausea and/or anti-anxiety medications to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for your pet.  

  • Fasting also may be recommended. 

What type of information does the Boarded Radiologist need prior to scheduling an echocardiogram?

  • A clinical history that includes existing conditions or diseases, any current medications, and whether any previous echos have been performed on your pet that may be used for comparison.

Echocardiogram
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