Ultrasound For Pets
Ultrasound for pets is a non-invasive, painless, diagnostic tool that uses sound waves to create images of the inside of your pet’s body. We commonly use it to examine organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys, bladder, and intestines. This imaging technique helps our veterinarians diagnose conditions like tumors, cysts, fluid buildup, urinary stones and infections, and abnormalities in organ structure or function. The procedure typically does not require sedation, making it a safe and stress-free option for assessing your pet’s health.
Abdominal ultrasound for pets is available upon request at Value Pet Vet, starting at $475. Pregnancy diagnosis ultrasounds are $325 and include an estimated litter count as well as estimated date of birth. For more information about getting an ultrasound for your pet, please call us.
Ultrasound Procedures
We utilize ultrasound for many health conditions that your pet may be facing, and we can use it before spay/neuter procedures. The reasons we use it before spay/neuter procedures include:
Pregnancy Confirmation
- Pregnancy Confirmation: Ultrasound can confirm pregnancy as early as 20-25 days after conception, allowing our veterinarians to visually confirm the presence of fetuses.
- Fetal Viability: It helps assess the viability of the fetuses by detecting their heartbeats, movement, and overall development.
- Fetal Count: Ultrasound provides an estimate of litter size, which is useful for preparing for delivery.
- Fetal Development and Growth: Ultrasound allows monitoring of fetal development, checking for abnormalities in size, shape, or growth patterns, which can indicate potential problems.
- Detecting Abnormalities: It can identify structural abnormalities in the fetuses, such as congenital defects, that might affect their chances of survival after birth.
- Predicting Due Dates: By assessing fetal development, veterinarians can estimate due dates, which helps in planning for whelping or queening.
Uterine Issues In Female Dogs and Cats
Ultrasound is an effective diagnostic tool for identifying a variety of uterine issues in pets, including:
- Pyometra: This is a severe uterine infection characterized by the accumulation of pus within the uterus. Ultrasound helps visualize an enlarged, fluid-filled uterus, confirming the diagnosis.
- Uterine Tumors and Cysts: Ultrasound can detect abnormal growths such as tumors, cysts, or polyps within the uterus. These masses can be benign or malignant and may impact fertility or overall health.
- Uterine Torsion: A rare but serious condition where the uterus twists on itself, cutting off blood supply. Ultrasound helps identify abnormal positioning and the lack of blood flow, crucial for prompt treatment.
- Uterine Rupture: Although rare, uterine rupture can occur due to trauma or severe infection. Ultrasound can detect free fluid in the abdomen and structural damage to the uterine wall, indicating a rupture.
- Endometritis: Inflammation of the uterine lining often associated with infection. Ultrasound can reveal thickened uterine walls and fluid buildup, aiding in diagnosis.
- Retained Placenta or Fetal Remnants: After delivery, ultrasound can help detect retained placenta or fetal tissues, which can lead to infection if not treated promptly.
- Uterine Fibrosis or Scarring: Chronic inflammation or injury can cause scarring in the uterus, which ultrasound can detect by showing irregular uterine texture or structure.
- Adenomyosis: A condition where the uterine lining invades the muscle layer of the uterus, causing pain and abnormal bleeding. Ultrasound can help identify the thickened uterine walls associated with this condition.
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