What to Know About Ultrasound

An ultrasound may be necessary for several reasons, such as examining soft tissue or organs. It's a non-invasive way for a veterinarian at Bryan Animal Clinic, serving Decatur and the nearby region, to get a glimpse inside your pet's body without performing surgery. So, how does this therapy work? What else should you know about it? We've got the scoop! 

How Ultrasound Works

Essentially, an ultrasound is a routine test we offer at our animal hospital. We use a transducer that sends sound waves through the skin to the targeted area. The waves will either transmit through, absorb, or reflect off the tissue and open space in the area. The response of the tissue determines the resulting image.

A veterinarian from our practice can then examine the results and provide you with a diagnosis or rule out certain causes. Some specific areas of your pet's body where we may conduct an ultrasound include the bladder, pancreas, stomach, or spleen. If you have a pregnant pet, we can use it to monitor the pregnancy.

Safety

This test is safe and doesn't have any known risks. Your pet will go through the entire process unscathed, as it doesn't require any incisions. Unlike X-rays, it doesn't emit radiation. Typically, it doesn't require a needle. However, if you have a skittish pet that could potentially hurt themselves or our staff during the procedure, we may recommend administering a medication to ease their nerves throughout the procedure. Though it's rare, a pet could develop contact dermatitis from the ultrasound gel used to help the transducer slide, but this isn't the norm.

Before and After

Before the test, we'll inform you if there are any preparations you need to make for your pet, such as avoiding eating or drinking for a certain period. After the procedure, your pet won't experience any pain or discomfort. In most cases, your pet can return home immediately following the test. While we may be able to identify a problem or confirm your pet's health on the same day for certain issues, this is not always the case. We may need a few days to read the results and provide them to you.

Contact Bryan Animal Clinic in Decatur, AL

Bryan Animal Clinic, serving Decatur and the general vicinity, offers pet ultrasounds and may recommend them to rule out certain causes or diagnose problems in your pet. If your pet is experiencing any illness or injury, contact us for an appointment at our animal hospital by calling 256-350-0311.