See Inside Your Pet Without Surgery or Anesthesia
Answers about your pet’s health shouldn’t have to wait or come with unnecessary risk. At Sarasota Animal Medical Center in Sarasota, FL , we use abdominal ultrasound to look closely at your pet’s organs, so we can diagnose problems accurately and plan the right treatment. The scan is painless and has no side effects.
Request an AppointmentHow Ultrasound Works
Ultrasound sends sound waves into the body to create an image of what’s inside. It is a very non-invasive way to examine your pet and has no side effects. Ultrasound and x-rays work well together. Radiographs give us an overall picture of the abdomen or chest, while ultrasound lets us study the architecture of an individual organ.
Why Ultrasound Is a Practical Choice
- It is faster and more affordable than some other advanced imaging options, such as CT scans and MRIs.
- CT scans and MRIs require deep general anesthesia. Ultrasound rarely needs sedation, except for pets that are particularly anxious.
- It shows the internal structure of organs, which radiographs can’t do.
What We Can Find With Ultrasound
Ultrasound has many uses in everyday veterinary care and in emergencies:
- Tumors: We can see which organs are involved and how invasive a tumor is. That information guides our treatment plan and helps us discuss prognosis.
- Fluid, masses and foreign bodies: Fluid can be told apart from soft tissue masses or foreign objects, which is sometimes hard to do on radiographs.
- Internal bleeding: Ultrasound can show blood in the abdomen or around the heart, a diagnosis that can be life-saving.
- Urinary problems: It helps rule out bladder stones or a bladder tumor when a pet has a persistent urinary tract infection.
- Guided sampling: We can use it for fine-needle aspirates, which are small biopsies of organs or masses, and to collect urine from the bladder.
Advanced Equipment and Training
Ultrasound improves the quality of veterinary diagnosis and care. Our state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and diagnostic probes produce top-quality images for accurate diagnoses. Dr. Luther has also trained extensively in advanced ultrasound techniques. Together, this lets us evaluate and treat your best friend with confidence. Ultrasound is one part of our full range of veterinary diagnostics in Sarasota. When the heart is a concern, it also supports our cardiology services.
Abdominal Ultrasound FAQs
What is an abdominal ultrasound for pets?
An abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to create images of the organs inside your pet’s belly. It lets us look at the structure of each organ, not just its overall size and shape.
Is ultrasound safe for my dog or cat?
Yes. Ultrasound is a very non-invasive imaging method and it has no side effects.
Will my pet need to be sedated?
Rarely. Unlike CT scans and MRIs, which require deep general anesthesia, ultrasound usually doesn’t need sedation. The exception is a pet that is particularly anxious.
How is ultrasound different from x-rays?
Radiographs give an overall picture of the abdomen or chest. Ultrasound shows the internal architecture of an organ and can help distinguish fluid from soft tissue masses or foreign bodies. The two tools work well together.
What conditions can an abdominal ultrasound help diagnose?
It can show which organs a tumor involves and how invasive it is, detect fluid, masses and foreign bodies, and reveal blood in the abdomen or around the heart. It can also help rule out bladder stones or a bladder tumor in pets with a persistent urinary tract infection.
Can ultrasound be used to take samples?
Yes. We can use ultrasound to guide fine-needle aspirates, which are small biopsies of organs or masses. We can also use it to obtain urine from the bladder.
Why choose Sarasota Animal Medical Center for ultrasound?
We use state-of-the-art ultrasound equipment and diagnostic probes for high-quality images. Dr. Luther has trained extensively in advanced ultrasound techniques. Call us at (941) 954-4771 to talk about whether ultrasound is right for your pet.
Get Clear Answers for Your Pet
If your dog or cat has a health concern, accurate imaging can point us toward the right treatment sooner. Contact Sarasota Animal Medical Center today to schedule a visit.