Outpatient Ultrasound For Pets: A Team Approach to Better Care

Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging tool veterinarians use to examine your pet’s internal organs. An ultrasound is often the next diagnostic step when your vet suspects a problem in a pet’s abdomen or chest, such as a tumor. If your pet needs an ultrasound, your veterinarian may refer you to a specialty hospital with a radiology department that can perform and interpret the scan. 

Avets Specialty & Emergency Trauma Center offers ultrasound for pets on an outpatient basis. Here’s what pet owners should know about this imaging test, including what to expect. 

What is an ultrasound scan?

Ultrasound works by sending sound waves into the body and then capturing the echoes that bounce back. These echoes form detailed, moving images of internal structures, and the operator can look from different angles to see the size, shape, and texture of different areas. 

While X-rays allow veterinarians to visualize the outline of an organ, they’re best for viewing bones. Ultrasound for pets is the best way to examine structures such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, and heart in greater detail. It is painless and non-invasive, and doesn’t use radiation or require sedation in most cases.

Why do vets order ultrasound scans?

Your veterinarian might recommend an ultrasound for many reasons. It’s often used to visualize an organ or mass that your veterinarian feels during a physical exam or an organ with abnormal function on blood work.

Ultrasound can help veterinarians diagnose:

• Vomiting, diarrhea, or weight loss
• Masses or tumors
• Bladder stones or urinary tract infections
• Heart conditions
• Fluid accumulation in the chest or abdomen
• Pregnancy and fetal development

The imaging test can also help guide needle placement to obtain a biopsy of abnormal tissue.

Inpatient versus outpatient ultrasound services

Ultrasounds performed while your pet is hospitalized or visiting the emergency or specialty departments are considered inpatient tests. These pets are in the hospital because they are actively ill and under the care of a specific veterinarian. 

However, many pets who are not hospitalized can also benefit from ultrasound testing. Our hospital offers outpatient scans, so your pet does not need to be admitted or seen for an exam to receive the testing they need. Instead, your primary veterinarian can order an ultrasound scan and coordinate with our radiology team to receive results.

Benefits of outpatient ultrasound scan for pets

Outpatient ultrasound appointments are convenient for pet owners and referring veterinarians for many reasons, including:

• Lower costs: Outpatient imaging patients do not need to see an emergency or specialty vet for an exam, so you pay only for the scan and radiologist review.
• Minimal wait time: Unlike emergency visits, outpatient ultrasounds are scheduled in advance, so you won’t have to wait long to be seen.

• Team-based care: Outpatient services allow your vet to work alongside specialists and emergency providers at our facility, if needed, to ensure your pet receives the best care.
• Better treatment planning: Your vet will receive results from the scan within a few days, ensuring they have the information they need to develop a treatment plan.

What to expect during your pet’s ultrasound

Here’s what to expect and what will happen during your pet’s ultrasound appointment:

• Fasting: You may need to withhold food from your pet for several hours before the scan, as food or gas in the belly can interfere with getting good images.
• Prep: Fur can also interfere with images, so our team will shave a spot on your pet’s chest or belly where they will place the ultrasound probe. 
• Positioning: Most ultrasounds require pets to lie on their back or side on a padded table that supports them comfortably. 
• Imaging: The ultrasound operator, typically a board-certified radiologist or specialty-trained technologist, performs the scan over a few minutes, capturing measurements and still images along the way.
• Results sharing: After the scan is complete, a radiologist reviews the measurements, images, and prior imaging studies and prepares a report for your primary veterinarian.
• Follow-up care: If the imaging team identifies something immediately concerning on the scan, your pet may be admitted to the hospital for emergency care. Otherwise, your pet will go home shortly after the test, and you will follow up with your primary veterinarian.

Ultrasound for pets at Avets

Ultrasounds give veterinarians valuable insights into your pet’s internal health. On an outpatient basis, ultrasound services at Avets are convenient and allow your pet to receive necessary tests while you continue to see your familiar and trusted primary veterinarian for care. Our emergency and specialty veterinarians are always available to help if your pet’s condition warrants advanced treatment.
Contact us to schedule a visit or learn more about our registered diagnostic imaging team, board-certified radiologists, or additional specialty services available to address all of your pet’s health needs.