At Peace Arch Veterinary Hospital in Surrey, BC, our team of experienced and compassionate veterinarians are ready to work with you to provide the best care for your furry friend. We aim to give you peace of mind knowing that your pet is healthy at all times, as we offer different services including digital radiography, treatments for allergies, microchipping, orthopedic surgery, dental care, ultrasound exams, vaccines, and wellness checkups. Ultrasound examinations are used for many different reasons to make sure your pet is healthy.
Health Problems Identified in Ultrasound Examinations
The main purpose of an ultrasound for your pet is to find out what is going on inside your pet to help make a proper diagnosis of an illness or condition. Ultrasound machines use sound waves, unlike X-rays which have radiation, making them extremely safe for your pets.
An ultrasound can be an abdominal one, an echocardiogram, an emergency ultrasound, or one pertaining to pregnancy, and all of these have different cost implications as well as necessary preparations.
Some of the symptoms that may lead to an ultrasound request from our vet include vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, struggling to pass water, and more. If tests on a blood sample come back negative, an ultrasound is often the next viable option.
Some health problems that can be identified with the help of an ultrasound exam include:
- An abnormally enlarged spleen
- Cysts and abnormal growth on organs like the liver and spleen
- Gallstones
- Cancer of the liver
- Issues with the thyroid glands
- Complications involving ligaments and tendons
- Congenital problems and other heart defects
- Pregnancy
- Kidney stones
- Complications with the bladder
- Detection of foreign materials in the gastrointestinal tract, and their position if present
Benefits of Pet Ultrasounds
There are a few advantages of using an ultrasound to diagnose diseases over other types of tests, and they include:
- No surgery is required most of the time. For instance, if your pet is found to have an abnormal mass, an ultrasound can be used to analyze it further and if it is found to be benign, then you don't need to schedule a surgery.
- Anesthesia is not necessary, especially if your pet is cooperative and relaxed. The only thing that may be needed is to shave the hair around the site that is to be checked.
- They are fast, easy, and accurate enough to provide a diagnosis and give our vet a chance to commence treatment before further damage occurs.
Book an Appointment for Your Pet’s Ultrasound Today
If your pet has an underlying health condition, we can help. At Peace Arch Veterinary Hospital in Surrey, BC, we provide ultrasounds to diagnose your pet so we can give treatment. Our goal is to keep your pets happy and healthy. To learn more or to schedule an appointment, call us today.
