At Pennsauken Animal Hospital we can perform abdominal ultrasounds for non-emergent or emergent cases. It is recommended that you see a specialist, but we understand that is not always a possibility. The doctors at PAH can perform the ultrasound and obtain images for interpretation by a specialist as an alternative. 

Ultrasound can be used for checking the viability of the fetuses in pregnant dogs and cats , ie., whether their heart rates are adequate (low heart rates indicate distress or loss of pregnancy), and can be used before a c-section to make sure the fetuses are ready for a c-section (we check for intestinal motility and kidney definition). A radiograph is used to get an accurate count of fetuses.  

Brief ultrasounds can be used in trauma to look for signs of bleeding or other fluid accumulation in both the abdomen and chest cavity.  We can obtain urine from the bladder in a sterile manner by using ultrasound.
 

Ultrasound is used for further investigation of ongoing issues including causes of polyuria/polydipsia, urination issues, liver issues, gastrointestinal issues such as inflammatory bowel disease or cancer, and for looking for some tumors.

Prior to surgery,  we can use ultrasound to check the bladder for stones before and after cystotomies, or during/after a cat unblocking. For older patients, we can use them as a cancer screen to make sure there is no evidence of cancer prior to big surgeries.

 

Cardiac ultrasounds,  also called echocardiograms, can also be performed at PAH. These scans can help to determine both the cause and stage of heart disease and failure in both cats and dogs.  These results can help to determine a treatment plan and establish safety under anesthesia for pets with heart disease.