What is an ultrasound?
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An ultrasound is a non-invasive and pain free way of looking inside your pet’s body to obtain a better look at their organs. The machine sends sound waves into the body, listens for the echoes coming back, and then uses these echoes to form a picture on the screen. The sound waves are too high for us or our pets to hear, and produce no harmful effects as a diagnostic tool. We are able to examine the organs in the body and look at things like location, size, texture, disease processes and blood supply.
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Why does my pet need an ultrasound?
There are many reasons why your veterinarian might recommend an ultrasound. In human medicine, the first diagnostic test ordered is frequently ultrasound. This is due to being able to fully see inside the body and an ultrasound can provide an enormous amount of information. Below are just a few reasons your veterinarian may recommend an ultrasound.
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Abnormality seen on X-Ray
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Bloodwork abnormality
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Recurrent urinary tract infections
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Enlarged organs
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Unexplained weight loss
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Chronic/acute vomiting or diarrhea
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Trauma or hemorrhage
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Cancer staging
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Fluid in the chest or abdomen
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Enlarged lymph nodes
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Palpable mass
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Behavioural changes