Ultrasound is a non-invasive imaging modality. It uses the interaction of sound waves with internal tissues to display images in real time. This allows your Veterinarian to be informed about the function of your pets internal organs, while also getting an idea of any potential changes the the structure of said organs.

On the day of your pets ultrasound, they will need to be dropped off at your veterinary clinic for a few hours. Your vet will give you some calming medications to give at home prior to going in. They will most likely be sedated, and if they are having an abdominal ultrasound, they will need to be fasted. Your pets fur will need to be shaved, the amount of fur shaved will depend on the area being imaged. For an abdominal ultrasound, their entire abdomen will be shaved, similar to how a female would be shaved for a spay. Ultrasound gel and alcohol will be applied to the shaved skin, and a probe will be placed against the skin for the images to be taken. The ultrasound itself will take roughly 30-60 minutes, and then your veterinary team will most likely keep your pet in clinic for a bit longer afterwards to monitor their recovery from sedation.

The best person to answer this question would be your Vet. The recommendations they make are backed by years of learning and experience, and they will be the most able to determine if ultrasound will give additional insight into what may be ailing your pet.

For abdominal ultrasounds, it is vital that your pet have a 12 hour fast. Food and air block the ultrasounds beam and greatly decrease the diagnostic quality of the images and could result in needing another ultrasound on a later date.

Even if your pet is being fully sedated for an ultrasound, it is important that they have at home calming medications. This will decrease the amount of panting that your pet may do between home and the clinic. This is important as air in the digestive tract does not allow ultrasound waves to pass through, so the diagnostic quality of the images will be greatly decreased. This could result in needing another follow up ultrasound.

While there may be occasional exceptions, pets almost always need to be sedated for a full abdominal ultrasound. In order to obtain diagnostic images, they need to be very still for prolonged periods of time, and allow the feeling of pressure from the probe, which most pets are not willing to do for the span of hour. If your pet has a reason they should not be sedated, contact your veterinary team and we can try to work out a solution.

For echocardiograms, patients ideally do not have injectable sedation, as it does not fully represent how the heart is functioning when your pet is awake. Pets lay on their side for an echocardiogram, so it is often easier for them to stay calmer during the timeframe. Your veterinary team will recommend an oral sedative though, just to help your pet relax and be stress free, as these will not alter the representation of the heart.

I am a Registered Veterinary Technologist, and completed my schooling at Olds College in 2019. As an RVT, I am allowed to obtain these images of your pet, only when I am under the supervision and direction of a DVM. If you are interested in booking your pet an appointment with me, you must reach out to your vet clinic and ask them to facilitate this process. I will not perform scans without the supervision and direction of a DVM registered and in good standing with the ABVMA.