Ultrasound
Fast, accurate, and minimally invasive, pet ultrasounds are a key part of our diagnostic arsenal at Sand Creek Animal Hospital in Albany, NY.
Pet Ultrasounds in Albany, NY
Ultrasound is one of the main tools that our doctors use to diagnose our patients at Sand Creek Animal Hospital. This technology uses sound waves to create 3-D images of your pet’s body in real time, usually without the need for anesthetics.
What is an Ultrasound?
Not to be confused with X-rays, an ultrasound uses ultrasonic sound waves to take photos inside of the body. These waves form images of the internal structures, particularly the organs. The resulting pictures can then be used to diagnose internal issues affecting your pet.
Ultrasounds are performed by pressing a wand onto a section of your pet’s skin, which must be shaved and coated with a special reactive gel. All the wand does is create the sound waves that will form the final ultrasound image, and your pet won’t even feel its effects. While we do need pets to remain still during an ultrasound, this can easily be accomplished by simply keeping the patient calm and under control. The process is not painful and rarely if ever requires sedation.
When is an Ultrasound Necessary?
Just like for people, pet ultrasounds are highly effective at anything from monitoring pregnancies to diagnosing certain diseases. For instance, if your pet is having issues going to the bathroom, an ultrasound will allow the veterinarian to study the kidneys and determine if there are any issues in how your pet’s body is processing liquids.
If your pet has a mass in their body, an ultrasound can help our veterinarians form a proper diagnosis. In some scenarios, surgery may be recommended to remove the mass and provide relief.
While our staff is well-trained in performing ultrasounds at our hospital, there may be times when we recommend you see a specialist for your pet’s ultrasound. We will only suggest a referral if we believe faster and more specialized diagnosis is the best course of action.
Schedule Your Pet’s Ultrasound Today
If your pet needs general veterinary care or extensive testing to treat an existing condition, our team at Sand Creek Animal Hospital is here to help. Call us today at (838) 900-7992 to schedule an appointment.
