In the event that your cat gets sick, your veterinarian might suggest the use of a veterinary ultrasound. The procedure itself is a common one, and it's useful for gathering information on the status of your pet. Thankfully, performing an ultrasound is painless and allows the vet to get an in depth look at your cats internal organs from a wide range of angles. The Vet will then be able to detect certain organ malfunctions through this ultrasound technology, and it could be very important when a basic exam isn't enough to determine what is wrong with your cat.

How the Ultrasound is Done

Your vet will most likely request that your cat doesn't eat for about 12 hours before the exam, in non emergency situations. This is because food can often result in a less clear ultrasound. Also, if the cat is able to remain calm, it won't need to be sedated. The technician will simply use a small probe and place it at the side of your cat's body. Again, the procedure doesn't harm the animal at all, and it allows the tech to view the inside of the cat through sound waves. Those Sound waves are then turned into a 2-D image that the veterinarian will review. Of course, in emergency situations an ultrasound can still be taken even if you are unaware of what your cat has eaten. 

Why Ultrasounds are used for Diagnosing in Veterinary Medicine

Of course, it's impossible for your cat to speak up and tell the veterinarian what's wrong. If you are able to feel a palpable mass or obstruction though, you can have the ultrasound requested so the vet can see what is going on. Another way an ultrasound can be used is when the cat is pregnant, thus making sure that the pregnancy is going smoothly. An ultrasound provides data that you won't get from a basic physical exam or x-ray. If the veterinarian finds a questionable object in the intestines of the cat, surgery can next be performed to remove the item. To sum things up, ultrasounds are an extremely valuable diagnostic tool for vets and will not harm your pet in any way.

Whether you're just trying to check on the health of your cat or maybe treating them in an emergency situation, ultrasounds are a useful way for your vet to diagnose how your pet is doing. If your veterinarian suggests an ultrasound, do whatever you can to make sure it happens. Learn more about veterinary ultrasounds today!