Ultrasound

Ultrasound is the examination of internal body structures using sound waves. High-frequency sound waves are transmitted into the body via a “transducer” held against the skin. Tissues and organs in the body reflect these waves, after which the echo is captured by the transducer and then processed by a computer, which generates an image. The extent to which the sound waves are reflected depends on the tissue structure. This creates differences in contrast that result in a clear image.

Ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic tool for examining the bladder, prostate, uterus (including pregnancy), liver, spleen, intestines, ovaries, pancreas, and kidneys—in short, essentially all abdominal organs. Ultrasound is also used to examine the heart (congenital abnormalities, leaky heart valves, cardiomyopathy, etc.). Muscles and tendons can also be clearly visualized using ultrasound. Air-filled tissues (lungs) and bones are not suitable for examination by ultrasound. These tissues do not allow sound waves to pass through, resulting in a white image from which nothing can be discerned. For this reason, X-rays remain indispensable.

A comprehensive ultrasound examination takes longer than a regular consultation. For this reason, a separate appointment is usually scheduled for such an examination. For an abdominal ultrasound, the animal is placed on its back on a comfortable cushion; this usually does not require general anesthesia or sedation. Most animals remain very calm during the (completely painless) examination, and the fact that the animal sometimes moves suddenly does not affect the examination. It is usually necessary to shave a small area of skin. This is because there is always air trapped in the fur, even after applying ultrasound gel, and air results in poor image quality.
During the exam, a number of short video clips and photos are saved to the scanner’s computer. This allows the images to be reviewed at any time after the exam, and it also makes it possible to compare old and new images later on. If you wish, and for a small fee, we can save the images to a USB drive so you can review them yourself at home. To protect the equipment, we use our own blank USB drives for this purpose; you do not need to bring your own.

The MyLabEight is Esaote’s latest high-end ultrasound system, featuring the very latest technologies and capabilities. The MyLabEight delivers the best image quality ever and is designed for the most advanced veterinary clinics. The ultrasound machine features Single Crystal technology, which ensures that larger animals can be scanned more effectively and that image quality is significantly improved compared to earlier technologies. The large screen also makes it easy for you, as the pet owner, to watch the ultrasound scan. In addition, we can save the ultrasound images to a USB drive (provided by us, not your own) if you’d like to review them again at home.