How Does A Veterinary Ultrasound Work?

Veterinary ultrasound machines are commonly used diagnostic imaging hardware that help veterinary clinics determine what is going on with your pet. We retail many probes and systems at National Veterinary Equipment, our sister website. Ultrasounds are high-frequency sound waves that penetrate soft tissues and bone to create images of internal organs. Do you know how a veterinary ultrasound works?

Because they are non-invasive, ultrasounds are a relatively safe and painless way to examine pets for various health conditions. We will discuss how ultrasounds work, the types of ultrasound images that technicians can obtain, and how veterinary technicians and radiologists use these images to diagnose medical conditions in animals.

How Does An Animal Ultrasound Work?

Ultrasound imaging is based on high-frequency sound waves. When high-frequency sound waves bounce off soft tissue and internal organs, they create an image that a radiologist or technician can see on a monitor. Ultrasounds allow veterinarians to see what’s happening inside the animal without cutting them open or taking any biopsies.

How Are Animal Ultrasounds Different From Human Ones?

Ultrasounds for animals are similar to those used in humans, but some differences exist. Animals don’t have the same human anatomy, so veterinarians must use special equipment and techniques to avoid missing essential organs or other structures.

Veterinary technicians are specially trained to perform high-quality ultrasounds on animals, and they understand how to position the ultrasound probe correctly and how to interpret the images. Radiologists are experts at solving ultrasound images and can make a diagnosis based on what they see.

What Do Veterinary Radiologists Examine During An Ultrasound?

The ultrasound image will show shades of gray of different organs, such as the heart or liver. The technician or radiologist can then use these images to identify organ function and structure abnormalities. For example, they may be able to place an enlarged organ or a mass.

Veterinarians use ultrasounds to examine pregnancy in animals. The high-frequency sound waves can penetrate the animal’s fur and give technicians and radiologists detailed images of the unborn puppies or kittens. Such a detailed examination helps them to identify the number of fetuses and their development stages.

One must use special techniques when ultrasound imaging for livestock or exotic animals. For example, larger animals require high-frequency sound waves that penetrate deep tissues, while smaller rodents or reptiles may need unique probes to get detailed images.

What Are Probe Requirements For Different Animals?

A high-frequency linear probe is typically used for cats, dogs, and small animals. A high-frequency convex transducer is necessary for most horses and large ruminants. For exotics such as iguanas or hedgehogs, veterinary technicians must use high-resolution linear probes to get detailed images.

Identify Foreign Bodies In Real-Time With National Ultrasound’s Diagnostic Tools

National Ultrasound has the equipment for both human and veterinary medicine. We retail new and refurbished equipment so medical professionals can perform an ultrasound for different clinics.

Please reach out to us today to learn more about machines for guided biopsies and ultrasounds. National Ultrasound is ready to recommend equipment that can view patients’ adrenal glands and other areas.