PET ULTRASOUND
Ultrasound and What It's Used For​
​Ultrasound is a helpful tool that lets us see inside your pet's body in real time. It gives us important information about things like the heart, bones, and digestive system.
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When combined with other tests, like X-rays, ultrasounds can help us spot problems such as diseases, blockages, soft tissue injuries, and other internal issues. Since ultrasounds don’t use radiation, they’re also safe for checking on pregnancies and the health of unborn pets.
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Ultrasound works by sending sound waves into your pet’s body. These waves bounce back and create an image of the organs and tissues. We use a small device held against the skin to capture these images.
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Ultrasounds are most often used to look at abdominal organs like the stomach, kidneys, liver, spleen, and gallbladder. This procedure is painless and non-invasive, but your pet may need light sedation to stay still during the exam.
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We collaborate with local veterinary ultrasound specialists and a board-certified radiologists to provide this service and offer expert interpretations. To schedule an appointment or learn more, give us a call at 410-465-0639 or request an appointment.
Ultrasound Guided Mass Sampling: See the white (hyperechoic) needle safely and accurately attaining an intestinal mass aspirate above allowing for a precise diagnosis in one of our feline patients.
Our Services
Chronic Disease Management
Advantages to Ultrasound
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​Non-invasive: Ultrasound doesn’t require surgery or penetration of the body, making it a safe option for examining internal organs.
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Painless: The procedure is painless and we can reduce stress with light sedation.
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No radiation: Unlike X-rays or CT scans, ultrasounds do not use radiation, making them a safer option, especially for pregnant animals or repeated use.
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Real-time imaging: Ultrasound provides real-time images of the internal organs, allowing veterinarians to see movements, such as blood flow, fetal development, or GI foreign bodies as they happen.
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Soft tissue visualization: Ultrasound is particularly useful for examining soft tissues like the liver, kidneys, spleen, and heart, which may not be as clearly seen on X-rays.
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Guided procedures: Ultrasound can be used to guide certain procedures, such as needle biopsies and aspirates, ensuring more accurate and less invasive sampling.
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Quick results: The images are generated instantly, and can be sent to our board-certified radiologist for interpretation.
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Minimal preparation: In many cases, minimal preparation is needed for the pet, apart from shaving the area for better contact, making the process safe and quick for both the animal and the veterinarian.
Dr. Parker preparing to perform a "Trucut" liver biopsy on a mass to determine if it's benign or cancerous. The patient is under sedation and monitored by our team throughout the procedure. We then keep the patient for several hours to ensure no excessive bleeding occurs.
Come, sit, heal.
Whether your pet is in need of routine care or emergency surgery we got you covered. Howard County Animal Hospital is a full service veterinary clinic offering a range of veterinary care to the pets of Ellicott City, Columbia, Baltimore, Catonsville, Elkridge, Pikesville, Woodlawn, Randallstown, Towson and the surrounding areas located just off of route 40 outside of the 695 beltway.