Ultrasound

At Timpanogos Animal Hospital we use a state-of-the-art MyLab five ultrasound unit that generates high resolution ultrasound images. This allows for immediate diagnosis or treatment options for many serious medical conditions.

Ultrasound is very valuable, non-invasive means to look at internal organs. Ultrasound uses sound wave technology and the principle that sound waves travel at different speeds and maintains variable intensities through different types and densities of tissues. The ultrasound probe generates a sound wave that travels through the tissue then is reflected back to the probe where the computer assigns a gray scale to the signal based upon the intensity of the return wave signal and the time it took to return to the probe.

Most ultrasound studies can be done without sedation although some pets that are afraid or otherwise nervous and panting need to be given a mild sedative to allow a thorough ultrasound study to be performed.

An ultrasound study will generally not provide a definitive diagnosis based upon the appearance of the tissues, but the greatest value is it allows visualization of tissues that appear abnormal then facilitates sampling of the abnormal tissue thru an ultrasound-guided needle aspirate or biopsy.

Also, unlike radiographs that are still images, ultrasound gives us a real-time image so we can visualize movement of tissues such as the beating of the fetal heart or the pulsing of a vessel.

Radiographs and ultrasound are best used in combination with each modality providing valuable information.