A sonography examination is requested as a supplementary method for diagnosing many treatments and diseases. It is a test that has no complications, and the only issue may be the animal’s fear of the new environment. What points should we pay attention to before performing a sonography? What measures can we take to ensure accurate sonography results? Join us in this article as we answer your important questions in this area and learn how to prepare our animals for a sonography.
When do animals need sonography?
In recent years, diseases related to animals have become widespread. With various diseases, accurate diagnosis and treatment can be a challenge. In some cases, even visible symptoms may not clearly indicate the type of disease. To examine the internal organs of animals, veterinarians may request a sonography. Using this method, various issues within the animals’ bodies can be diagnosed. If your pet exhibits specific symptoms, the veterinarian may prescribe a sonography. These symptoms may include:
- Unexplained weight loss
- Continuous diarrhea and vomiting
- Presence of internal infections, especially infections related to the uterus
- Frequent urination
- Pregnancy and reproduction
How is animal sonography performed?
Sonography is a simple and painless examination. Although this does not cause any concern, being in a new situation may frighten the animal. When the animal does not know what procedure is going to be performed on it, it may instinctively become stressed. If you add to that the fact that the animal is restless and in pain due to its illness, the veterinarian will likely inject a sedative to help calm your little friend.
Initial preparations before sonography
When the examination to determine the animal’s illness is not effective, the veterinarian may order various tests. Sonography is one way to diagnose diseases, performed using high-frequency sound waves. If sonography is the means of diagnosing the disease, how should we prepare our animals before performing it? We will answer this important question in the following article.
· Shaving the animal’s belly hair
One of the challenging aspects of performing sonography is shaving the hair in the abdominal area. This might be uncomfortable for the pet owner. Losing some of the animal’s fur has a negative impact on its appearance. Anyway, to obtain accurate results, some of the animal’s fur must be removed. Since sonography requires direct contact with the skin, any barriers must be removed. These barriers can include fur, skin lesions, or dirt in the area of interest. To achieve accurate results, these barriers must be removed by the veterinarian before the sonography.
· Fasting
Another important issue that often goes unnoticed is ensuring the animal is fasting or avoiding heavy foods. It is recommended to refrain from feeding solid and bulky foods to your pet 6 to 8 hours prior to the sonography. Consuming food initiates digestive activities in the stomach and intestines, leading to a large amount of gas in the digestive system. Naturally, we cannot conduct a complete and accurate examination of the animal in this situation. Considering this important fact, please avoid feeding your animals before going to the veterinary clinic or hospital.
· Consumption of water and liquids
Drinking water and liquids does not pose any problems for performing sonography. In fact, consuming liquids is not only permitted but can also facilitate the process. Drinking water helps in urine production. A veterinarian who is looking to perform sonography on organs such as the kidneys or bladder will certainly advise you to give your pet water to ensure better diagnosis. Therefore, ensure that your pet does not urinate before the test.
Does sonography need to be repeated?
One important question that arises regarding animal sonography is the frequency of its repetition. During the pregnancy of pets, several sonographies may be performed. The veterinarian may request multiple sonographies to ensure the health of the mother and her fetus. Sometimes, based on the veterinarian’s judgment, sonography may be performed periodically.
If your animal has undergone surgery, the veterinarian may request another sonography. In some cases, it may need to be repeated due to an inaccurate sonography result. For example, when the animal’s bladder is not full, the veterinarian will ask you to return to the clinic at another time for the sonography. Overall, the frequency of sonography varies based on the veterinarian’s diagnosis and the type of disease the animal has.
Visiting reputable clinics
Sonography for animals, just like human organ sonography, requires expertise and skill. We recommend having the sonography of your pets performed by a veterinarian or under their supervision. It is important to remember that the more powerful the sonography device is, the more accurate the results will be. However, using such devices also incurs higher costs for the sonography.
Another significant issue to consider is visiting specialized centers and reputable clinics. Given the time and money you spend on treating your pet, pay careful attention to these important factors during the sonography process.
Post-sonography care
After performing the sonography on your pet, wait for the results. Sonography does not cause any issues for animals, and you can let the animal roam freely at home as usual. This is while some people worry about the side effects of sonography. It is essential to know that sonography does not have any side effects.
Final words
By recognizing the early signs of any disease, we can prevent its progression.
In this article, we learned that animal diseases have also become more widespread in recent years. Various tests are needed for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases. Ultrasound is one of the tests that we can use to help treat diseases. To ensure accurate ultrasound results, we understood that we must pay attention to certain factors. Before performing the ultrasound, we should not forget to fast the animal and provide plenty of fluids.
