Pet Ultrasounds In Pensacola:

Davis Animal Hospital is now capable of doing basic ultrasound imaging.

Ultrasound uses sound waves to produce pictures of the body organs. It can be used to help diagnose causes of pain, infection, masses, cardiac problems, and more. It can help guide a veterinarian in collecting biopsy and urine samples.

An ultrasound is a safe procedure that requires little to no preparation and is safer than taking an x-ray. We usually ask that you drop your pet off with us for a few hours with no breakfast in case sedation is needed.

Pet Ultrasound Services: Answering Your Basic Questions

Having a pet ultrasound is one of the most common procedures to not only check your pet's condition but also to stage and determine different types of diseases. It is an imaging technique that makes use of sound waves - a non-painful and non-invasive procedure. 

There are certain instances that we need to study the pet's organs such as kidneys, gallbladder, liver, lymph nodes, or urinary bladder, and this procedure will help us carefully assess and give a proper diagnosis, so we can give your fur baby the best treatment available.

Preparations for this type of procedure are simple. Typically, showing up to the clinic while the pet hasn't urinated yet is the best time to perform the ultrasound. Additionally, you have to make sure that the patient needs to be on a 12-hour fast before the appointment. Water is okay, but no feeding 12 hours before your scheduled ultrasound exam. Food in the stomach makes it difficult to assess the organs in your pet's body - because as mentioned earlier, pet ultrasound relies on sound waves, and with the presence of food, penetrating the organs that need to be studied may be a bit difficult as it can block the ultrasound beam - even if you've just given your pet a small cookie or slice of cheese. 

In some cases, the pet may be sedated, depending on the pet's behavior or condition during the procedure. If sedated, it is normal that they'll feel disoriented and a bit groggy for a couple of hours. This is normal - don't panic. As soon as your pet has regained its balance, he/she will be discharged.

Before an ultrasound procedure, your veterinarian will explain what to expect, and this includes shaving off your pet's fur. This is done to ensure that we get the best and the most accurate results as much as possible. Once the pet ultrasound is done, your veterinarian will discuss the results with you.