Ultrasound
Veterinary Ultrasounds at Shippensburg Animal Hospital
At Shippensburg, Mount Rock, and Allen Road Animal Hospital, we use industry-leading ultrasound technology to assess your pet or farm animal’s internal organs, particularly those located in the abdomen such as the liver, spleen, kidneys, bladder, stomach, and intestinal tract. Because pregnancy is a huge factor of the success of dairy farms, we utilize ultrasound machines to detect pregnancies and monitor fetal progression.
To schedule an appointment for your pet or farm animal to receive an ultrasound, please call (717) 532-5413 or fill out our online appointment request form.
The Benefits of Ultrasounds
While we do offer x-ray services through our radiology departments, the use of ultrasound technology is important because it allows our veterinarians to get a closer and more detailed look of your pet or farm animal’s internal organs. Much like an ultrasound performed on a human, when your pet or farm animal goes in for an ultrasound, we place a wand, called a transducer, on your pet or farm animal’s abdomen which transmits an image of its internal body to a monitor. Ultrasounds are beneficial because they’re a pain-free, radiation-free, and non-invasive way for our veterinarians to see a clear visual of your pet’s internal organs.
The Diagnostic & Detection Uses of Ultrasounds
In addition to confirming pet pregnancies and monitoring fetal growth, ultrasounds also assist veterinarians in a variety of diagnostic areas, such as:
- Detecting any tumors within the internal organs
- Evaluating cardiac function
- Evaluating the urinary tract to determine the source or cause of blood in the urine
- Evaluating the liver and kidney
- Evaluating the intestinal tract to determine the root cause of vomiting and/or diarrhea
- Examining the vessels for any abnormalities
While we are often able to perform an ultrasound without sedation, sometimes we need to sedate your pet or farm animal in order to keep them completely still for the duration of the ultrasound. This is to ensure that we get the clearest images possible. Our sedation practices are extremely safe, and a certified veterinary anesthetist is always in the room overseeing the procedure.
If your pet is demonstrating signs of illness or pain, an ultrasound might be necessary. Contact us by calling (717) 532-5413 or sending a message through our online form.