Preparation for your pet’s ultrasound
Your dog or cat has been scheduled for an ultrasound examination.
The examination will be performed by a veterinary specialist and may involve an abdominal ultrasound, an echocardiography (heart ultrasound), or both.
Ultrasound is a non-invasive and generally painless examination. The information below will help you prepare your pet and explain what to expect on the day.
Abdominal ultrasound
Before the appointment:
Food
Please do not feed your pet on the day of the examination as food in the stomach and/or intestine prevents visualisation of the abdominal organs
If medication needs to be given with food, a very small amount of food (approximately one-two spoonful) is usually acceptable. If you are unsure, please contact us.
Young puppies or kittens (6months or less), diabetic animals, and pets with medical conditions for which fasting may be inappropriate should not be fasted without specific veterinary instructions.
Water
Your pet can have free access to water unless you have been specifically instructed otherwise.
Bladder
If possible, please try to prevent your pet from urinating immediately before the appointment (ideally th epet should not urinate in the hour prior to ultrasound, if possible). A moderately full bladder can help us examine the urinary tract.
Medication
Continue your pet's usual medication unless your veterinarian has specifically asked you to change or withhold it.
What happens during the examination?
For most abdominal ultrasound examinations, your pet will lie gently on their back or side on a padded examination table.
The fur of the abdomen will usually need to be clipped to obtain good-quality ultrasound images. Alcohol and ultrasound gel are then applied to the skin.
Most animals tolerate the examination well while awake. We often recommend giving oral anti-anxiety medication such as gabapentin, usually around 90 minutes before the examination. If recommended, this medication will be prescribed or discussed with you in advance. It can make the experience more relaxed for your pet and help us obtain good-quality images.
Occasionally, further sedation may be recommended if an animal is particularly anxious, uncomfortable, or if samples need to be collected. In that case an injection will be performed.
The ultrasound itself usually takes approximately 20–40 minutes, although this can vary depending on the findings and the complexity of the examination.
Will samples be taken?
If an abnormality is identified, the specialist may recommend collecting a sample using a fine needle or other ultrasound-guided technique. Whether this is appropriate will depend on the findings, your pet's condition and the reason for the examination.
Echocardiography – heart ultrasound
Before the appointment:
Your pet does not normally need to be fasted for an echocardiography - your pet may eat and drink normally until the time of the exam unless:
an abdominal ultrasound is also planned,
injectable sedation is considered likely (for example for particularly anxious pets), or
your veterinarian has given you different instructions.
Please give all heart medications and other regular medication as usual, unless specifically instructed otherwise.
What happens during the examination?
An echocardiography allows us to assess the structure and function of the heart, including the heart chambers, valves and blood flow.
Your pet will usually stand or sit during the examination. Small areas of fur on either side of the chest may need to be clipped to obtain good-quality images. Ultrasound gel and alcohol are applied to the skin.
Most animals tolerate the examination well while awake. We often recommend giving oral anti-anxiety medication such as gabapentin, usually around 90 minutes before the examination. If recommended, this medication will be prescribed or discussed with you in advance. It can make the experience more relaxed for your pet and help us obtain good-quality images.
Occasionally, further sedation may be recommended if an animal is particularly anxious, uncomfortable, or if samples need to be collected. In that case an injection will be performed.
The examination generally takes approximately 20–30 minutes, although more complex examinations can take longer.
An ECG (electrocardiogram) may also be recorded during or around the time of the examination if required.
After the examination
The specialist will review the findings and provide recommendations based on the examination.
Depending on how your appointment has been organised, the results may be discussed with you directly and/or communicated to your usual veterinarian.
A written specialist report will then be provided to the referring veterinary practice.
Please let us know before the appointment if:
your pet is diabetic;
your pet is a very young puppy or kitten;
your pet becomes extremely anxious or aggressive at the veterinary clinic;
your pet has previously required sedation for veterinary procedures;
your pet is receiving anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication;
your pet's clinical condition has significantly changed since the examination was booked.
If you are unsure how to prepare your pet, please contact us before your appointment.