Tips For A Successful Trip To The Vet

An ultrasound can provide invaluable insight into your pet's health. By using them, vets can monitor what is going on and, if necessary, take swift action. Furthermore, ultrasounds are more detailed than X-rays and can provide a better understanding of your pet's health than X-rays. Many kinds of illnesses might require your pet to have a pet ultrasound. Here are four of the most common ones. 

1. Kidney stones

A kidney ultrasound is one of the first things you should do if your pet has any kidney problems. Due to the non-invasive nature of the procedure, your dog won't experience any pain or risk during the procedure. Through the ultrasound, your vet will be able to tell if your dog has any abnormalities inside their kidneys, such as kidney stones. If so, they'll also be able to determine the size and position of the abnormality to come up with the best way of treating it.

2.  Bladder issues

Bladder issues can happen in dogs of all ages. If your dog is urinating frequently, has blood in their urine, or is having accidents outside of their walking time, a bladder dysfunction could be to blame. Some of the most common bladder concerns that can be detected with an ultrasound scan include bladder stones, partial obstruction from tumours or foreign bodies, and changes in the bladder lining. Again, the non-invasive nature of this procedure makes it a great first diagnostic test.

3. Heart defects

Heart defects in dogs can be very serious and even lead to cardiac arrest, so it's important that you get them diagnosed as quickly as possible for the best chances of successful treatment. There are several types of diagnostic tests a vet may use to look at the heart, but ultrasounds are one of the most common. During a heart ultrasound, your vet can see the size of your dog's heart, how their valves are functioning, and how strong the heart is overall. With a high level of sensitivity, an ultrasound can pick up on the smallest of concerns.

4. Cysts

A cyst is a mass that can be found on any part of your dog's body. They can be hard or soft and usually tend to be filled with fluid. Cysts under your dog's skin are are easily detectable through ultrasound scans. Without an ultrasound, it can be hard for vets to feel where cysts are, how big they are, and what shape they are. Ultrasounds give a far clearer picture, which is essential when determining if and how to remove the cyst.