Why An Ultrasound?

Indications for Abdominal Ultrasound

There are simply too many indications for an abdominal ultrasound to list completely but here are some common reasons.

Ultrasound provides a non invasive advanced diagnostic tool, which, when combined with various minimally-invasive biopsy techniques, can lead to a safe and accurate diagnosis in most cases.

Conversely when based on ultrasound findings, the practitioner can be confident that more aggressive procedures such as exploratory laparotomy might sometimes be indicated.

Indication for Thoracic Ultrasound

Thoracic masses located along the thoracic wall or lung masses/abscesses within the equatorial regions of lung lobes or masses suspended in pleural fluid are amenable to scanning and aspiration or biopsy. Evaluation of the pleural space for fluid is possible and in addition, ultrasound can be used to guide thoracocentesis. The mediastinum, sternal lymph nodes can also be evaluated for masses.

Thyro-Parathyroid Complex/Cervical Ultrasound

Abnormalities involving the salivary glands, lymph nodes and thyro-parathyroid complex are readily detected with diligent scanning of the cervical region with a linear probe. In addition, it is possible to examine the cervical esophagus, great vessels and the musculoskeletal tissues in this area. Subsequent aspiration or biopsy using ultrasound provides a very safe alternative to blind or surgical collection.


Ultrasound can be used to confirm whether your patient’s clinical signs are cardiac in origin and to determine the nature and the extent of the cardiac pathology.

Indications include dyspnea, weight loss, neuroischemic myopathy, pleural effusion, cardiomegaly, screening for HCM, heart murmurs, ascites, arrhythmias, exercise intolerance, syncope, suspect pericardial effusion and screening for congenital heart defects in predisposed breeds. Echocardiograms provide you with the information you need to determine whether your patient has cardiac disease, the extent of the disease and whether treatment is indicated Congenital defects can be accurately assessed to determine treatment options and prognosis.

Therapeutic options are better developed as a result of knowing the extent of the pathology present in acquired diseases.

Response to therapy can be assessed and monitored follow-up echocardiograms.