The Uses of Ultrasound for Dogs

Ultrasound is a common medical procedure that is used for a variety of different functions in human medicine. Many pet owners don't realize, however, that ultrasound can also be used to great effect in veterinary medicine as well. There are numerous uses for ultrasound imaging, but the primary benefit of this method of examining your pet is that it can provide insight into what is going on inside of your dog's body without requiring any type of invasive procedure to examine him. Read on for a brief overview of some of the many uses that ultrasound serves in canine medicine in particular.

Pregnancy Detection

Many people are most familiar with ultrasound for its use in detecting pregnancy in humans and also in monitoring the growth of the fetus during the pregnancy. The same thing can be done with dogs as well. If you suspect that your unspayed female dog may be pregnant, ultrasound testing can typically confirm or deny that claim. Additionally, if you know your pet to be pregnant, ultrasound is helpful for monitoring the health of the fetuses before they are born.

Liver and Kidney Disease Examination

Liver and kidney diseases are some of the most debilitating conditions that your pet can suffer from. Unfortunately, the symptoms of these conditions are not very distinct from a variety of other conditions, which makes the identification of either of these conditions very difficult in normal circumstances. In addition to hormone levels conducted through blood tests and other examinations, ultrasound testing can be very helpful in determining whether your pet's kidneys or liver are functioning at the level that they should be.

Dog Tumor Detection

Internal tumors can be cancerous or benign. In either case, they may cause your pet discomfort and pose a potentially severe risk for your dog's overall health. The detection of these conditions early on is very important in order to ensure that you can deal with the problem before the tumor grows too large and it becomes impossible to excise or remove. Ultrasound is a great way to detect tumors in your pet's system without having to perform an invasive surgery procedure to find them.

Urinary Tract Problem Detection in Dogs

Ultrasound can also be used to determine the potential cause of a problem that involves your pet's urinary tract. If your dog seems to have a difficult time urinating, or if you've noticed changes in the pattern or frequency with which he urinates, it may mean that he's suffering from some kind of urinary tract condition. Ultrasound is very helpful when it comes to identifying the exact nature of the problem.

Ultrasound is a beneficial medical practice because it can be done without special tools and equipment. It can also typically be performed in your vet's office and does not require any extended hospital stay or treatment. Dogs oftentimes can have ultrasound imaging performed without being sedated or otherwise affected as well.

 

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