--- title: How to Properly Prepare for a Veterinary Ultrasound Exam description: This post will outline the keys to preparing for a successful veterinary ultrasound exam. image: https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg --- [![Screen Shot 2022-07-26 at 4.32.15 PM](https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-26%20at%204.32.15%20PM.png) ![Screen Shot 2022-07-26 at 4.32.15 PM](https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/Screen%20Shot%202022-07-26%20at%204.32.15%20PM.png) ![PA-Mobile-Logo-Gradientsmall-111](https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/Logo/PA-Mobile-Logo-Gradientsmall-111.png)](https://pamobilevet.com/home) - [Home](https://pamobilevet.com/home) - [About Us](https://pamobilevet.com/about) - [Specialists Available for Reads](https://pamobilevet.com/specialists-available-for-telemedicine-reports) - [Our Services](https://pamobilevet.com/services) - [Testimonials](https://pamobilevet.com/client-testimonials) - [Book a Meet & Greet](https://pamobilevet.com/meet) - [Schedule A Visit](https://pamobilevet.com/schedule) - [Contact Us](https://pamobilevet.com/contact-us) - [Home](https://pamobilevet.com/home) - [About Us](https://pamobilevet.com/about) - [Specialists Available for Reads](https://pamobilevet.com/specialists-available-for-telemedicine-reports) - [Our Services](https://pamobilevet.com/services) - [Testimonials](https://pamobilevet.com/client-testimonials) - [Book a Meet & Greet](https://pamobilevet.com/meet) - [Schedule A Visit](https://pamobilevet.com/schedule) - [Contact Us](https://pamobilevet.com/contact-us) ![](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg?width=1280&name=2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg) # How to Properly Prepare for a Veterinary Ultrasound Exam ![Rebekah Jakum, CVT, ARDMS/RVT](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Website%20Images/Rebekah-Ortho-NJ-TH-JPG-768x591.jpeg?width=80&name=Rebekah-Ortho-NJ-TH-JPG-768x591.jpeg) [Rebekah Jakum, CVT, ARDMS/RVT](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/author/rebekah-jakum-cvt-ardms-rvt) Feb 20, 2023 4:56:44 PM ![Veterinary Ultrasound Exam](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg?width=600&height=400&name=2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg) Clinical ultrasound is an affordable, non-invasive, yet extremely powerful tool that can be leveraged to rule in (or rule out!) a plethora of diseases in veterinary patients. A thorough ultrasound exam has the ability to diagnose disease early on in the diagnostic workup,  and it can also help define its severity, and inform the treating DVMs treatment plan. ##### How to Properly Prepare for an Ultrasound Exam: While ultrasound offers great insight and helps inform treatment options, it is important to properly prepare for the ultrasound exam to set your sonographer up for a successful scan with optimal imaging. As a mobile sonographer, I work with several veterinary hospitals throughout Northeastern & South Central Pennsylvania, and the following tips have helped everyone better prepare for a successful scan, and avoid the need for a repeat scan. ##### 🐕 What Pet owners need to do to prepare FASTING All patients should fast, some breeds may require extended withholding of food (brachycephalic).  The night before the ultrasound exam: - - 🚫 **No food** after their normal evening meal - 💧👍 Water **IS** permitted ##### 🏥 What the hospital staff needs to prepare ✔️Submit a comprehensive patient history prior to the appointment date. (If you're a PA Mobile client you can go [here to fill it out online](https://pamobilevet.com/schedule), or [email me here](mailto:info@pamobilevet.com)) ✔️ Offer the pet owner the option of using sedation or anti-anxiety drugs for their pet. Benefits are: Increases patient comfort Aids the sonographer in acquiring optimal images Minimizes the need for extra staff to help hold/restrain the patient [Download FearFree.com's Printable In-House Pharmaceutical Guide](https://fearfreepets.com/wp-content/uploads/delightful-downloads/2018/07/Inhospital-DrugChart-Updated_3-29-18-1.pdf) [![Fear Free Pets Inhospital Drug Chart](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-3.png?width=600&height=424&name=image-png-3.png)](https://fearfreepets.com/wp-content/uploads/delightful-downloads/2018/07/Inhospital-DrugChart-Updated_3-29-18-1.pdf) ✔️ Shave the area that is going to be imaged.  The transducer needs to make direct contact with the skin to allow the sound waves to properly penetrate. Abdomen tips: - The patient should be shaved from the subxiphoid, lateral to the last rib (especially in deep-chested patients), and caudal to the pelvis. | ![Abdominal Shaving Example 1](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png.png?width=350&height=263&name=image-png.png) | ![Abdominal Shaving Example 2](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-1.png?width=350&height=217&name=image-png-1.png) | ![Abdominal Shaving Example 3](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-2.png?width=350&height=211&name=image-png-2.png) | | --- | --- | --- |                              Share on: [Share on Twitter](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/how-to-properly-prepare-for-a-veterinary-ultrasound-exam&text=I+found+this+interesting+blog+post) [Share on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/how-to-properly-prepare-for-a-veterinary-ultrasound-exam) [Share on LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/how-to-properly-prepare-for-a-veterinary-ultrasound-exam) Tags: [Veterinary Medicine](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/veterinary-medicine) [Veterinary Ultrasound](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/veterinary-ultrasound) [Veterinary Sonography](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/veterinary-sonography) [Technician Sonographers](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/technician-sonographers) [CVT](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/cvt) [RVT](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/rvt) [Northeastern Pennsylvania](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/northeastern-pennsylvania) [Central Pennsylvania](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/central-pennsylvania) [Mobile Veterinary Ultrasound](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/mobile-veterinary-ultrasound) [Preparing for Veterinary Ultrasound Exam](https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/tag/preparing-for-veterinary-ultrasound-exam) You may also like ![](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/dog-having-ultrasound-scan-in-a-veterinary-clinic-2023-11-27-05-07-51-utc.jpeg?width=630&name=dog-having-ultrasound-scan-in-a-veterinary-clinic-2023-11-27-05-07-51-utc.jpeg) Jun 14, 2024 1:40:10 PM Common Indications for Veterinary Ultrasound ![](https://pamobilevet.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CTA/medical-care-cost-of-pets-cats-dogs-house-pet-2023-11-27-05-32-07-utc-2.jpg?width=630&name=medical-care-cost-of-pets-cats-dogs-house-pet-2023-11-27-05-32-07-utc-2.jpg) May 15, 2024 2:39:58 PM Turn Veterinary Ultrasound into a Profit Center with Mobile Services Apr 18, 2024 9:24:12 AM Utilizing Mobile Ultrasound for Improved Patient Care ### About Us Pennsylvania Mobile Veterinary Ultrasound, LLC is comprised of veterinarians and technicians who understand the impact that high-quality, abdominal and cardiac imaging provided in-house, can have on your practice. ### Quick Links - [Home](https://pamobilevet.com/home) - [Services](https://pamobilevet.com/services) - [Schedule a Visit](https://pamobilevet.com/schedule) ©2022 Remedy Bloom ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rebekah Jakum, CVT, ARDMS/RVT", "url" : "https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/author/rebekah-jakum-cvt-ardms-rvt" }, "dateModified" : "2023-02-20T21:56:44.716Z", "datePublished" : "2023-02-20T21:56:44.000Z", "headline" : "How to Properly Prepare for a Veterinary Ultrasound Exam", "image" : [ "https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/Ultrasound%20Images/2020%20PPVC%20Scanning.jpeg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://pamobilevet.com/pennsylvania-mobile-veterinary-ultrasound-services-blog/how-to-properly-prepare-for-a-veterinary-ultrasound-exam", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://pamobilevet.com/hubfs/PA-Mobile-Square-Logo.png" } } } ```