How to Properly Prepare for a Veterinary Ultrasound Exam

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.

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, or email me here)

✔️ 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

✔️ 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.

• The patient should be shaved from the subxiphoid, lateral to the last rib (especially in deep-chested patients), and caudal to the pelvis.