Ultrasound is considered a noninvasive test and can be done on any number of body areas. During an abdominal ultrasound, we will be looking not only at the specific area of interest, but all of the abdominal organs. This includes stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, kidneys, adrenal glands, and urinary bladder, and potentially other structures. This thorough exam helps to ensure that we don’t miss something by focusing on just one area. Fasting your pet (ensuring an empty stomach) helps us get the best picture possible.
We may recommend an abdominal ultrasound for a variety of reasons. Perhaps your pet has elevated liver values and your doctor wants to get a closer look at their liver to check for visual abnormalities. Maybe your dog or cat has chronic gastrointestinal symptoms. An abdominal ultrasound will allow us to get a detailed look at their stomach and intestines, as well as other associated structures. Regardless of the reason your doctor advises it, abdominal ultrasound can provide them with invaluable information that is different from what x-rays or blood work can tell us.
At ADAvet, we have an internal specialist performing and interpreting our abdominal ultrasound cases