Outpatient Ultrasound information for PET OWNERS
The health and well-being of your pet is our highest concern!
TVRH is proud to offer the first true outpatient ultrasound service in the Durham/Chapel Hill area. This means that same day access to ultrasound diagnostics is available, in most cases.
Your primary care veterinarian has recommended an outpatient ultrasound at TVRH, and we take the responsibility for providing for your pet’s healthcare seriously. The purpose of the Outpatient Ultrasound Service is to provide the highest quality ultrasound examinations to your pet in a timely, convenient, and cost-effective manner. We strive to provide seamless continuity of care between your primary care veterinarian and our board certified specialists to ensure the best possible outcome for your pet.
Basically, the service is very similar to radiology services you may have encountered in human healthcare facilities. The ultrasound examination will be performed at TVRH and the results will be reported back to your doctor for interpretation. No consultation or reporting of results to the owner will occur during your visit to TVRH, but rest assured that communication between TVRH and your primary care veterinarian is a very high priority.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is ultrasound?
Ultrasound is a painless method for imaging the body using very high pitched sound frequencies (higher than the human ear can hear). Ultrasound is commonly used in both veterinary and human medicine for a wide variety of problems, including diseases of the liver, kidneys, bladder, stomach, intestines, adrenal glands, pancreas, spleen, reproductive tract, blood vessels, heart (often referred to as “echocardiography”), thorax, eye, and muscles/tendons. Ultrasound is less useful for imaging structures like bone or air-filled structures like the lung.
Is ultrasound safe?
Yes, ultrasound is very safe. The main benefit of ultrasound is that it can provide useful information about the body without invasive surgery, injection of dyes, or ionizing radiation. In fact, you may be most familiar with ultrasound due to its common use in imaging of pregnant women and their unborn babies.
What happens during an ultrasound?
During an abdominal ultrasound, the patient is usually placed on their side. Although some pets are initially slightly anxious, almost all pets relax and remain calm once they realize that nothing painful is happening. The hair on the underside of the belly will be shaved and a gel will be applied to the skin. The images are obtained by placing the transducer (a smooth, handheld object, similar in size and shape to a small TV remote control) on the patient's skin and slowly moving the transducer around on the skin. Many patients go to sleep during the procedure!
How long does the examination take?
Most exams take between 30-60 minutes. Due to the nature of TVRH with emergency and critical patients, sometimes a more critical case may take priority and your pet's exam may need to be postponed. This is similar to the triage that occurs in human hospitals. In actual fact, this is a rare event, and usually only results in a 15-30 minute delay.
Can I be present during the examination?
Unfortunately, we are unable to allow owners to be present in the ultrasound room.
Are there any situations where I should NOT use this Service?
The Outpatient Ultrasound Service is reserved for those pets whose condition is such that they can return home or to the primary veterinarian for further care. Animals that are very ill or whose condition is deteriorating can be cared for through the other services (Emergency, Internal Medicine, Surgery, etc.). Similarly, pets who have a fractious or aggressive nature may need to be sedated prior to the exam, and a consultation with the appropriate veterinarian should be scheduled to discuss sedation related issues. The bottom line is that we want to provide the best possible care for your pet, and we will work with you and your primary veterinarian to provide that care. Please contact us and we can discuss these options at your convenience.
