Ultrasound:

Since 2000, we have been able to utilize the technology of B-mode and M-mode ultrasound for evaluation of patients and, often, diagnosis of their problems at Mountain Empire Animal Hospital.

Ultrasound uses transmission of a high frequency ultrasound beam from a hand-held probe into the tissue being examined. Based on the tissue type and density, a beam is reflected back and received by a transducer in the probe. This allows an "image" of the tissue being scanned to be "seen" and evaluated based on the knowledge of anatomy and ultrasonic characteristics of tissue types of specific organs.

Abdominal ultrasound is used in addition to biochemistry tests, abdominal radiographs, and other diagnostic tests to help determine the extent and characteristics of abdominal diseases including those of the liver, kidney, spleen, urinary bladder, adrenal glands, pancreas, intestines, uterus, etc.

Abdominal ultrasound can help identify abnormal masses, such as tumors, presence of blood or other fluid in the abdomen, and can be used to guide a biopsy needle to obtain samples of organs, particularly the liver. In addition to diseases and abnormalities, ultrasound can be used to diagnose pregnancy at 3 weeks of later.

Echocardiography is the use of ultrasound to characterize the condition of the heart based on evaluation of heart chamber size, thickness of heart muscle, visualization of heart valves, visualization of heart tumors, and evaluation of the pericardium (sac around the heart). Also, ultrasound of the heart allows calculation of indices to help assess heart function and comparison of heart chamber size to aid in evaluating the degree to which a particular heart disease is present. Echocardiography aids in diagnosis and evaluation of mitral and tricuspid valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, pericardial disease, heartworm disease, and others.