Ultrasound & Echos
Pet Ultrasound Services in Dallas, PA
It can be very scary when your veterinarian tells you that your pet needs an Abdominal Ultrasound or Echocardiogram performed to fully diagnose what is wrong. Often these advanced diagnostic tests are recommended after what could be a long road of bloodwork, x-rays and trial medications or at a moment of crisis when your pet has a sudden decline in health. Back Mountain Veterinary Hospital helps to relieve much of that anxiety.
Our long-standing history as a Referral Center for Advanced Diagnostics in Dallas, PA and throughout Luzerne County can give you the confidence to know your pet’s ultrasound or echocardiogram is performed by Dr. Phillips. He has had extensive training and over 17 years of experience working with this technology. Your worries will also be alleviated by the knowledge that we work closely with Internal Medicine and Cardiology Specialists to get you the answers you need, normally within 24 hours. You can get peace of mind by knowing quality, expert diagnostics are available close to home, without the hassle and frustration of transporting your sick pet out of the area.
Abdominal Ultrasounds and Echocardiograms can be scheduled here by your referring veterinarian or you can schedule directly. Appointments can most often be scheduled within 24 hours, Monday through Friday.
You will need to bring the following with you at your scheduled appointment time:
- All relevant bloodwork your pet has had performed.
- Any exam notes or medical records from your veterinarian.
- A list of any medications your pet is/has taken for his/her condition.
- Radiographs (x-rays) from your veterinarian whether films or on disk.
For abdominal ultrasound you will need to fast your pet for 10 to 12 hours prior to the appointment, but allow free access to water. No fast is necessary for an echocardiogram. If your pet’s health concern relates to the bladder, please do not walk your pet outside when you arrive. Your pet will need a full bladder to image properly.
Your pet will have a complete physical examination and his/her medical history will be reviewed during your appointment. Ultrasound waves to not penetrate well through fur, so we will need to shave your pet’s abdomen for ultrasound or the right side of the chest for an echocardiogram.
The ultrasound or echo takes about an hour
so you may want to bring reading materials with you for your wait or pass the time watching TV in our waiting room. If waiting makes you to nervous, you are welcome to leave your pet with us while you run errands or go grab coffee or a bite to eat at any of the local shops and restaurants during that hour. Your pet will be in good hands, laying comfortably on a cushion in a darkened, quiet room with two technicians positioning him/her while the doctor takes the images. Most pets respond well to the environment and relax quickly. If your pet is especially anxious, sedation and/or anesthesia is an available option for an additional fee.
Dr. Phillips will discuss his findings with you
based on his clinical experience before your pet is discharged from the hospital. All of the information you brought with you will be imported into your pet’s case study. Any radiographs brought from a referring veterinarian will be returned to you before you leave. All of that information, together with a written history and the collected images will be forwarded via telemedicine to a specialist for review. The specialist will provide a detailed assessment and recommendations for medications and/or any procedures your pet needs in writing within 24 hours. We will fax that report to your referring veterinarian so that he/she can continue with your pet’s care. We will follow up with you directly if you are a regular patient of the Back Mountain Veterinary Hospital.
7 Reasons Why You Should Consider Ultrasound for Your Pet
1. Diagnose a wide range of medical conditions & often hidden diseases
Ultrasound is a powerful diagnostic tool for both benign and malignant diseases and medical conditions including: Stones within the urinary bladder, kidneys or gallbladder. Abnormalities of organs such as the prostate, kidneys, bladder or spleen, Enlarged lymph nodes, Abnormal blood vessels, Fluid in the abdomen, Disease of the pancreas, Adrenal abnormalities (Cushings/Addisons), Pyometra, Tumors behind the eyeball, Confirmation of pregnancy and fetal viability
3. Have more successful treatment outcomes
Naturally, the sooner a problem is diagnosed, the quicker we can implement the proper treatment plan. Ultrasound is a unique diagnostic tool because it not only allows for early detection, but also gives you an opportunity to do future scans for comparison purposes to track a condition’s progression or mark your pet’s response to treatment.
5. Non-invasive, painless Advanced Diagnostics
You may have already put your pet though many traditional diagnostic procedures and may be nervous about more testing. Now we can offer you the peace of mind that comes from Advanced Diagnostics through Ultrasound. Sound wave technology is thorough, while remaining painless and virtually risk-free. Ultrasound can diagnose a problem buried deep within tissue or organs, without invasive surgery.
2. Diagnose problems earlier
With ultrasound, internal abnormalities that otherwise could not be captured by standard means, such as x-rays, can often be clearly visualized. This would allow you and your veterinarian an opportunity to discover abnormalities such as nodules, masses, cysts and abscesses that would normally remain unknown and therefore untreated in your pet.
4. Receive consultations from board-certified specialists
Gain access to the invaluable resource of a board-certified Internal Medicine Specialist or Cardiologist. Ultrasound images, together with your pet’s lab results, cytology, and radiographs are sent via the Internet to be reviewed by some of the best specialists across the country. They will provide you with a complete written consultation on your case, and offer their diagnosis with the most viable treatment options.
6. Quick turn-around time
All aspects of Ultrasound are quick. First, whether for internal medicine or cardiology, the scan and capture of ultrasound images averages only 30 to 45 minutes. Clients will often be able to have an immediate verbal overview of the scan. Second, the written consultation from the specialist normally arrives within 24 hours and will be faxed to their veterinarian for review. (Weekends may require 48 hours.)
7. Enable your family to make more informed decisions
Families are often torn over decisions about when to pursue treatment in an older, sick pet and when such pursuit is not likely to add to a pet’s quality of life. You and your family can gain comfort from both the knowledge of consulting a specialist, and from often being able to see the problem for yourselves on film. Together, you and your veterinarian can then make fully informed decisions about how to proceed in a manner consistent with the pet’s best interests.