In most cases it takes approximately 30-45 minutes to perform the ultrasound exam but may take longer if multiple areas (such as the abdomen and chest) are being examined. If your pet needs a biopsy, that is performed after the ultrasound and does require additional time.

Ultrasound results will be emailed to your referring veterinarian within 24 hours (except weekends). Echocardiogram images are reviewed by a cardiologist and the results will be emailed to your referring veterinarian within 48 hours (except weekends). Our radiologist will discuss their findings with you after the exam is completed.

Many pet owners believe their pet will be less stressed and more cooperative if they are with them during the exam but it is often the opposite. It is also important to avoid interruptions and possible distractions to allow the radiologist to fully concentrate on the ultrasound exam. Therefore, an ultrasound exam can be performed more efficiently and more accurately when only trained staff is helping with your pet.

To comply with local COVID-19 guidelines and for the safety of our clients and staff, we are not allowing any persons other than authorized personnel to enter the building currently.

Ultrasound is very good to look inside of the body but several diseases can have similar appearances (e.g. tumors and abscesses). Determining the type of cells present within a lesion by obtaining a very small sample allows us to make a final differentiation in most cases. We strongly recommend ultrasound guided needle biopsies when the type of cells present is needed to obtain a final diagnosis. If a biopsy is recommended, a veterinary technician or radiologist will discuss it with you. A biopsy is never performed without your consent.

The skin is first cleaned with a surgical soap and then a small needle (smaller than those used for blood samples) is inserted, with ultrasound guidance, into the area of concern. An average of 3 samples is obtained to ensure the greatest diagnostic yield. The samples are transferred to a glass slide, prepared, and sent to the laboratory for interpretation by another specialists (cytopathologist). If a larger tru-cut biopsy is indicated, a sample will be obtained and placed in a special solution to be sent to a pathologist. The biggest risk of needle biopsies is internal bleeding, but it is rare. We conducted a retrospective study including over 3000 biopsies and severe internal bleeding occurred in less than 0.25% of the patients. If any significant bleeding is detected during the procedure, we will notify you and your referring veterinarian immediately.