Ultrasound
This is a great tool to provide our doctors with a non-invasive look inside. One of the most common reasons for a veterinarian to use ultrasound is as an aid to diagnosis.
Ultrasound is most often used by veterinarians as a non-invasive way to reaffirm a diagnosis that is already being considered through a veterinary examination. For example, if a male cat is brought in by an owner who claims that the cat is having difficulty urinating, the veterinarian might use ultrasound to check for an obstruction in the bladder or urethra. While examining these organs the veterinarian can also look at bladder thickness, and for bladder stones. Ultrasound can also be used to examine suspicious masses and other findings which occur during a manual exam. It can also be used in emergency settings to look for serious medical problems such as internal organs damaged in a collision.