Yes, the ventral abdomen of each patient should be cleanly shaved from the xiphoid area to pubis, extending slightly along the lateral abdominal walls.

Ideally no, when medically appropriate, all patients should be fasted 8 hours to optimize the quality of the exam, particularly of the cranial abdomen. There is no need to withhold water from patients. Fasting is also necessary when the patient must be sedated.

A filled out ultrasound request form and signed owner consent form.

We require full payment at the time that services are rendered. We accept personal checks from the veterinary clinic or hospital.

Obviously, we are competitive with other similar companies and in many cases, charge less (for better and more complete service). Scanning and interpretation are performed by a board certified specialist in imaging. Please contact us for more information.

An American College of Veterinary Radiology (ACVR) board certified Radiologist (ACVR Diplomate) is a veterinarian who has received advanced training in diagnostic imaging and has passed the ACVR Board Certification Examination. Board certified Radiologists diagnose diseases by obtaining and interpreting medical images. For more information please visit http://www.acvr.org/ .

No. Your own veterinarian plays a critical role in the initial diagnostic evaluation of your pet. He or she must determine if the services we offer (i.e. ultrasound) will be helpful with diagnosing or treating your pet's problem. If so, then your veterinarian will arrange an appointment with us.

No. When used for routine diagnostic examinations, no harmful side effects have been noted. We use the same type of equipment proven safe for fetal ultrasound in women.

No. Abdominal ultrasounds are typically more diagnostically sensitive than abdominal X-rays and may provide an instant diagnosis. However, sometimes on an exam we visualize an abnormality (i.e. nodule) that can appear identical with benign and malignant disease. Other times a particular structure may appear normal, although it is affected by disease.

We often perform an ultrasound guided fine needle aspirate or biopsy of a particular organ or abnormality to increase the diagnostic value of ultrasound.

Yes. The most common risk after an aspirate or biopsy is a small amount of hemorrhage (bleeding). These procedures and any associated risks will be discussed with you in detail by your veterinarian before they are performed.

The radiologist will discuss the exam findings with your veterinarian. Your veterinarian will then recommend an appropriate treatment plan.