Vet's Voice Kathleen Linpus www.vetcaretauranga.co.nz

Ultrasonography is being utilised more and more for veterinary patients.

An ultrasound scan involves placing a probe on the skin of the patient, using the reflection of high-frequency sound waves to evaluate the size, shape and position of soft tissues.

X-rays can be used in conjunction, to assess the bones and lungs.

The ultrasound is used to study organs within the abdomen, such as the liver, kidneys, spleen or bladder. A cardiac ultrasound, also called an echocardiogram or ‘echo', is used to examine the heart walls, chambers, valves and blood flow.

We will often use ultrasound to confirm if a dog is pregnant before the puppies are visible by x-ray.

We can use it to find pesky grass-seeds that have tracked in under the skin and are hiding in the muscle. We can scan the abdomen for cancerous growths or corncobs wedged in the intestine or bladder stones.

We saw a dog recently who had been having difficulty urinating. Via ultrasound, we were able to see a cyst extending from his prostate, pushing against the bladder and urethra, so there was no room for the urine to pass.

While visualising with the ultrasound probe, a long fine needle was inserted through the skin and into the cyst, to both drain the fluid for analysis and make the dog more comfortable.

Veterinary medicine, like human medicine, is constantly changing and improving, with new knowledge, expertise and equipment available to help us care for our patients in the safest and least invasive ways.

Kathleen joined VCT in 2005. She completed her veterinary degree in 2003 and has a special interest in Ophthalmology (eyes) and Oncology (cancer). She is proud mum to Manny the dog and Woof the cat.).