Pet ultrasounds are a safe, non-invasive way to get a detailed look inside your pet’s body without surgery or radiation. This imaging tool allows veterinarians to assess organs like the heart, liver, kidneys, and bladder in real time, helping to diagnose conditions such as tumors, internal injuries, pregnancy, and fluid buildup. Unlike X-rays, ultrasounds provide a clearer view of soft tissues, making them invaluable for detecting issues early and guiding treatment plans. Because the procedure is painless and requires little to no sedation, it’s a stress-free option for pets while giving owners peace of mind with accurate, timely results.
Expertise You Can Trust: Our team of highly skilled veterinarians and technicians are experienced in conducting abdominal ultrasounds with precision and care.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Capabilities: Abdominal ultrasounds are a powerful diagnostic tool that can uncover hidden health concerns not easily detectable through physical examination alone.
Your Partner in Pet Health: Choosing Wareham Animal Hospital for abdominal ultrasounds means partnering with a dedicated team that has your pet’s best interests at heart.
An abdominal ultrasound uses sound waves to show the organs in your pet’s belly in real time, with no radiation and no incisions. It lets our veterinarians look at the liver, gallbladder, kidneys, bladder, spleen, stomach, intestines, pancreas and lymph nodes. X-rays mostly show the outline of organs. Ultrasound shows their inner structure.
It is often used to look into:
A thoracic ultrasound looks inside the chest. It helps our team check for fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion), an enlarged heart, masses in the chest, and changes in the lung surface. Because the images are live, it can also guide treatment, such as safely draining fluid so a pet can breathe more easily.
We often use it together with chest X-rays when a dog or cat is coughing, breathing fast or with an open mouth, or tiring more easily than usual. If the heart itself needs a full, detailed assessment, your veterinarian may recommend an echocardiogram as the next step.
Your veterinarian may recommend an ultrasound when an exam, bloodwork or X-rays point to a problem but do not fully explain it. Common reasons include:
Pets that are struggling to breathe or have a swollen, painful belly should be seen right away. Call us on the way so the team is ready.
Most pets lie calmly on a padded table while a small area of fur is clipped and a water-based gel is applied. Many pets relax on their own. Mild sedation can be used if your pet is anxious or in pain. A scan usually takes [add: typical scan length].
Before an abdominal ultrasound, [add: fasting and water instructions, e.g. how many hours without food]. This helps give clearer images of the stomach and intestines. Please bring a list of your pet’s medications and any recent test results from another clinic. That way our veterinarians can compare findings and avoid repeating tests.
Wareham Animal Hospital is at 1 Tobey Rd, Ste C3, Wareham, MA 02571. The hospital is led by Alberto L. Fernandez, DVM, DACVECC, a board-certified emergency and critical care specialist. Our urgent care hours are Monday to Friday 12:00pm to 10:00pm and Saturday 12:00pm to 6:00pm.
Same-day ultrasound may be possible depending on the day’s caseload, so please call ahead. [add: typical wait for a scheduled ultrasound appointment and how soon results are reviewed and shared with owners]. Referring veterinarians can [add: how to send a referral]. Call [add: phone number] to book your pet’s ultrasound or ask whether today is possible.
