What to Expect
For Pet Owners
If your primary care veterinarian has requested an ultrasound for your pet or you suspect that your pet needs an ultrasound, Minnesota Veterinary Ultrasound can help!
- First, ask your primary care veterinarian to contact Dr. Weisman at Minnesota Veterinary Ultrasound.
- Then, your veterinarian and Dr. Weisman will discuss recommendations for diagnostic ultrasound for your pet and will schedule an appointment.
- Your veterinarian will contact you to confirm your ultrasound appointment and give you any specific instructions.
- On appointment day, you can go directly to your veterinarian’s clinic. Dr. Weisman will conduct the ultrasound with the help of your veterinarian’s staff.
- Many ultrasounds are done with your pet fully awake and lying down comfortably. Sometimes sedation is necessary for patient comfort and best diagnostic results.
- Dr. Weisman will initially discuss the ultrasound results with your veterinarian at the time of the exam if they are present. A comprehensive written ultrasound report will be sent to your veterinary hospital the next business day.
- Your primary veterinarian will review your pet’s test results and discuss next steps in patient care.
Frequently Asked Questions
I am a pet owner. How do I schedule an exam for my pet?
Minnesota Veterinary Ultrasound works directly with your primary veterinarian. If you think your pet is in need of an ultrasound exam, please consult with your veterinarian and have them contact Minnesota Veterinary Ultrasound to schedule an appointment.
What are common indications for an abdominal ultrasound?
An abdominal ultrasound is commonly recommended for patients with vomiting, anorexia, diarrhea, abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss, urinary tract problems, hormonal diseases, and abnormal laboratory bloodwork values.
Why use a mobile ultrasound service?
By using a mobile sonographer, your veterinarian is able to get very important diagnostic information to help your pet all within the comfort and familiarity of your own regular hospital. The ultrasound examination is intended to help either rule in or rule out specific diseases so that your veterinarian can take the appropriate next diagnostic steps and initiate treatment for your pet.
Will ultrasound give me a diagnosis in my patient?
In some cases this is possible. Some examples would be gastrointestinal foreign bodies, urogenital stones and other disease processes that form very distinct sonographic lesions. In other cases, ultrasound is an excellent tool to help narrow down the differential list. Where ultrasound has proven to be most valuable is in the veterinary sonographer’s ability to obtain ultrasound guided biopsies of affected tissues for evaluation by a pathologist.
Can you provide a price list for your services?
A price list is available for veterinarians.
Why is fasting required prior to a scan?
Food and gas in the gastrointestinal tract interferes with the transmission of sound waves and impairs the sonographer’s ability to get good images of your pet’s internal abdominal organs. Food in the gastrointestinal tract can also sometimes be difficult to differentiate from an intestinal mass or foreign body.
Why does my pet need to be shaved?
Fur traps air. This air interferes with image acquisition and impairs the sonographer’s ability to view and evaluate your pet’s internal organs.
Will sedation be required?
Most pets do not require sedation for a routine ultrasound exam. However, animals that are anxious, panting, deep chested, or overweight may need sedation. This saves on time and stress to your pet and allows for better imaging quality and more accurate results. Heavy sedation or anesthesia may be required if ultrasound guided tissue sampling is recommended for your pet.
What type of training has Dr. Weisman had in ultrasound?
Further Questions?
Please don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Weisman.