Dr. Greg Lorenz has a special interest in abdominal ultrasound and has attended multiple continuing education courses on ultrasonography. He has been performing abdominal ultrasounds and ultrasound-guided biopsies since 2001. The Animal Hospital of Waynesboro also ultilizes the services of a specialist for ultrasounds of the heart, also called echocardiograms.
 Ultrasound technology is a very useful tool in small animal medicine. It has the advantages of being both safe and non-invasive. Ultrasound is useful for providing detailed information about the internal architecture of organs in the chest and abdomen, including the heart, lymph nodes, liver, spleen, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract and bladder. Radiographs, commonly referred to as x-rays, are useful in evaluating musculoskeletal and joint disease, lung disease and to provide information about organs in the abdomen. For example, an x-ray may show the size or general shape of the liver or kidneys. The ultrasound complements this information while allowing a more detailed look at the structure of these organs. In addition, the ultrasound can be used to obtain a guided biopsy of organs or tumors through the skin.
The ultrasound unit produces ultrasound, or high frequency sound, waves that pass through the skin into the animal's body. These waves are reflected back by tissues in the body to varying degrees. Each second, the ultrasound probe sends out and receives millions of soundwave pulses and reflections. The unit then analyzes these reflections and creates an image on a screen. No radiation is used for ultrasound examination.
For most ultrasound examinations, the pet is not sedated or anesthetized. The fur may be shaved to allow for the ultrasound probe to make complete contact with the skin. For most ultrasound examinations, the pet's bladder should be full and the stomach should be empty. If a biopsy will be obtained with the ultrasound, a short-acting anesthetic is likely to be required.
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