Crossroads has a state-of-the-art High definition ultrasound machine which is used daily to investigate disease in our patients. the machine is used in three main area: investigation of abdominal problems, heart scanning and pregnancy diagnosis.

The dedicated Ultrasound room Ultrasound Machine A dog resting peacefully while undergoing an abdominal ultrasound scan

Abdominal Ultrasound Scans
Ultrasound scans of the abdomen allow us to investigate possible problems in the major body systems: liver, Kidney, stomach, intestines, pancreas, adrenal glands, bladder, uterus and the abdominal lymph nodes.

An area of fur has to be clipped to enable us to get a good picture, and your pet is allowed to lie quietly while the scan is carried out. For excitable or anxious animals, mild sedation may be given.

The Ultrasound probe is moved gently over the skin surface allowing a detailed picture of the internal organs to be seen on the screen and examined for abnormalities.

Examples of some diagnoses made with the ultrasound machine

Pyometra (uterine infection) in a dog.

A dog presented very unwell with a vulval discharge. A condition called pyometra (uterine infection) was suspected - which can be fatal.       Within minutes the ultrasound scan confirmed a pyometra, the dog was operated on that morning and went home the next day.

Below are two scans from two different cats, but both presented with exactly the same signes - vomiting. In the first, the scan identified mild thickening of the (normal) intestinal walls (you can see the crosshairs which allow measurement of structures to 1/10 of a mm accuracy) , suggesting this cat had gastroenteritis. In the second, an intestinal tumor was identified. This cat subsequently had the tumor removed surgically and made a good recovery.

Cat with vomiting and thickened intestinal walls

Cat with vomiting and an intestinal tumour

Bladder full of blood clots

A dog presented passing urine with lots of blood. A scan identified that the bladder was full of blood clots but no other abnormalities were found.       The dog was treated for cystitis and made a full recovery

Heart Scanning Heart scanning (also called             echocardiography) is used to produce detailed images of the heart on the screen.       The heart is visualised in real-time on the screen so the sonographer can see directly how well it is working.

Heart scan of a dog with mitral valve disease. The scan shows the very thickened, leaky mitral valve and allows us to meaqsure the heart dimensions.

Precise measurements can be made of various heart dimensions - such as chamber size and thickness - which are used in the diagnosis of heart disease, and the functioning of the valves can be checked.

Using an advanced technique called 'colour Doppler' the machine can colour in teh blood as it flows through the heart, allowing us to check for abdominal flow patterns caused by heart abnormalities, leaky valves, and narrowed vessels. Using another technique called 'spectral Doppler' we can measure how fastthe blood is flowing through parts of the heart and even listen to it. In one example, a dog presented collapsed and with very laboured bretahing. An ultrasound scan identified a large accumulation of blood fluid around the heart - a very serious condition called a pericardial effusion. this dog was so ill that fluid had also accumulated in the abdomen (ascites) and around the lungs (pleural effusion).

The dog received an emergency procedure called pericardiocentesis - a needle was inserted into the area around the heart and the fluid drained off, and the fluid around the lungs was also drained.         These procedures proved life saving.

Scan from a dog with a pericardial effusion, pleural effusion and ascites. A life-saving emergency procedure was required.

Pregnacy Diagnosis
Ultrasound scanning is very useful in determining if your bitch is pregnant or not, and can be carried out from as early as 14 days post-serving. In cases of doubt, we offer a free rescan 1-2 weeks later. Scanning can be used to estimate the age of the puppies if there is doubt over the serving date, and if they are all healthy (the machine allows us to see and hear the foetal heartbeat).

This scan shows three healthy puppy foetuses.

Understandibly, many people wish to know that all vets are instructed by the Royal College not to give an estimate of litter size.         This is because the scan cannot see that all puppies will actually be born healthy or without complications.

Usually the sonographer will indicate 'one' or 'more than one/several puppies' but will not give an exact figure. that said, getting a rough idea of litter size is still useful as soem bitches carrying more than one pup may experience problems going into labour