Are you a veterinary imaging professional wanting to brush up on cat ultrasound procedures? As a provider of quality veterinary ultrasound machines, Choice Medical Systems can tell you everything you should know about these procedures. Keep reading to help you remember what you can diagnose with this imaging technique and tips for performing the procedure.

What Is an Ultrasound?

An ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging test that sends sound waves of a certain frequency through a probe and gel, which then renders an image of the internal organs on a screen. It’s also non-invasive and doesn’t use radiation, making it one of the safest diagnostic tests available.

Many people need training and experience to read an ultrasound properly. It can’t penetrate bone or see organs with air inside (though it can detect masses inside them), so you can’t use it to diagnose brain, spinal cord, or certain lung conditions.

What Can an Ultrasound Diagnose?

As one of the most reliable imaging techniques, a veterinary ultrasound can help you deal with the following situations (and more) in a feline patient.

Heart Issues

If you hear a murmur or irregular heartbeat, performing an ultrasound on the heart (also called an echocardiogram) can determine the severity and cause of the condition. In cats, most heart problems concern the muscles rather than arteries. Potential issues include restricted dilated, or excessively thick muscles.

Pregnancy 

Ultrasounds provide a safe way to assess the state of a cat’s pregnancy, determining how many fetuses the cat has, their development, and viability.

Abnormal Blood Tests

If you take a cat’s blood and the results show elevated enzymes in the liver or kidneys, you can perform an abdominal ultrasound, which can produce an image of the organs. While older cats often develop chronic kidney conditions, a cat’s liver problems usually result from hepatic lipidosis. While these two abnormal blood results remain the most common among felines, an ultrasound can confirm other results, too. 

Concerning Urinalysis Results

The most common reason for abnormal urine tests in a cat is stones in the urinary bladder or kidneys. An ultrasound can detect the location and severity of these abnormal masses.

Limb Issues

Many cats develop a limp at some point in their life, and most times, the issue resolves on its own. However, if the problem persists, the cat could have a long-term soft-tissue injury. A cat ultrasound procedure can detect the following issues:

• Experts call an injury to the ligament connecting the knee a cranial cruciate ligament tear.
• When the ligaments above the front paw tear or become worn down, the cat may experience pain when they put weight on it.
• With an inflamed tendon in the shoulder joint, the cat may have difficulty moving the connected limb.
• A brachii muscle rupture occurs when the cat ruptures a tendon in the upper forelimb.
• Like a ruptured shoulder tendon, a supraspinatus avulsion affects the tendon that connects the shoulder to the upper limb.
• When a cat’s knee ligaments weaken or overextend, they can force kneecaps out of place.

Endocrine Problems 

A cat’s endocrine system includes the thyroid, adrenal, and pituitary glands. If the glands have a tumor or are abnormally sized, an ultrasound can help determine the issue’s severity.

Urinary Issues

The cat’s urinary system includes the bladder, kidneys, and urethra. An ultrasound can detect blockages, growths, and more.

Eye Trauma

If you can’t assess the severity of a cat’s eye trauma by looking at the cornea, an ultrasound can help.

Ingested Items

While a cat can often digest foreign objects, if it swallows something it can’t digest, you must find out what it is and where it is in their system. Ultrasounds provide an effective alternative for objects you can’t detect through an X-ray.

Medical Emergencies

Suppose a cat experiences an emergency with the kidneys, liver, or respiratory system, such as a hemorrhage or fluid in the lungs. In that case, an ultrasound can quickly locate the issue and enable fast treatment.

Sample Collection Guidance

If you need a tissue sample, an ultrasound can facilitate more accurate collection via ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration or a tru-cut biopsy. Most vets prefer such methods because they are less invasive than surgical approaches.

Performing a Cat Ultrasound

Performing an ultrasound on an injured animal always carries some risk, and cats have a reputation as one of the most difficult animals a vet can treat. To produce the best results for everyone involved, consider using the following tips for performing a cat ultrasound procedure.

Educate the Owner

The first step in ensuring a positive outcome involves educating the owner about what to expect and any specific preparations they must make. For example, for an abdominal ultrasound, the cat should fast for at least 12 hours, and a urinary tract ultrasound requires a full bladder.

Because the probe must make direct contact with the skin, most ultrasound tests require you to shave the cat. While the vet will perform the shaving, you should still inform the owner of this requirement.

Consider Anesthesia

You should always anesthetize the cat while taking a biopsy, but also consider it for cats that seem agitated or aggressive when you attempt treatment. A cat must fast for 12 hours before undergoing anesthesia, so reach out to the owner before the appointment to obtain a general idea of the cat’s temperament.

Utilize Gentle Restraint

Even the most agreeable cat might require gentle restraint if you don’t put them under anesthesia. For your safety, consider using thickly padded elbow-length gloves to protect yourself from scratches and bites.

Choice Medical Systems Sells Quality Ultrasound Equipment

Do you feel more confident about your ability to perform a cat ultrasound procedure? From teaching you techniques for cleaning ultrasound machines to providing your practice with the highest-quality machines, Choice Medical Systems does it all. Our experienced staff works hard to understand your needs and offer the best solutions.

Contact us to learn more about our products online, or seek answers to all your questions by calling (727) 592-5668.