Abdominal Ultrasound for Dogs and Cats: What It Shows and What to Expect
Your dog has been vomiting on and off for a week, or your cat is drinking far more than usual. Blood tests point to something, but not to what. Your vet suggests an abdominal ultrasound, and you want to know what that involves.
An abdominal ultrasound is a painless scan that lets your vet look at the organs inside your pet's abdomen as they work. Here is what it shows, when it is used, and how to get your pet ready.
What an abdominal ultrasound shows
The scan uses sound waves to make a live picture of the soft organs in the abdomen. Your vet can check their size, shape and internal texture, and spot fluid, masses or blockages.
The organs usually checked are:
Liver and gallbladder
Spleen
Kidneys and adrenal glands
Bladder
Stomach and intestines
Pancreas
Lymph nodes
Womb or prostate, where relevant
Because the picture is live, your vet can also watch the gut move and see blood flowing through the organs. There is no radiation, so you can repeat the scan safely to track how your pet is responding to treatment.
When vets recommend one
An abdominal ultrasound often follows a physical exam and blood tests that point to an abdominal problem but don't explain it. Your vet may suggest one if your pet has:
Ongoing vomiting or diarrhoea
Weight loss or a poor appetite
Drinking and peeing much more than usual
A swollen or painful tummy
Blood or urine test results that need a closer look
Blood in the urine, or trouble peeing
A possible swallowed object
It is also used after an accident to screen for internal bleeding, and to follow up a condition already found.
How to prepare your pet
Your vet will tell you exactly what to do when you book, and these are the usual steps.
Food. Most pets need an empty stomach for a few hours before the scan, because food and gas in the gut can hide the organs behind it. We will give you the exact timing for your pet. Fresh water is usually fine unless we say otherwise.
Bladder. A full bladder gives a clearer picture of it, so try not to let your pet pee just before the appointment, if you can.
Medication. Tell us about any medication your pet takes, and ask us before skipping a dose.
What happens on the day
Your pet lies gently on their back or side on a padded cushion. We clip a patch of fur from the tummy so the probe sits flat against the skin, spread some warm gel on it, and move the probe slowly across the area.
Most pets lie calmly through the scan, which often takes around 20 to 30 minutes. Pets who are very nervous or in pain may be given a mild sedative to keep them comfortable and still. Your vet reviews the images as they go and explains what they see.
Our portable ultrasound is battery-powered, so we can also bring it to your pet in some cases. Ask us when you call.
What the scan can and cannot tell us
An ultrasound shows how an organ looks, but it cannot always say what is causing the change. A spot in the liver, for example, could be several different things.
If something needs a closer look, your vet may take a tiny sample with a fine needle, guided by the ultrasound, and send it to the lab. Gas in the gut, very large pets and thick coats can make some areas harder to see. For bones and the lungs, an X-ray is the better test, and for complex cases a CT may add more detail. Our guide to X-ray vs ultrasound vs CT explains how vets choose.
Getting your results
Your vet usually explains the findings straight after the scan. We run blood tests in our in-house laboratory, so we can often review imaging and results together on the same day. If your pet needs treatment, a follow-up scan or more tests, we talk you through the options and likely costs before going ahead. You can read more about all our scans on the diagnostic imaging page.
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