Ultrasound Technology helps Provide High-Quality Feline Healthcare at Just Cats
Have you had an ultrasound? Maybe you’ve had a baby and remember seeing that squishy face on a grainy black and white photo. Or perhaps your doctor once wanted a closer look at one of your organs to diagnose pain or other symptoms. Just like your doctor uses ultrasound technology to provide you with high-quality health care, Just Cats Veterinary Clinic does the same for your cat.
If your cat is displaying unusual symptoms—anything from vomiting or diarrhea to lethargy or exhibiting signs of pain—you want answers. Fast. Seeing your pet uncomfortable or ill and not knowing how to help them is sad, scary, and frustrating.
When you bring your cat to Just Cats for evaluation, if our veterinarians believe that your cat has a condition that could be detected by an ultrasound, they will schedule the procedure.
One of the many features of Just Cats Veterinary Clinic that sets us apart from other veterinary clinics is that we offer in-house ultrasound services. Most vets will refer your pet out to a specialty clinic or hospital, but we’re proud to have the technology right here in our offices. This way, not only do you receive your pet’s medical care fast—when you need it—but it’s also providing care in a comfortable, familiar environment with people who know you and already have a relationship with your cat.
We use ultrasound in cats to:
Evaluate the kidney, liver, and bladder
Diagnose a pregnancy
View the heart (echocardiogram)
Perform fine needle aspiration samples
Collect a urine sample directly from the bladder (the ultrasound helps guide the placement of the needles)
Here’s what you can expect from a Just Cats ultrasound
Ultrasounds utilize sound waves conducted by a special jelly on the skin. It is safe and non-invasive. Your cat’s belly will be shaved in order to apply the jelly and probe.
We will occasionally use anesthesia if the cat is in pain, if we’re performing needle aspirations, or if sedation is necessary for any other medical reason. For cats who are very anxious, we will generally administer an oral dose of mild sedation (gabapentin) about 2-3 hours before the procedure.
Once the ultrasound is performed, a radiologist reviews the images and we will contact you within 1-5 days to discuss the results.
Just Cats Veterinary Technician Trish Davis trained for 2 years in the SonoPath Diagnostic Efficiency Protocol and for another 2 years with Universal Imaging in Bedford, Connecticut. She recently completed the program’s 3-day eco-cardiac wet lab training. Trish has performed more than 300 feline ultrasounds since 2016.
If your cat needs an ultrasound, be assured that Just Cats is using the highest level of technology and skill to make the experience easy and safe for your cat and provide the answers you need.
Just Cats offers ultrasound services at both our Guilderland and Saratoga Springs locations.
