Billings_iStock_000012611017_LargeYou probably have realized that Billings Animal Family Hospital is all about staying on the cutting edge and providing the best possible care for your animal family. We are constantly looking for ways to improve our diagnostic, treatment, and care capabilities. That is why we are so excited to share with you our new ultrasound capabilities.

All About Ultrasound

Ultrasound technology uses sound waves to create a picture of organs and structures within the body in a safe and non-invasive manner. While radiographs (X-rays) can also create a picture of the internal organs, ultrasound allows the us to see many more details about the makeup of the individual organs. We can also see movement in real-time, allowing us to assess the function of organs like the heart.

We sometimes also use ultrasound to obtain biopsy samples without surgery when appropriate.

Ultrasound has lots of advantages, including being:

  • Non-invasive
  • Pain free
  • Free of side effects
  • Performed quickly
  • Some pets do need to be sedated to have an ultrasound performed, as they may not be willing to hold still while the pictures are obtained. In general we do also need to shave the area we are examining to get the best image possible.

    What Our New Ultrasound Capabilities Mean to You

    We have been providing ultrasound services for a while now, however we are very excited to have recently had a new machine earlier this month. Our doctors and staff have been being trained on it and are eager to share with our clients.

    Our new ultrasound machine has the most up-to-date technology and tools, allowing us to obtain superb images with greater detail than ever before.

    We are now also able to have specialist veterinarians whose expertise is in ultrasound watch us perform our scans via camera. This will allow our doctors and certified technicians to perform more complete, better quality ultrasound exams than ever before.

    Our certified technicians who have been trained on the ultrasound will also be offering senior screening scans at a reduced cost. These ultrasounds on seemingly healthy pets can be a very sensitive way to find abnormalities before they become otherwise apparent and are a great tool in preventative care.

    We are so excited to share our new ultrasound capabilities with our pet patients. Ultrasound is a very valuable diagnostic tool, and we are proud to be able to offer the very best in this technology for our clients.