Sonography

Ultrasound is an important diagnostic procedure in veterinary medicine and can be used to investigate a wide range of conditions. As it is a pain-free examination method, ultrasound can generally be performed on animals without the need for general anaesthesia. The presence of the owner and, if necessary, a mild sedative are usually sufficient for the examination to be carried out.

During sonography, the device emits and receives sound waves. Based on the echogenicity (that is, the degree of reflection and scattering of the emitted sound-wave impulses), the veterinarian can distinguish the various structures.

In principle, the ultrasound device displays the degree of reflection using shades of grey. Structures with low echogenicity (such as blood or urine) appear black on the ultrasound monitor, whereas structures with high echogenicity (for example bones or gases) are displayed in white.

To prevent the ultrasound waves from being reflected by air pockets between the ultrasound probe and the skin surface, the veterinarian uses a highly water-based gel during the examination. This gel is applied to the animal’s skin, and the ultrasound probe is placed on top. The veterinary ultrasound probe Youkey Q7 Vet Linear Probe Small is suitable, among other things, for ultrasound examinations in small animals.

As cats in particular often have little patience, the ultrasound examination in a veterinary practice must be carried out very quickly. For this reason, veterinarians generally refrain from giving explanations during the examination and instead discuss the results with the owner afterwards, using the ultrasound images taken during the procedure for documentation purposes.

However, this imaging technique can be used in the veterinary practice not only for pure imaging – it is also possible, for example, to take tissue samples from internal organs under ultrasound guidance. The position of the biopsy needle can be monitored precisely and in real time on the ultrasound.

While linear probes are mainly used for sonography of superficial structures (such as the thyroid gland), convex probes are generally used for overview examinations (most commonly in the abdomen). Specialised probes include, for example, rectal and vaginal probes.

The veterinary Youkey Q7 Vet Vaginal Probe is suitable, for example, for ultrasound examinations in large animals. When used in combination with the Youkey Q7 Wireless Flex Vet Ultrasound System, this transducer is primarily employed for pregnancy examinations.

Depending on the tissue to be scanned, which varies between animal species, the penetration depth also differs and must be adjusted using an appropriate frequency. Ultrasound probes should therefore be selected to suit the specific examination. Particular attention should be paid to the frequency or range of frequencies the probe can deliver.

We offer a comprehensive selection of ultrasound probes for dogs, cats (such as the Youkey Q7 Vet Micro Convex Ultrasound Probe), horses and other small and large animals.

Portable ultrasound devices are also frequently used for pregnancy monitoring in large animals. In cattle in particular, pregnancy is often confirmed using an ultrasound scanner, as this method provides a high degree of diagnostic reliability.

As such examinations usually take place in the barn, mobile ultrasound devices are ideal for supportive diagnostics outside the veterinary clinic. These mobile units are often equipped with a battery, allowing cordless operation on site without difficulty.

As an alternative to a conventional ultrasound scanner, special pregnancy detection devices are also available, which confirm pregnancy by detecting amniotic fluid. The device recognises the large accumulation of fluid and confirms pregnancy with a loud signal.

Before the examination, however, it should be ensured that the animal has emptied its bladder recently, as a full bladder can lead to a false-positive result.