Ultrasound at Mountain View
At Mountain View Animal Hospital, we offer both abdominal and cardiac (heart) ultrasound services. Ultrasound is a wonderful technique that allows a completely safe and non-invasive method of visualizing the interior of the body. Unlike conventional X-rays which can cause harm if used excessively, recent evidence shows that ultrasound is completely free from these side-effects. In addition, ultrasound allows the doctor to achieve a depth of detail that is not possible with X-rays.
We recently upgraded our ultrasound capabilities by purchasing a Toshiba SSH-140A PowerPace colorflow ultrasound machine. This is an incredible machine that is commonly used in human hospitals. It now only allows tissue resolution far better than that achieved by any machine on the veterinary market, but also allows the sophisticated use of "colorflow" technology (colors show the actual movement and speed of blood). In addition we have paired this wonderful unit with "telemedicine" capabilities. This allows our doctors to send images to specialists around the world instantly, and allows us to better diagnose and serve our clients. In addition to our enhanced equipment, our doctors have invested heavily in continued and advanced ultrasound training. In the past year we sent our staff to 4 continuing education courses across the country, a commitment that we have continued every year. Not only is it important to have modern technology, it is also important to have a well-trained operator and staff.
Ultrasound / Telemedicine is an exciting and dynamic field, and new advances are continuously being made.
Abdominal Ultrasound
Abdominal ultrasound allows the user to fully examine the liver, gallbladder, spleen, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidneys, urinary bladder, and parts of the stomach and intestines. Ultrasound examination of these organs is crucial when a diagnosis depends upon seeing inside an organ, or when surgery or anesthesia would not be desirable. Abdominal ultrasound is completely painless, and generally can be performed using no anesthesia or sedation. When abnormalities are found during ultrasound examination, a "fine needle biopsy" can often be performed without risk or harm to the animal. Abdominal ultrasound has revolutionized the study liver diseases, and is crucial to treating many types of cancer.
Cardiac Ultrasound
As in people, animals suffer from a wide variety of congenital (birth defect) and acquired heart diseases. The heart is a very complex organ. It has four valves, an electrical conduction system, and four chambers, all of which are crucial to its function. In order to correctly diagnose and treat heart disease, it is absolutely necessary to see inside the heart, as well as to visualize the movement of the chambers, and to look at the valves in motion. This is the area where ultrasound really shines. Using ultrasound beams, it is possible to actually watch the heart in motion from the inside, and to measure each of its parts. Ultrasound also allows us to measure the actual physical effects of various heart medications, and to carefully adjust dosages to improve how the heart is functioning.
Heart disease is very treatable, and in most cases, animals can live normal lives once the nature of their problem is under control.
