USES FOR ULTRASOUND

Just a decade ago, you may have been alarmed to see your veterinarian pulling an ultrasound machine from the truck to assess your horse’s lameness---was it that serious? Today, however, advances in technology have made ultrasound a go-to diagnostic resource used even in the earliest stages of minor injuries. Small lesions in tendons, ligaments and cartilage can be identified with greater accuracy than ever using the technology. And although ultrasound waves do not penetrate bone tissues, the images they relay to the monitor can help detect small avulsions or hairline fractures.

Beyond musculoskeletal injuries, ultrasound can also be used to pinpoint

trouble in the abdomen and a few major organs. Depending on the machine, waves can penetrate from 12 to 15 centimeters, reaching the kidney, liver, spleen, colon, some parts of the small intestines, uterus, ovaries and bladder. Because ultrasound provides a dynamic image, it can check blood flow to a particular area of the body. It can also be used on eyes to look for retinal damage, particularly when the cornea is clouded.