Outpatient Ultrasound Information
              These services are available to Jordan Veterinary clients and to local veterinary hospitals on a referral basis.

    Services Available
  • Full Abdominal Exam:  a complete evaluation of all abdominal organs reviewed by a
  • board-certified radiologist.
  • Soft Tissue Cervical:  Thyroid, Parathyroid, Lymph Nodes, Salivary Glands
  •  Pregnancy Exam:  brief exam to confirm pregnancy and viability as early as 30 days after breeding.                                           (not for puppy/kitten count)
  • Follow-Up Exam:  a recheck evaluation from a previously completed full abdominal exam.
Meet our Ultrasound Technician!
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​Ashley Leonard is a Registered Veterinary Technician that graduated from NC State University in 2010 with a BS in Animal Science and then graduated from Penn Foster in 2013 with an AS in Veterinary Technology.  She has been working in general practice as a technician since 2011.  During that time, she has developed an interest in ultrasonography.  She has been performing ultrasounds since 2021 and has a Certificate of Soft Tissue Proficiency from W.A.V.E. in Texas.  Ashley enjoys baking and spending time with her husband and daughter, and furry children Snickerdoodles and Rose.

Client Information

What is an ultrasound?
An ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure that allows us to see changes in the shape, size, tissue density, internal structure, and position of an organ.  The ultrasound probe uses a high-pitched sound wave that is reflected or absorbed by the tissue, which then creates an image of the organ of interest.

Is ultrasound safe for my pet?
Yes, an ultrasound is very safe! Ultrasound is non-invasive and does not use any radiation.  Even normal results can aid in making a diagnosis or the creation of a treatment plan.

What happens during an ultrasound?
For an ultrasound exam, your pet will be taken into a quiet, dim room where they will be placed in a special padded positioner (most often on their backs, sometimes on their side).  A trained assistant will help keep your pet calm and comfortable during the exam.  The hair on the stomach will be shaved.  Ultrasound gel will be placed on the abdomen area and an ultrasound transducer (probe) will be placed on the skin.  The transducer is moved around the skin of the abdomen collecting images.  These images are then sent to a board-certified radiologist for review and a report will be sent back to us.

Can I be with my pet?
No, we do not permit owners to accompany their pet to the ultrasound room.  This is for the benefit of your pet, as there is typically limited space with the equipment for you to be close to your pet.  We have found that pets are more anxious and fidgety with the owner in the room, as they want to be with you. Your pet will always be accompanied by a trained assistant to aid in keeping them calm and comfortable.  You can either choose to wait for your pet in our lobby or drop-off and have us call you when your pet is ready.

How do I prepare my pet for an ultrasound?
It is important that your pet does not eat for 8 hours prior to their ultrasound exam.  Food in the stomach can cause shadowing that makes it difficult to obtain quality diagnostic images.  If there is a medical reason that your pet should not go without food, please have your referring veterinarian contact us.  They can have free access to water.  Do not let your pet urinate for the 2 hours prior to your appointment (a full urinary bladder is important for accurate imaging).

How long does a ultrasound exam take?
Typically, a full ultrasound exam takes 30-60 minutes.

Will my pet need sedation?
We generally recommend light sedation for most pets, unless medically contraindicated.  The sedation decreases any anxiety your pet may have and helps them to relax, which makes the ultrasound process more comfortable for them and allows us to collect images quicker, shortening the time that it takes for us to complete the scan.  We will consult with you and your referring veterinarian prior to administering any sedatives or medications.  If you think your pet will be anxious for the ultrasound exam, you can consult with your referring veterinarian about anxiety medication to give your pet prior to the ultrasound exam.
 
When will I receive my pet’s ultrasound report?
If you are a Jordan Veterinary client, you will be contacted by one of our veterinarians with the results of your pet’s ultrasound and a treatment plan.
 
If you are a referral client from another veterinary hospital, once we receive the ultrasound report from the radiologist, we will send all information to your referring veterinarian.  Then they will handle communicating the results of the ultrasound exam and report and creating a treatment plan.  Since this is a referral service, we do not communicate results directly to the client, only to the referring veterinarian.

Information for Veterinarians

  ​Outpatient ultrasounds are now being offered for stable patients referred by their primary veterinarian.  At this time, we only offer abdominal ultrasounds, pregnancy checks, recheck ultrasounds (where original ultrasound was performed by us), and ultrasound guided fine needle aspirates (at doctor discretion).  All full abdominal ultrasounds will include a full report from a board-certified radiologist.

  We generally require light sedation for most patients, unless medically contraindicated.  It makes the patients more comfortable, less tense and allows us to collect images quicker.  But especially, if a referral patient is known to be fractious/anxious/painful and we will require sedation; please provide the owner with a pre-procedure oral sedative prior to their scheduled ultrasound.  All cervical ultrasound patients and FNA patients are required to be sedated due to the nature of the scan.
 
  Please let clients know that their pet’s abdominal area will be shaved for imaging and that they will not be allowed to accompany their pet back to the treatment area for the ultrasound exam.  They are welcome to wait or can drop off.

  Once we receive all referral information from you, we will contact the client directly with a cost estimate and appointment availability.  Clients will be asked to sign our anesthetic release form at admit.

  As a referral service, we will communicate results only to you, the referring veterinarian.  We will send ultrasound exam notes, radiologist report, +/- FNA results directly back to you at the contact information listed on the referral form.

  Charges will be billed directly to the client, to be paid for at release of the patient back to owner.

Referral Requirements
  • Current Rabies Vaccination
  • Recent exam within 30 days
  • Recent bloodwork within 60 days
  • X-ray images (if applicable)
  • All medical notes pertaining to symptoms/area of concern
  • Completed referral form (can be completed online and emailed)
​Send all information to
Ashley Leonard
at [email protected]
or direct any questions to Ashley at (336) 249-3991 ext 1012.