The vets at SEVS often use ultrasonography, a non-invasive diagnostic tool used to assess disease processes from lameness to colic within our patients.

How It Works
Sound waves emitted from a the ultrasound probe travel through organs and tissues and are reflected or absorbed, producing a signal called an echo. These echoes are detected and analyzed by a computer in the ultrasound machine and produce a black and white image of the organ in real-time. Ultrasound also provides targeted sampling of small amounts of body cavity fluid, and is used to instruct fine-needle aspirates and biopsies of abnormal organs and tissues.
Radiography and ultrasound are often used together. While radiography provides limited information about the soft tissue structures of the horse, it provides invaluable information about the bones and other areas that cannot be adequately evaluated with ultrasound alone. It is important that these imaging modalities are often used in conjunction with one another to provide the best possible diagnostic accuracy and patient care.