Ultrasound

Dr. Alvarez has an interest in ultrasound medicine and has been doing ultrasounds since 1998.  When xrays are unable to show internal concerns such as tumors or heart murmurs then your veterinarian may refer you to Dr. Alvarez for an ultrasound.  There are many types of ultrasounds ranging from checking a female for pregnancy to checking a male for prostatic tumors.  Through this technology veterinary medicine can now diagnose and treat ailments that may otherwise go unnoticed and untreated.  Ultrsound is a diagnostic tool that allows a completely safe and non-invasive method of visualizing the interior of the body. This method uses no radiation and allows the doctor to achieve a depth of detail that is not possible with x-rays.

We have recently added on to the clinic and now have a ultrasound room and also recently upgraded our ultrasund machine to a My Lab-50 Vision machine with x-view image and Doppler capabilities.

There are certain circumstances that will require a biopsy in order to get a diagnosis. Most likely your pet will be under general anestesia. The biopsy is performed while the structure to be biopsied and the biopsy needle are simultaneously visualized on the monitor. It is a very precise procedure and quite safe

This exam includes visualization of the liver, gall bladder, spleen, adrenal glands, pancreas, kidneys, urinary bladder and parts of the stomach and intestines. This diagnostic tool enables us to exam internal organs when surgery is not desirable. biopsies may also be performed in certain organs.

Ultrasonography has been used extensively to diagnose pregnancy in dogs and cats during the first trimester before palpation and well before radiography. The time span of 19-30 days after breeding is the easiest and most accurated time for pregnancy detection.