Animal ultrasound technology is a growing field.

• Ultrasonography is commonly used in many medial practices. However, it is also a technology commonly used in many veterinary clinics. More and more medical practitioners interested in ultrasound technology can embark on a career in animal ultrasound technology. This career field is an interesting and exciting opportunity for anyone who is interested in sonography and animal health.

Training Necessary

Animal ultrasound technologists will have to embark on extensive training before they can apply for a job in their chosen career field. Typically, someone interested in animal sonography will need to go to college to get a two-year degree that specializes in animal ultrasound technology before they can work as an animal ultrasound technologist. Many will become certified as a registered veterinary technician before becoming an ultrasound technician in an animal clinic or hospital.

Skills Necessary

Most animal ultrasound technologists have skills that are relevant to animal health. These include a general understanding of animal health and the skills and expertise necessary to perform procedures on animals. Animal medical care can be as complex as the care required for humans. Courses in animal anatomy and physiology will be necessary, as will an internship in an animal health clinic or similar setting.

Ultrasound Experience

Ultrasound experience is usually needed in order to work as an animal ultrasound technician. Training may include work at specialized seminars, and certification classes that cover sonography may be needed. Some animal hospitals may also offer advanced training. Classes in radiology may also benefit someone interested in pursuing this career.

Soft Skills

Anyone interested in working with animals will benefit by loving animals. Unlike people, animals are not able to voice their concerns. While some animals are put to sleep for certain procedures, they still require the tender loving care one might expect of a person that is experiencing a serious illness. It is important for anyone entering the field of animal ultrasound technology to have a heart for animals and a genuine interest in helping animals of all kind

Sonography is increasingly becoming important in healthcare. But it is not only used on human patients. More and more veterinary settings are performing ultrasounds on their feline, canine and other animal patients as well.

A 2011 article from the Society of Diagnostic Medical Sonography’s magazine News Wave(“Increasing Demand for Veterinary Sonography Creating Opportunities for Sonographers” by Beth W. Orenstein) opens with how Fern Ann Delaney, RDMS, performs significantly more ultrasounds on animals compared to 13 or so years ago. When Delaney first began as a sonographer at the University of Wisconsin in Madison’s Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, she was only really busy once a week with around five cases that particular day. “These days, she does between eight and 10 cases a day – everyday – and on a variety of animals from cats and dogs to ferrets and snakes,” wrote

 
Orenstein’s article also described the mobile sonography service performed by a Eugene, Oregon-based sonographer, Tomie Timon, RDMS, RVT. Timon travels to various vet clinics and hospitals to perform abdominal ultrasounds and echocardiograms on five or six patients (like birds, dogs, snakes and guinea pigs) a day.

Furthermore, therapeutic ultrasound is growing in importance to benefit animals. For example, Jennifer Brooks in her Equine Wellness Magazine article “Making Waves” (2010) describes how she performs therapeutic ultrasound on horses. (Brooks first became a human physical therapist and then further specialized to become an equine rehab therapist).

Ultrasound’s Growing Use In Animal Healthcare

Since ultrasound is non-invasive and non-radiographic, is increasingly becoming more portable and is cheaper than other imaging technologies, (like CT and MRI technologies), sonography is becoming ever more popular a tool in animal healthcare. And it is not just sonographers or ultrasound technicians that perform the imaging tests on pets. More and more, veterinarians are also performing sonography.

Pursuing Your Training

Veterinary professionals can take continuing education coursesthrough numerous colleges, universities and associations to gain essential skills in ultrasound. And the Veterinary Support Personnel Network (VSPN) encourages veterinary technicians to become trained in sonography as well. “Veterinary technicians can increase their worth to a practice by learning these techniques,” stated the VSPN. “Acquiring the ultrasound image requires training, but you do not need to be a veterinarian to be a good ultrasonographer”. If you are considering pursuing a career as a veterinary tech, you’ll notice that numerous degree programs include at least one course in diagnostic imaging ultrasound.

Whether you are a pet owner, an aspiring sonographer, or a longtime vet, find out how ultrasound is already employed in your community. Discover how it can benefit you personally, professionally and most importantly, the animals you love.

Degree Program

Occupational Associate

Program Description
The Diagnostic Medical Sonography program at Southeastern Technical Careers Institute, Inc. is designed to prepare students for an entry level position in the field of Sonography, which includes Abdominal, Pelvic, Obstetrics, Vascular and Superficial Structures. Student will become knowledgeable in Anatomy and Physiology, Pathology and Sonographic patterns of the scanned organs and the Sonographic findings of pathology as well as learn the protocols with the logical sequences for a thorough survey of the organs and surrounding areas which provide technically accurate images for the review of the interpreting physician. The core classes include a Didactic component, a Laboratory (hands on) component and a Clinical Externship component. This final component of the curriculum is designed to include supervised experience in the true clinical environment which requires multiple assignments, logs, evaluations and competencies completed by the student and their clinical supervisor. At the end of the program, students that have attended and satisfactorily completed all assignments of class and externship should have the skills to seek an entry level position in the field as Diagnostic Medical Sonographers.

 
Note:
Southeastern Technical Careers Institute, Inc. does not have programmatic accreditation through CAAHEP or any other accrediting body for the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program. Graduates of the Diagnostic Medical Sonography program are encouraged to take the first portion of the ARDMS exam which is the SPI (Sonographic Principles and Instrumentation). Under ARDMS requirements, students that attend this institution qualify to take the first portion of the ARDMS after successfully completing their Ultrasound Physics courses. For the second portion, students are required to work as Sonographers for a period of 1 year after graduation or as defined in the pre-requisites section of the ARDMS booklet and website. The requirements and pre-requisites that qualify students to take these examinations are under the control of the agencies and organizations that offer the examinations and outside the control of STCI. Their requirements can change without advance notice. Therefore, STCI cannot guarantee that graduates will be eligible to take this registry examination, regardless of their potential qualification status upon enrollment.
see alsdohttp://www.ogeecheetech.edu/docs/d_Programs/VetTech/Veterinary%20Technology%20Sonographer%20Certificate.pdf

Does the technique have any drawbacks?

“Air is the enemy of ultrasound waves.”

Air is the enemy of ultrasound waves. Since the lungs are air-filled, they cannot be studied with ultrasound. The exception to this rule is the ultrasound study of a mass located within the lungs. Bone also stops ultrasound waves, so the brain and spinal cord are unable to be seen with an ultrasound study, and obviously, bones cannot be examined.

What types of diseases are diagnosed with an ultrasound examination?

The ultrasound examination permits a detailed view of many of the body’s organs. Ultrasound is an ideal imaging technique for pregnancy diagnosis and monitoring, since the fetuses can be seen in real time, and their development and viability can be tracked.

Ultrasound examination permits us to view the internal or inner structures of the kidneys, liver and other abdominal organs, and allows the recognition of cysts and tumors. It is excellent for viewing the interior of hollow organs such as the bladder.

“…cardiac structures are all measured, allowing an assessment of the heart’s function.”

An ultrasound examination is especially helpful for diseases of the heart, and when used to examine the heart, the procedure is calledechocardiography. The thickness of the heart walls, the size of its chambers, and the motion of the valves and other cardiac structures are all measured, allowing an assessment of the heart’s function. Doppler ultrasound is another form of cardiac ultrasound in which the direction and speed of blood flow in the heart and blood vessels can be measured. Color-flow Doppler technology makes it even easier to observe the flow of blood through the heart and important blood vessels. Some ultrasound machines can measure the velocity and direction of blood flowing in and out of the four chambers of the heart.

Some diseases can be diagnosed because they have a specific ultrasound appearance, while other conditions have non-specific ultrasound findings.

What about biopsies?

One of the important features of an ultrasound examination is the ability to identify abnormal areas in a specific organ.

“An abnormal section of an organ permits precise biopsy of those areas using a technique called anultrasound-guided biopsy.”

Seeing an abnormal section of an organ permits precise biopsy of those areas using a technique called an ultrasound-guided biopsy. A biopsy gives a pathologist a section of tissue that can be examined under the microscope for more information. In many cases, the pathologist is able to provide a diagnosis.

What steps need to be taken to prepare for an ultrasound exam?

No special preparation is needed if the heart is to be studied.

“Abdominal ultrasound is going to be performed, food should be withheld from your cat for twelve hours.”

If an abdominal ultrasound is going to be performed, food should be withheld from your cat for twelve hours. The urinary bladder is best visualized if it is full of urine. Therefore, do not let your cat urinate within three to six hours of the ultrasound procedure, if possible.

Is anesthesia required?

If your cat is cooperative, no anesthesia or sedation is needed to perform ultrasound on the heart or the abdomen. However, if biopsies are to be taken, a short-acting anesthetic or a heavy sedative will be needed to help relax your pet during the procedure and prevent potential complications. Your veterinarian will discuss whether your cat will require chemical restraint.

Is it necessary to shave my cat’s hair?

In most cases, the fur must be shaved to perform an ultrasound examination. Since ultrasound waves are not transmitted through air, it is imperative that the hand-held probe makes complete contact with the skin. In some cases, such as pregnancy diagnosis, it may be possible to get adequate images by moistening the hair with rubbing alcohol and applying a copious amount of water-soluble ultrasound gel. However, in all cases the ultrasound images will be of better quality if the area to be examined is shaved.

When will I know the results of the examination?

Since an ultrasound study is performed in real time, the results of what is seen are known immediately. In some cases, the ultrasound images may be sent to a veterinary radiologist for further consultation. When this occurs, the final report may not be available for a few days.

Is the technique affordable?

Although the initial cost of a scan may seem high, it has to be equated with the high cost of the equipment, the fact that specialized training is required in order to interpret the images, and a significant amount of time is involved in carrying out the examination. Its usefulness for pregnancy diagnosis, evaluation of the internal organs, assessment of heart function, and evaluation of certain eye diseases, make it an invaluable, non-invasive diagnostic tool to help protect to your pet’s well-being.