Top of the range Ultrasound Scanner at Streatham Hill Vets

Here at the surgery we have recently upgraded our ultrasound scanner and are really pleased with some of the improved abilities to diagnose diseases.

Ultrasound is a very useful tool in a vet surgery as images can be taken of what is happening within soft tissues such as abdominal organs or the heart. It is a highly skilled modality and we are lucky to have experienced and trained vets here to get the most out of the machine. One particular benefit of ultrasound is that it is painless and often does not require any sedation. The coat must be clipped though, although that will grow back.

Here are some videos from some recent heart scans – Can you see the abnormal blood flow in green?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZbMYBr7Ams&feature=youtu.be

Sally’s tumour

Our vets Dane and Carla have treated several clients utilizing the new ultrasound scanner, highlighting its fantastic capabilities. Carla focuses her attention on abdominal ultrasounds, and Dane predominantly with heart scans. 

Carla spent some time recently with Sally, a lovely natured border collie cross who came in with a low grade mass tumour on her right thigh.  This type of tumour can easily spread, therefore it was  important that we took immediate action by checking the lungs with an x-ray and an abdominal scan with our ultrasound machine to ensure nothing more had spread.  On the abdominal scan a suspicious area was found on the right adrenal gland near the kidney. 

A sample was taken but luckily it came back malignant and the mass was removed.  We are pleased to say Sally is doing so much better, and as a direct result of our newly improved scanner.

Nero’s two mass tumours

Nero our boxer friend came in to see Carla as he had not one, but TWO mast cell tumours.  One of which was on his chest wall and the other was on his toe.  He had to have an x-ray and ultrasound much like Sally.  The results of the ultrasound found a suspicious are on the liver which needed urgent attention. 

A sample was taken for analysis – and lucky for Nero it also came back benign.  Surgery was still required for a preventative measure, so his toe had to be amputated.  We are really happy to report that he is getting back to his normal self, and is on the road to recovery.

Sylar’s string!

Our mischievous friend Sylar, who recently got in a bit of pickle when he ate some nylon thread. His concerned owner brought him in because he had been vomiting for a few days and was unusually lethargic. After Carla had admitted him, Sylar underwent an ultrasound scan, which showed a long string-like foreign body. It was anchored under his tongue, which is quite common.  His intestines tried to move the object through, but a lot of the string was bunched up.  This can cause blockages which are life threatening.

Carla and the nursing team set up emergency surgery and were able to remove the nylon thread that ran pretty much the length of his body.

Sylar has recovered and has regained his appetite – hopefully he has learned that string is not one of the required food groups!