Pet Ultrasound in Holly Springs, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Holly Springs is a vet in Holly Springs, NC, that offers basic ultrasound for dogs and cats. An ultrasound uses sound waves to make a moving picture of the inside of the body. It doesn't use radiation and doesn't hurt, and most pets lie quietly on a soft pad while the vet scans.

At Petfolk Holly Springs, ultrasound is part of a regular exam or urgent visit, so you don't need a separate trip or a referral.

Call (919) 591-0887 or book online. Walk-ins are welcome.

What does a basic ultrasound check?

The vet at Petfolk Holly Springs uses basic ultrasound to:

• Look at the bladder for stones, sludge or thickened walls.

• Check the belly or chest for free fluid after an injury or sudden illness.

• Take a quick look at organs when blood work or an exam raises a question.

• Guide a needle to collect a clean urine sample.

A basic scan answers focused questions. It is not the same as a full abdominal ultrasound done by a specialist, which maps every organ in detail.

Why use ultrasound to collect urine?

A urine sample caught in a cup or from the floor picks up germs from the skin and the ground. For a urine culture, which grows bacteria to find the right antibiotic, the vet needs a clean sample. The vet uses the ultrasound picture to guide a thin needle straight into the bladder. It's called cystocentesis, and most pets react about as much as they do to a vaccine.

This is the most common reason for an ultrasound at Petfolk. From October 2025 to September 2026, close to three in four ultrasound procedures across Petfolk clinics (73%) were done to collect urine this way.

My Labrador retriever was having issues and I thought she may have a UTI.

Deborah A., Google review

What happens during the scan?

1. The vet examines your pet and explains what the scan should answer.

2. You get an estimate and decide whether to go ahead.

3. A small patch of fur may be clipped, and a cool gel goes on the skin.

4. Your pet lies on their side or back on a soft pad while the vet moves the probe.

5. The vet tells you what they saw before you leave.

Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic, so the team keeps holds gentle and offers treats when a pet can have them.

Will my pet need to fast?

Sometimes. For a bladder scan, a full bladder helps, so try not to let your pet pee right before the visit. For some belly scans, the vet may ask you to skip breakfast. Ask when you book.

It also helps to note how often your pet pees, how much they drink, and whether you've seen blood. After the scan, the gel wipes right off, and any clipped fur grows back in a few weeks.

Signs that call for a scan

Book a visit if your pet pees often, strains, has accidents in the house or has blood in the urine. These signs are common in both dogs and cats. A male cat who strains in the litter box and makes little or no urine needs a vet the same day. If he can't pee at all, go to a 24-hour emergency hospital now.

Ultrasound costs

An ultrasound follows an exam. A wellness exam starts at $99, and a sick or urgent exam starts at $135. The scan cost depends on what your pet needs. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. Urine samples often go with blood work and lab tests, and the vet may pair a scan with x-rays as part of diagnostic imaging in Holly Springs.

Bring your pet to Village Walk

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Holly Springs is at 105 Village Walk Dr, Holly Springs, NC 27540, with free parking and access from NC 55. The clinic is open weekends. Book online to see today's times.

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