Pet Ultrasound
Ultrasound usually comes up when another test raised a question it couldn't answer, like a high liver value or an odd shape on an X-ray. Petfolk Johns Creek, at Medley in Johns Creek Town Center, offers ultrasound on-site, and most results are ready the same day.
It starts with an exam and a clear reason to scan. Visits begin at our Johns Creek clinic.
Call (470) 964-6691 or book online. Open 8am–6pm, seven days a week.
When to go to a 24-hour emergency hospital
Go to a 24-hour emergency hospital for a swollen, painful belly; unproductive retching; collapse or pale gums; trouble breathing; or a male cat straining with no urine. These need emergency imaging and care now.
Petfolk Johns Creek is open 8am to 6pm, seven days a week. We don't provide overnight care, so anything that can't wait until morning belongs at a 24-hour emergency hospital.
When a Vet Recommends Ultrasound
Liver or kidney values on lab work that need a closer look
Repeat vomiting, diarrhea, or a pet who stops eating without a clear cause
Straining to urinate, blood in the urine, or suspected bladder stones
A tense, swollen, or painful belly
Weight loss in an older cat with a normal appetite
Rechecking a known mass over time
Ultrasound shows the inside of soft tissue in real time: a bladder wall, the layers of the intestine, or fluid where it shouldn't be. Merck's ultrasonography overview notes it's used most to evaluate soft tissue in the abdomen, chest, and musculoskeletal system.
When Ultrasound Isn't the Right First Step
Sound waves don't pass well through bone or gas, so a limp or suspected fracture usually goes to X-rays first. Many questions are answered faster and for less by an exam, lab work, or a urine test. Ultrasound can't measure kidney values or find an infection in a sample.
Limping, joint pain, or a possible broken bone
A single upset stomach in a pet who's eating and acting normal
Skin or ear problems
A routine wellness visit with a normal exam
How to Prepare
For a belly scan, food is often held for several hours, because a full stomach and gas blur the view.
For a bladder scan, the clinic may ask you to skip the last potty break so the bladder is full.
The clinic will give you exact instructions when you book.
What Happens During the Scan
The vet explains what the scan is meant to answer.
A small patch of fur is shaved, because air trapped in fur blocks the sound waves. It grows back.
Your pet lies on a padded table, usually on their side or back, and our Gentle Handling team keeps them relaxed rather than held down.
Warm gel goes on and the probe glides over the skin. There are no needles and no radiation.
The vet reviews the findings with you, and the results are in the Petfolk app.
Light sedation is sometimes needed for a pet in pain or one who can't lie still. You'll discuss it first.
“My lil baby was so relaxed with the vets and technicians!”
— Kacey J., Petfolk client
Basic and Advanced Ultrasound
Every Petfolk care center offers basic ultrasound. Advanced ultrasound, such as detailed heart studies, varies by location. If your pet needs a study beyond what Johns Creek offers, the vet will tell you and help you find the right referral.
What Ultrasound Costs Depends On
How much of the body is scanned; a focused bladder check differs from a full abdominal scan
Whether sedation is used
Whether X-rays, lab work, or a urine sample happen at the same visit
Whether a specialist review or referral is needed
You'll get an estimate before the scan. PetfolkCare members get exams covered up to $99 per visit and 10% off lab work and X-rays.
Scan When It Answers the Question
Book an exam at Petfolk Johns Creek or call (470) 964-6691, and leave knowing what the scan showed and what comes next.