Pet Ultrasound in Nichols Hills, OK, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Nichols Hills is a vet in Nichols Hills, OK, that uses basic ultrasound for dogs and cats. Ultrasound uses sound waves, not radiation, to show soft tissue on a screen in real time, like the bladder, fluid in the belly or chest, and the outline of some organs.

It's quick, doesn't hurt most pets, and usually done during the same visit as the exam.

Call (405) 251-8816, book online, or walk in.

What is a pet ultrasound used for?

At Petfolk Nichols Hills, the most common uses are:

1. Collecting a clean urine sample. A thin needle, guided by ultrasound, draws urine straight from the bladder. This is called cystocentesis. Across Petfolk, nearly three in four ultrasound procedures (73%) are this kind of guided urine collection (Oct 1, 2025 to Sep 30, 2026).

2. Checking the bladder for stones, sludge or a thick wall in pets with urinary signs.

3. A quick FAST scan. About 1 in 8 ultrasounds across Petfolk (12%) is a focused scan of the belly or chest to look for free fluid, often after an injury or in a pet that suddenly seems weak (same dates).

4. Looking closer at an area that showed something on an x-ray.

Why collect urine with a needle?

A sample caught from the floor or litter box can pick up bacteria from the skin and ground, which makes a urine culture hard to read. A guided sample from the bladder is clean, so the lab can tell if bacteria are really there and which antibiotic will work. Most pets tolerate it well, and it's over in moments.

Does my pet need sedation for an ultrasound?

Usually not. Most pets lie on a padded table on their back or side while the vet moves the probe. A small patch of fur is often shaved so the probe can touch the skin, and a cool gel is used. Very nervous or sore pets may need light sedation, and the vet will ask you first.

Fear Free handling is standard at every Petfolk clinic. At Petfolk Nichols Hills, the team uses soft pads, slow handling and treats to keep the scan calm.

How should I prepare for an ultrasound?

• For a urine sample: try not to let your pet pee for a couple of hours before the visit, so the bladder has urine in it.

• For a belly scan: the vet may ask you to hold food for several hours, since a full stomach blocks the view.

• Bring past reports, including any x-rays or lab results from other clinics.

You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit.

When a full specialist scan helps

Basic ultrasound answers many questions at the clinic, often while you wait, and the vet can repeat a bladder check at a recheck visit to see if stones or sludge are clearing. For a detailed scan of the heart or every belly organ, the vet may refer your pet to a specialist with advanced equipment and explain why.

Ultrasound costs

The cost depends on the type of scan and whether a sample is collected. A sick exam at Petfolk Nichols Hills starts at $135. Ask for an estimate before the scan.

Bones and the chest

See pet x-rays in Nichols Hills for bones and the chest.

A male cat who can't pee

A male cat straining in the litter box with little or no urine may have a blocked bladder, which can't wait. Call (405) 251-8816 right away. If he's crying, vomiting or weak, go to a 24-hour hospital such as VEG Oklahoma City on Pawnee Dr off N Western Ave.

Scans near Nichols Hills Plaza

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Nichols Hills is at 1125 NW 63rd St Suite 1125 C, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, with parking on site.

Book a visit at Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Nichols Hills, or see all veterinary services in Nichols Hills.