Pet Ultrasound in Wake Forest, NC, From Your Local Vet

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is a vet in Wake Forest, NC, that offers basic ultrasound for dogs and cats. The vet uses it during a visit to collect a clean urine sample, check the bladder, or take a fast look at the belly or chest after an injury.

Call (919) 891-6444 or book online. Same-day visits are often open.

What is a pet ultrasound used for?

An ultrasound uses sound waves to show soft tissue that x-rays can't show well. At Petfolk, it is most often used for:

• Clean urine samples. The vet guides a thin needle into the bladder to collect sterile urine. This is called cystocentesis. Across Petfolk, nearly three in four ultrasound procedures (73%) were this kind of urine collection, from October 2025 to September 2026.

• Fast belly or chest scans. A short, focused scan (often called a FAST scan) checks for fluid after a fall, a bite or a sudden weak spell. About 1 in 8 ultrasounds across Petfolk (12%) in that year was this kind of scan.

• A closer look at the bladder. Stones, sludge or a thick bladder wall can show up on screen.

Why use a needle to get urine?

A sample caught on a walk or from a litter box picks up bacteria from the skin and the ground. That can make a urine culture look like an infection when there isn't one. A sample taken straight from the bladder gives a clean answer, so your pet gets the right antibiotic, or none at all.

It sounds worse than it is. Most pets react about the same as they would to a vaccine. The ultrasound shows exactly where the needle goes.

Does my pet need to be shaved or sedated?

Usually a small patch of fur on the belly is shaved so the probe can touch the skin. The fur grows back in a few weeks. Most pets are awake, lying on a soft pad on their side or back.

Fear Free handling helps nervous pets stay still. The team uses treats, a towel, a calm voice and breaks as needed. If your pet is very worried, the vet may suggest mild sedation and will talk with you first.

Basic vs advanced ultrasound

All Petfolk care centers offer basic ultrasound. A full, detailed scan of every organ, like the liver, spleen, kidneys, intestines or the heart, may need a specialist with advanced equipment. If your pet needs that, the vet will explain why and help you find a referral in the Raleigh area. Bringing the first visit's records, blood work and x-rays to that appointment saves time.

How to prepare

For a bladder sample, try not to let your pet pee right before the visit. A short leash walk to the car, with no stop at the grass, helps keep the bladder full. For cats, it can help to remove the litter box a couple of hours before you leave. Food is usually fine unless the vet asks you to hold it.

Write down what you've noticed at home: how often your pet pees, whether there is blood or a strong smell, and any accidents in the house. That history, plus the sample, helps the vet decide between an infection, stones or something else.

What will it cost?

The cost depends on whether the ultrasound is a sample collection or a scan, and on any lab tests added. You'll get an estimate before any test or treatment. The final bill can differ if the plan changes during the visit. A sick exam starts at $135.

When to skip the wait

If your pet has a swollen, hard belly, pale gums, or has collapsed after a fall, go to a 24-hour hospital such as BluePearl Pet Hospital on Paragon Park Road in Raleigh rather than waiting for a booked scan.

Book an ultrasound visit

Petfolk Veterinary & Urgent Care - Wake Forest is at 3600 Rogers Branch Rd, Suite 103, Wake Forest, NC 27587, easy to reach from Wake Forest and Rolesville. Many urine samples go straight to lab testing. For bones and swallowed objects, see pet x-rays in Wake Forest.

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