Welcome to
DVT
Paws Medical Services
Mobile Ultrasound Services for Dogs and Cats in New Mexico
Ultrasound
An ultrasound is a non invasive diagnostic imaging test that uses sound waves to create real-time pictures or videos of soft tissues inside your pets body. These images can provide important information to help your veterinarian properly diagnose and treat your pets medical concerns.
Indications for ultrasound
-
Elevated chemistry enzymes or other bloodwork abnormalities.
-
Suspected ingestion of foreign material
-
Suspected mass
-
Changes in appetite or thirst
-
Vomiting
-
Define disease severity
-
Preventative medicine for senior pets
-
Providing early diagnoses ​
-
-
Among others that your vet may recommend.
-
Heart murmurs (coming April 2025)
Additional Services
-
Cystocentesis (urine collection for best diagnostic results)
-
Abdominocentesis (abdominal tap to remove fluid)
-
Fine needle aspiration of masses or fluids
-
Thyroid evaluation
-
Pregnancy scans
Consultation
-
All ultrasound studies will include a DACVR (radiologist) specialist report.
-
Additional consultations prior to study can be done via telephone call with Dr. Velazquez for an additional fee.
-
Your family veterinarian will be able to provide all pertinent information for ultrasound study and follow up consultations.
Preparing for an ultrasound study
Please read carefully if you have already scheduled your pets ultrasound appointment.
01
Schedule a date with your family veterinarian
When setting up an appointment your family veterinarian will provide a set of instructions prior to bringing your pet in for the ultrasound.
If a consultation with Dr. Velazquez is requested prior to the study, please allow 1-4 business days to setup.
02
Day Before ultrasound
For the best image quality it is important that your pet is fasted for 8-12 hours. Any material within the intestinal tract will affect the quality of images and diagnostic report.
*Unless their age or medical condition makes it unsafe
03
Day of study
-
Please remember that your pet has to be on an empty stomach for best diagnostic exam.
-
Your pets abdominal region has to be shaved since air trapped in around the the coat will interfere with transmission of ultrasound waves. If this is not an option for pet parent, a different diagnostic study will have to be considered.
04
Other FAQ
-
Is it painful?
-
No, your pet will be lightly sedated and laying on their back for best images.​
-
-
How long is the scan?
-
Approximately 30 minutes, but we have to consider sedation time. Your pet will likely spend a few hours in clinic with us.
-
-
Is it affordable?
-
The initial cost may seem high; this is equated with the cost of equipment, specialized training, specialist interpretation and time required to properly perform the ultrasound.. ​
-
-
Does it substitute x-rays?
-
No, these two modalities are used together to get the best understanding of the structure and function of body systems. There are times where an obvious lesion is seen on x-ray but not the ultrasound, and vice versa.
-
About
Dr. Velazquez
Dr. Kimberly Velazquez was born and raised in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where she learned to speak both English and Spanish fluently. Dr. Velazquez later attended and soon graduated from Western University of Health Sciences in 2019, where she obtained her Doctor in Veterinary Medicine degree. She then pursued a small-animal rotating internship in Albuquerque, New Mexico for one year, and she now resides there with her husband Saul and their fur babies. Soon after completing her internship, she moved on to working as a relief general practitioner for different clinics in the city of ABQ. Her areas of interest are high volume spay-neuter clinics, soft tissue surgeries, preventative medicine and, as of recent, ultrasound imaging. Outside of work, Dr. Velazquez likes to travel with her husband, spend time with her family/fur babies, cook delicious meals, visit museums and exhibits, and attend as many cultural events as possible.Â