Basic vs. Advanced Functionality

Another important thing to think about is what kind of diagnostic functions you'll need on a daily basis. Do you mainly need basic ultrasound for diagnosis, or do you require advanced imaging to detect heart valve issues? Will you be doing diagnostic tests in the field or at your clinic? If you're working with large animals in the field, you might want to consider a refurbished machine to protect your new equipment from wear and tear.

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You should also think about whether a black-and-white ultrasound machine will meet your diagnostic needs or if a color Doppler machine would be better. Most practices can start with a black-and-white ultrasound, especially if you're focusing on basic diagnostics like abdominal scans for checking on fetuses. On the other hand, color Doppler ultrasounds allow for advanced cardiac scans and can even measure blood flow speed. They're also great for guiding procedures like injections and biopsies. Consider whether you'll need DICOM connectivity or data management for image transfer. If so, be prepared to look into these additional features.

Veterinary-Specific Software

Some ultrasound machines come with veterinary preset and software settings, while others allow you to customize the settings based on your needs. Choosing a veterinary ultrasound machine with pre-loaded presets can make your work smoother.

Presets streamline your workflow because they require minimal adjustments when switching between different types of scans. For example, you can easily move from imaging a small animal's heart to scanning its abdomen without a lot of tinkering with settings. Presets automatically adjust the imaging parameters like depth, contrast, frequency, and focus based on the organ you're looking at. This can be a huge time-saver when you're dealing with a variety of organs.

Picking the Right Probes

The ultrasound probe is a critical part of the imaging process. It's the part that touches the area you're examining and plays a big role in how well you can see the organs. The type of probe you need depends on the animals you typically see. Different animals require different probes. For example, cats and small dogs need different probes than large dogs. If you're buying your first ultrasound machine, a micro-convex probe with a frequency between 3 MHz and 9 MHz is a good starting point for any veterinary practice. This type of probe can also be used for scanning small animal hearts. For heart scans, a phased array probe is a great choice because it provides enhanced visualization.

As your practice grows and your budget allows, you can expand your probe collection to cover various uses and different types of animals. In general, probes with smaller radii are better for small animals. If you see a lot of cats, consider a high-frequency linear probe for excellent resolution. For larger dogs, probes with better tissue penetration are a good choice. In some cases, like with giant breed dogs, you can even use probes meant for humans because they have a larger radius.

Portability & Ease of Use

Having an ultrasound machine that makes your work more efficient during busy times is a real asset. Look for features like an easy-to-use patient information system for quickly adding, retrieving, and modifying patient details, as well as straightforward interfaces for fast scanning. It's also important that the machine starts up quickly, especially in veterinary practice where it can be a challenge to keep animals still for too long. And don't forget the ability to save images in your preferred file formats.

Portability is a handy feature for a veterinary ultrasound machine. Animals can be fidgety, and sometimes you need to bring the machine to them or where they feel comfortable, especially if they're too sick to move. If your practice involves assessments both in the clinic and out in the field, consider a portable ultrasound machine with a long-lasting battery.
Ideally, go for a compact, lightweight, and portable ultrasound machine. Today's portable ultrasounds offer the same high-quality imaging as the bulkier ones. Plus, they're quieter, which is crucial for veterinary equipment because loud machines can make small animals nervous.

Cost Considerations

Cost is a big factor when you're looking for the best veterinary ultrasound machine for your practice. The good news is that ultrasound machines come in a range of prices, so you can find one that fits your budget. But remember to strike a balance between cost and quality. Often, the more expensive ultrasound machines provide better imaging, which leads to more accurate diagnoses. And these days, even color Doppler systems aren't as expensive as they used to be.
Keep in mind that there may be additional costs for add-on options, warranties (especially comprehensive or long-term ones), and extra transducer probes, among other things. The overall cost can also vary depending on whether you're buying a brand-new or refurbished model, choosing to pay monthly or in a lump sum, or even leasing the equipment.

Choosing the right ultrasound machine for canine pregnancy scanning can be an overwhelming decision. The internet is full of options. The below article discusses machines in the £1000 – £3000 ($1300 – $3900 USD) price range, and highlights three key questions to ask yourself when choosing the best ultrasound machine for you.

Question 1: What size animals will you be scanning?

Small-medium dogs or cats

If you will be scanning cats or small-medium dogs, you definitely need to find a scanner with a microconvex probe. This is for two main reasons:

• The bitch’s abdomen is small, making a wide probe less practical.
• The ultrasound waves do not need to travel far very into the body, so you can use higher frequency sound waves, which produce better quality images.

Look at the photographs below of a microconvex probe being used on a cat and on a heavily pregnant pug. A convex probe would be twice the size, which would be fine for the wide belly of the pug, but would make life very difficult when scanning the cat. Chihuahuas can be even smaller than the cat in this picture, so think carefully about probe selection! Wireless ultrasound probes are definitely not appropriate here.

Below are some examples of scan images taken at higher frequencies. The scanning frequency has been circled in blue. The below images are captured at high resolution.

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The good news for you is that you are going to be able to get fantastic image quality with your high frequency, high resolution transducer. The compromise is that these higher quality transducers invariably cost a little more money than their lower frequency, lower resolution cousins.

Recommended: Your best choice here would be the ScanX, Apogee 1000 Lite, or ScanPad.

Large dogs

If you will be scanning a lot of larger canine breeds, you will need a probe capable of scanning at lower frequencies – ideally, at 5MHz or lower. You may also enjoy the larger size of the probe, allowing you to get more on screen in one sweep. Bulldogs are also well-suited to large convex probes (but do equally well with microconvex).

You can learn more about probe types and what to avoid in the video below:

Recommended: Your best options would be the KX5600 or ScanX.

Question 2: Will you be offering a scanning service to others?

If so, having a solid warranty and UK or Ireland-based support is essential. You simply cannot afford to postpone clients for 30+ days whilst you wait for your machine to return from repair in China (with postage costs entirely at your own expense); they will simply go elsewhere. You also won’t be able to obtain breakdown cover for your ultrasound scanner if you have not purchased a machine which is safe, fit for purpose, and supported in the UK or Ireland.

Finally, UK and Irish authorities are beginning to notice the influx of unsafe medical equipment into their markets, and are finally beginning to take action against this. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) in Ireland, for example, can intervene and stop you from doing business in the Republic of Ireland if they have reason to believe that you are using an ultrasound machine which is not CE marked or does not conform with the EU’s rules on ultrasonic power outputs. The majority of ultrasound scanners purchased on marketplaces such as eBay and shipped directly from China are unlikely to meet any European or North American safety or quality standards, because it’s their use of unapproved components that makes them so cheap.

The United Kingdom’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) fulfils a similar role to the HPRA and is unlikely to be far behind.

New ultrasound scanners onto the market like the ScanX and Apogee 1000 Lite can be serviced remotely, and rarely need to ever be sent in for repair.

Question 3: How will you be sharing your images?

Think about how you will share your images with friends, fans and clients. If you are only scanning your own animals, you may still plan to share these pictures on social media to alert followers to litters which are due or to improve the reputation of your kennel, cattery or stud service. Taking photos or videos of the screen with your smartphone is impractical and unprofessional. The KX5600v portable ultrasound machine can take still images, and the ScanPad and ScanX can save both stills and video clips, like the one below:

If you plan to offer a professional and competitive scanning service for others, you need to consider this question even more seriously. In a world where social media is so important for marketing, having images and videos which your clients can easily share with their followers is very important for promoting your business. A few extra hundred pounds spent on the right ultrasound machine that will allow your clients to advertise for you will pay dividends in the long run.

If you need any help or advice in choosing the best ultrasound machine for your animals, please contact us. You can also read our article about buying used ultrasound equipment.

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