How to do an ultrasound of a pregnant cat

Ultrasound of a pregnant cat allows you to identify possible abnormalities during pregnancy and to verify the health of future offspring. But many cat owners are skeptical of such a study, believing that even without it the animal will give birth to good and healthy kittens. Today, an ultrasound of a pregnant cat is the only way to track possible pathologies in the development of the fetus, as well as identify possible malfunctions in the vital organs of the expectant mother herself. This procedure is simple and inexpensive, so the study can afford a person with any financial capabilities.

Indications for research

The negative effect of an ultrasound of a pregnant cat on her health and the health of offspring has not been proven, and many veterinarians advise carrying out this procedure. But, despite this, nevertheless, one should not abuse research without special indications.

Ultrasound examination should take place only if the condition of the animal causes concern in the veterinarian.

An ultrasound scan is given to the pregnant cat, if necessary. Indications for the procedure include:

• the presence of chronic diseases in a cat;
• first pregnancy;
• violation in the work of any body;
• the age of the animal is more than 5 years, and less than 1.5 years;
• heavy bearing;
• pathology in the cat itself or in its partner;
• there were already complications during previous pregnancy or childbirth.

How to choose a specialist

Before sending a pregnant cat to an ultrasound, you need to take care not only about choosing a proven clinic, but also make sure that the specialist who will carry out the procedure is highly qualified.

It is better to choose a clinic, and not to trust the health of your pet and its future offspring to a private doctor, and there are reasons for this:

1. Clinics are equipped with modern research equipment, and not every private veterinarian can boast the same.
2. In the clinic it is much easier to find out about the professionalism of a specialist.
3. Not all private doctors have a confirmed qualification, and many of them do not have one at all. In the clinic, the pet owner can get for review all the necessary documents confirming the qualification of a specialist.

But there are also professionals among private veterinarians. If acquaintances or friends were satisfied with the services received, then it makes no sense to neglect his work and pay more in the clinic.

How to choose a clinic

When choosing a clinic in which your animal will be examined and treated, pay attention to the following points:

• attendance should be as high as possible;
• look at reviews of all the nearest clinics on the Internet, choose the one where the least negative;
• visit the clinic and see for yourself in the environment, sanitary conditions;
• request feedback through social networks, or ask your friends about the quality of the services provided.

Also look at the staff, it should not be rude.

If something did not work out in the clinic itself (there was an unpleasant odor, repairs were not made for a long time, and so on), and the reviews about the specialist are only the most reliable, then ask if there is a service for the arrival of a veterinarian with equipment at home.

How to prepare for the procedure

When the clinic is selected, and the date of the study is set, you need to prepare a pregnant cat for ultrasound. To do this, you need to follow a few simple rules:

1. The day before the procedure, exclude all flour products from the menu of the pet’s menu, including pasta, dairy products and raw vegetables. Six hours before the study, it is impossible to feed the expectant mother at all, this is necessary to prevent flatulence on the doctor’s table.
2. The study may require a full bladder. If everything is simple with women, then the cat cannot be forced to drink a lot of water before the procedure, and even be patient later. At the ultrasound, take the diuretic authorized by the veterinarian, and if the need arises, give it to the cat.
3. Many experts shave the study area already in the clinic. But some may ask that a cat be brought already prepared. Find out the area of ​​shaving, and remove the wool from the area with a clipper without a nozzle.
4. Cats, especially pregnant ones, do not tolerate the touch of strangers. To avoid injury to the veterinarian’s hands, trim and file the claws of the pet.

How is the procedure performed

There is a photo of an ultrasound of a pregnant cat in the article, but only from the image it is impossible to understand the whole essence.

The procedure does not cause pain and harm to the cat itself and its future offspring, then a specialist may suffer. For this reason, the owner must be present at the study to help hold the pet, and, if necessary, pacify it.

1. First of all, the animal is placed on a disposable diaper with its stomach up. Here you will need maximum help, a rare cat will quietly lie in this position.
2. Veterinarian shaves off a patch of wool. If the animal was brought already prepared, then the study site is lubricated with a special gel.
3. The veterinarian passes the cat’s abdomen with the apparatus, carries out the procedure, and reports the results to the owner.
4. The gel is carefully removed from the animal’s abdomen using special cleaning wipes. This stage needs to be tracked especially carefully, because the cat can later lick the remnants of the product, but it will not bring benefits for sure.
5. If desired, the owner of the animal can receive a video from the study or photo.

Ultrasound of a pregnant cat by week

The veterinarian may schedule a study at any of the 9 weeks of pregnancy. To understand what a specialist can see on the monitor, you need to know the course of the entire pregnancy of the pet.

1. In the first week, the egg is fertilized, morula are formed - this is a small mass of blastomeres in a transparent membrane.
2. In the second week, morula should descend into the uterine cavity, as a result of division, blastocytes are formed.
3. An ultrasound of a pregnant cat at 3 weeks may show that the blastocytes “hatched” and successfully passed into the embryonic stage.
4. At a period of 4 and 5 weeks, the tissue of future babies is formed, the placenta is formed, the fetal membranes of the offspring are laid.
5. The next three weeks (6.7 and 8) are the final stage in the formation of the organs of kittens, the growth of mass and the development of offspring. Ultrasound of a pregnant cat at 6 weeks can show whether organs form and develop correctly and without pathologies, whether there are any abnormalities or whether the pregnancy is proceeding well.
6. At the end of the 9th week, the cat should give birth.

Possible pathologies

A healthy animal tolerates pregnancy and childbirth. But there are problems with the physiology of the cat itself, which does not allow the kittens to endure normally. During pregnancy, all the organs of the animal are under stress, and in addition to unborn babies, they examine the liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, and intestines of the expectant mother for ultrasound.

During pregnancy, cats can experience the following pathologies that threaten not only the life of offspring, but also cats:

• Uterine hernia in the groin area.
• Detachment of the placenta - this is clearly visible on ultrasound. If measures are not taken in time, then the cat will begin to have uterine bleeding, which threatens her life.
• Polyhydramnios is noticeable in recent weeks.
• If the animal fell, jumped from a height at a decent time, then an ultrasound is simply necessary to exclude possible twisting of the uterus.
• Intrauterine death of the fetus. Unfortunately, many thoroughbred cats cannot independently drive the dead fruit out of the uterus, and a rotting in utero mass can destroy the cat. If you notice something is wrong with the behavior or condition of the animal, immediately bring it to the veterinarian for an ultrasound scan.

Conclusion

Ultrasound of a pregnant cat, like a woman, needs to be done. The procedure takes a little time, money and even less. But on the other hand, the owner will be confident in the health of the pet, and if necessary, the cat will be provided with the first necessary help to avoid complications.