All imaging performed by our sonographer must be prescribed and facilitated by your pet’s veterinarian. If you or the veterinarian would like to book a service, please have a member of veterinary staff reach out for pricing and scheduling information.

We offer flexible pricing based on sonographer time and type of service(s) provided. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent pricing list with no hidden costs.

The fee for specialist interpretation is separate from base pricing and will only be added if you choose to have Northstar Veterinary Sonography send out the study.

Northstar Veterinary Sonography is proud to offer easy online booking requests and expedient same-day availability. Furthermore, our extended service hours cater to the significant need for sonographic imaging during late nights and on holidays.

It will depend on the sonographer’s current location in relation to your facility. Typically, your patient could be imaged within 3 hours from your booking request.

The sonographer travels with a mobile ultrasound machine that is mounted on a small hand cart. The only space requirement will be a surface on which to place the trough or echocardiogram table. The machine is powered by any standard electrical outlet.

The sonographer will arrive alone and will need the assistance of one of your staff members to restrain and monitor sedation, if applicable.

Any facility canceling a service less than one hour prior to scheduled time is subject to a cancellation fee.

Not always. However, even a patient who is not making large movements can have an extremely tense abdomen. Sedation can facilitate patient comfort and reduce anxiety, thus significantly increasing diagnostic yield. ​ If an aspiration is requested, sedation is very important.

The sonographer cannot dictate the sedation protocol and will always defer to the DVM managing the case.

However, the administration of Alpha-2 Agonists, Phenothiazines, or Ketamine/Tiletamine is contraindicated for echocardiogram studies. These classes of drugs can significantly skew measurements.

Yes. Our sonographer is well-versed in fine-needle aspirates, abdominocentesis, thoracocentesis, pericardiocentesis, and cystocentesis.

If you request any form of cytology, the sonographer will need to utilize supplies from your location.

Yes. The sonographer will be able to offer detailed impressions about what was observed during a scan. However, final diagnosis and or suggestions for treatment should be solely based upon the interpretation of the DVM, radiologist, cardiologist, or internal medicine specialist assessing the study.