I am excited to bring my friend Dr. Reynsen Shigemoto, a board Certified radiologist, back to perform wellness abdominal ultrasound!
 

This is the ultrasound you want to get while your pet is looking and feeling healthy.


Here’s why :dog::cat::point_down:

Our pets—just like their wolf and cougar cousins—are masters at hiding symptoms.


That’s a great survival strategy in the wild :evergreen_tree:, but not so much when they’re your deeply loved fur baby who can’t tell you when something feels off :purple_heart:

That’s why proactive testing, like a wellness ultrasound, is so important.


By the time our pets start showing symptoms, whatever’s causing the issue has often been quietly growing for months (sometimes years!), making it much harder to treat :pleading_face:

So here’s some exciting news! Dr. Shigemoto is coming back in to offer wellness ultrasounds for the day at our wellness center :female-doctor:

Radiologists are specially trained for performing and interpreting ultrasounds – they do this day in and day out! This is very different from getting an ultrasound from a veterinarian who is not specifically trained in radiology.


A wellness ultrasound allows us to do early cancer screening of all the organs.
(And they are completely safe and do not require anesthesia. Your pet will experience minimal discomfort during the procedure, making it a low-stress experience for them.)
 

This service can truly be life-saving—just like it was for Violet.
Violet came in without any symptoms. She was 8 years old, which made this scan a must, but otherwise, she seemed perfectly healthy.


To everyone’s surprise, the ultrasound found a small mass on her liver. The silver lining? Catching it so early made her cancer much more treatable. :two_hearts:

Here’s the thing—if we wait until symptoms show, treatment can be very costly, and the road to recovery is so much harder. This is truly an investment in your pet’s health.


Here’s my rule of thumb:

1. If your pet is under 8, you can decide if you want to be extra proactive or wait until they turn 8 :woman-tipping-hand:. (It’s never too early to do preventative care!)

2. If your pet is 8 years or older, I highly recommend you book this scan. :star2:

3. And if your pet has a history of cancer or a breed prone to cancer, no matter their age, this is a must.


Dr. Lily :sparkling_heart:
P.S. Here is a list of pet breeds that are a bit more at risk of developing cancer: Dog Breeds Prone to Cancer

Starlight Stories

🐾 Protect Those Snouts & Paws! 🐾

Our hearts—mine, and every single one of us on the team—are with all the pet parents and pets impacted by these devastating fires. 💔

Even though the flames may have stopped in some areas, the aftermath can still pose serious risks. If you live near an affected area, please be extra cautious when taking your pets out for walks.

It’s not just trees that have burned—entire homes have been lost. This means harmful toxins from plastic, batteries, and older homes that contained asbestos are lingering on the ground and in the air.

If you’re seeing ash on the ground or notice your furry friend coming home with dirty paws, consider getting them some booties to help protect them 🐾 

And if your pet has any lung issues, a pet mask can make a big difference in keeping them safe.

If you live in an area with air pollution concerns—especially with wildfire ash in the air—it’s time to think about extra protection for your pets!

🌬 A well-fitted doggy mask can help filter out harmful particles and keep your pup’s lungs safe during walks. My friend and colleague Dr. Lindsey Wendt has a wonderful Instagram post highlighting the doggy mask option. Check it out here

🐾 Doggy boots (or a quick post-walk paw rinse) help prevent your pet from tracking in toxins or irritants that can linger on the ground.

Small steps make a big difference in keeping our furry friends safe and healthy! Stay mindful, stay protected, and give those pets an extra snuggle today. 💙✨

🩷 Starlight