Veterinary ultrasound: what it has, how to choose and the best equipment in Colombia

The veterinary ultrasound is to the veterinarian what the stethoscope was to doctors in the last century — the diagnostic tool that transforms the consultation. With a veterinary ultrasound, the veterinarian can see in real time the inside of the animal's abdomen, confirm a pregnancy on day 28 in cattle, evaluate the heart of a dog with mitral insufficiency or guide a fine needle mass puncture without the need for exploratory surgery. This guide explains what a good veterinary ultrasound must have and which ones are available in Colombia.

1. Differences between a veterinary ultrasound and a human one

Technically, a veterinary ultrasound uses the same ultrasound physics as a human ultrasound — high-frequency sound waves that bounce off the animal's internal structures. The differences are mainly in software and transducers:

2. Types of veterinary ultrasound and which one you need

3. VINNO VET ultrasounds available in Colombia — GSMED official representative

GSMED Imaging is the official representative of VINNO in Colombia, including the VINNO VET veterinary line. VINNO ultrasounds use pure radiofrequency (RF) technology — which generates up to 40 times more image data than conventional systems in the same price segment — adapted for veterinary use with species-specific biometry and high-frequency veterinary transducers.

4. Clinical applications of the veterinary ultrasound in Colombia

• Bovine pregnancy diagnosis (the most frequent use in Colombia): with a 5–7 MHz linear rectal probe, it is possible to confirm pregnancy from day 28 post-service. Fundamental for IATF protocols (fixed-time artificial insemination) that use ultrasound to confirm ovulation, classify corpora lutea, and confirm pregnancy. Colombia has one of the largest cattle herds in Latin America — reproductive ultrasound is a critical tool in high-efficiency ranching.
• Abdominal ultrasound in dogs and cats: diagnosis of acute abdomen (gastric torsion, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction), abdominal masses, chronic kidney disease, fatty liver, cysts, and free abdominal fluid. Abdominal ultrasound is the most requested diagnostic imaging procedure in small animal clinics in Colombia.
• Veterinary echocardiography: evaluation of heart function in dogs (especially Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Dachshund — breeds with high prevalence of mitral valve disease) and cats (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy). Requires 2–5 MHz sector probe (phased array).
• Gestation diagnosis in equines: early pregnancy confirmation in mares (day 14–16 post-ovulation), detection of twin gestation (reduced to one embryo if detected before day 17) and ovarian follicular evaluation for embryo transfer programs in high-value genetic equines.