Ultrasound

Internal Imaging

Ultrasound

What is Ultrasound?

Ultrasound is one of the most valuable tools used by veterinarians to keep our pets healthy. Veterinary ultrasound is a non-invasive procedure to explore a patient’s soft tissue abnormalities, internal organs, gastrointestinal tract, vasculature and lymphatic system. Sophisticated equipment and techniques provide our team with detailed information to easily and accurately detect previously hidden diseases. Ultrasound is also used on an emergency basis after trauma to look for fluid accumulation and monitor for abdominal bleeding.

Ultrasound Use for Diseases & Conditions

Pancreatitis

Common and sometimes life-threatening disease can often be confirmed and its severity can ocassionally be determined by ultrasound.

Cancers

Can often be detected early enough to allow surgical removal before metastasis (the spread to other organs) occurs.

Bladder Stones and/or Kidney Stones

Even some stones that do not show up on radiographs can be found with ultrasound and a thorough assessment for urethral or ureteral obstruction can be performed.

Abdominal Disease

Enlarged or painful abdomen with suspicious changes in routine lab tests
Infected gallbladders
Enlarged adrenal glands
Kidneys damaged by toxins (such as antifreeze)
Diffuse liver disease
Enlarged lymph nodes and reproductive tract abnormalities, such as an infected uterus or inflamed prostate gland
Measurement of walls of the heart, the individual heart valves evaluation, systemic pressures assessment, and pulmonary pressures and contractility
When fluid accumulated around the abdominal organs, it diminishes the capability of radiographs. Ultrasound is excellent in determining whether the cause of that condition is a poorly functioning heart or disease in the abdominal organs

Our Team

Meet Our Sonographers

Darcie Argentina

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Michelle Slanina

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Learn About Our Team

Darcie Argentina

Darcie Argentina is the veterinary sonographer for SAVS and a scanning instructor for SOUND, the Academy of Veterinary Imaging.

Darcie has spent the past 21 years building her career as a veterinary sonographer. As a veterinary technician since 1996, she spent the vast majority of her time in the diagnostic imaging aspect of specialty medicine assisting with special procedures such as endoscopy, rhinoscopy, thoracoscopy, laparoscopy, arthroscopy, cystoscopy, ultrasonography and echocardiography. Darcie’s knowledge of the machines, equipment, and animal anatomy has become highly advanced and she is now the Head Technician of the Special Procedures department. Because of her extensive experience, Darcie was given an opportunity to learn to perform the ultrasounds instead of just assisting in 2005. This opportunity given to veterinary technicians was mostly unheard of in veterinary medicine at the time.

Since then, Darcie has attended hundreds of hours of continued education courses, completed the studies, and satisfied the requirements for a Certificate of Completion in Advanced Imaging from SOUND, the Academy of Veterinary Imaging. Darcie also has the privilege of being mentored by several veterinary radiologists throughout the country and has created a solid network of professional references for a continuous source of education and guidance. Darcie makes every effort to stay current with progressive medicine and the ever-changing advancements in technology by attending yearly conferences and seminars through the ACVR and is a member of their Veterinary Ultrasound Society.

In her free time, Darcie enjoys the open road on her motorcycle, walking wilderness trails with her dogs, and snuggle time at home with her cats. All of which wouldn’t be complete without her best friend and biggest supporter in life, her husband Dave.

Michelle Slanina

Michelle Slanina has 15 years of experience practicing in veterinary medicine and has worked at Southern Arizona Veterinary Specialty since 2012. Slanina grew up with many animals and always knew it was her passion to care for them. She began practicing veterinary ultrasound four years ago and enjoys continually learning and growing in the veterinary field. Helping owners and their pets is such a rewarding opportunity, Slanina says.

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Central Location

141 E. Ft. Lowell Rd.
Tucson, AZ 85705

East Side Location

7474 E. Broadway Blvd.
Tucson, AZ 85710

Contacts

Local: (520) 888-3177
Toll Free: (877) 762-9838

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