An abdominal ultrasound is often performed to make a diagnosis without surgery or other invasive means. One common problem that an ultrasound may be used to diagnose is the cause of vomiting in a dog or cat.

The procedure is similar what most expectant mothers experience as their fetus develops in the womb. Ultrasound diagnostic devices use ultrasonic waves. They are “bounced” off of internal structures and the resulting images are displayed on a monitor, such as the one shown in the photo to the right.