About Machines Used in Veterinary Practice

When animals get sick, they are taken to the vet by their owners. While many illnesses can be diagnosed by visually evaluating the sick animal and prescribing a medication, many times diagnosis and treatment can be much more difficult. Just as in a hospital facility for people, veterinary practices commonly have many types of machines that can be used for animal care.

Diagnostic Machines

• Ultrasound machines are used for animals for the same purposes that they are often used for humans. Ultrasound can be utilized to confirm pregnancy and evaluate the health of the growing fetuses. The machine can also be used to check for obstructions in the digestive tract or to check organs for disease.


• X-ray machines are commonly used to diagnose broken bones or to detect blockages. Dogs and cats are notorious for eating things that they shouldn’t, and an x-ray can enable the veterinarian to see what they consumed.


• Endoscopy equipment usually includes an endoscope, camera and light source. This machine helps veterinarians look inside the body without invasive surgery. Because there are several different types of scopes, vets can look in everything from the gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts to the ears. 

Surgical Machines

• Anesthetic machines are utilized for pets when they need to undergo surgery. Special anesthetic machines exist specifically for veterinary use as converting a machine meant for human use to animal use can be difficult. Most anesthetic machines provide medical gases like oxygen and nitrous oxide mixed with an anesthetic vapor to help pets stay unconscious while surgery is being performed.


• Vital signs monitors are also used in surgery to monitor the condition of the animal. Heart rate, blood pressure, temperature and respiration are all commonly checked to ensure that the animal remains in good health for the duration of the surgery.

Other Machines

• Veterinary dental equipment machines such as scalers and polishers help clean animals’ teeth. Because animals cannot brush their own teeth and many owners find it too difficult to brush their pet’s teeth, routine cleaning at the veterinarian can help prevent plaque buildup and tooth loss.