Not Allowed to Be Present During Ultrasound - Normal?

I decided to start a new thread for this specific issue, but here is the related thread - http://www.thecatsite.com/t/289082/veterinarian-administering-medicine-without-my-approval

My cat is going in to the regular vet's for an ultrasound this coming week. The ultrasound will be performed by a traveling radiologist who will consult with my primary vet as well as the cardiologist and internal medicine vet. Then my primary vet will discuss the diagnosis with me.

Here are my concerns, particularly after reading a website about bad experiences at the vet's office:

1) I am not permitted to be in the room while the cat is getting the ultrasound. I know some places don't allow the owner in the same room and some do, but I'm not sure why. I would like to be there, although I'm not sure why (perhaps to keep an eye on the incompetent staff - see thread posted above). I think if I push the vet hard enough, she will let me since I was permitted in the back rooms early on after she opened the clinic.

Should I be allowed in the room during the ultrasound? I am the owner. If this were my human relative, I would be allowed in there.


2) I asked if I could get the ultrasound on a CD/DVD and they said they don't usually do that, but they will ask.

Since I'm paying big bucks for this and since this information might be needed in the future, shouldn't I be allowed to have a copy on CD/DVD?

I suppose I'm just agitated because in 19 years of going to different veterinarians and clinics, I still cannot find a trustworthy and knowledgeable veterinarian. It's almost as if the two don't go together. It's disgusting.

I wasn't in the room when they did an ultrasound.  They were also doing a needle biopsy on his liver at the same time.  I don't know but I would imagine they have to put kitty in a very uncomfortable position and hold them while doing the ultrasound.  I don't know if that is the reason why.  I know before taking blood, even an ear stick for a blood sugar check the vet will ask me if I am okay watching it.  I had one vet before this one take blood out of my chronically ill kitty's jugular because he was so dehydrated and that was the best place to get a sample.  I admit I had to turn my head on that one.

Sebastian has had multiple ultrasounds for his chronic pancreatitis - "in house" ultrasounds by our regular vet and one was done by an outside internal medicine doctor at a specialty center. I was not allowed in the room for any of them. I never got around to asking why because deep down I felt like I kind of knew why.

My vet would give me the ultrasound images if I asked, but I never asked for the ones done in-house. I might have a disk from the specialty center. But I do have multiple x-ray disks. I did offer to pay a fee if they had one, but they didn't charge me. Some clinics may charge a fee since it does take staff time to put the images on a disk. I think it should be your right to get the information. They should, at the very least, give you an ultrasound report. I was satisfied with this most of the time since they are usually very technical and detailed.

Thanks. I feel better now.

For those of you who got an ultrasound done in-house (and not at a specialty clinic), were you satisfied with that? I keep wondering if I might be missing out on something important. Although, doing it this way is faster in appointment availability and travel time. Plus, we don't have to go to two different clinics and cities, and it's way cheaper than going to just one specialist.

Yes, my Krissy had one too, and the owner of the veterinary clinic is a friend of mine, so I was surprised when she took Krissy from my arms and said she would be right back, I said I can't go in? She said no.........

My take on it is that perhaps they have better control over the cat, who may submit easier with us mom's not in sight.

I had the same as you, a vet specialist came to my vet's clinic and performed the ultrasound, then discussed with the vet and they sent me a copy of the report. (which I then posted in a thread here for opinions!)

So you should get a copy for sure.

I've had in house ultrasounds as well, and have not been present.  My vet takes images to show me when they are done.  She also shares x-rays when we get dentals done.

My cat Nina had an ultrasound of her kidneys done by a visiting radiologist a few years ago and there was no question, I was brought into the examining room with my cat and I think it was even me who held her still while the ultrasound was done. The radiologist pointed out to me right there where Nina's kidneys were and how misshapen they were. It was a very sobering experience. The results were then shared with the vet who discussed them with me, but the radiologist talked to me a lot. She told me how much function the kidneys likely had remaining. She advised me to feed the cat whatever and whenever she would eat. All information was shared freely, the person was great and I felt a good service had been provided for the money I paid. It was nothing like when I have had an ultrasound done on me and the person doing it was just a "technician" and not able to share information about what she saw.