NAVTA Practice Test

When preparing an animal for ultrasound, it is important to ____.

1. Apply warm compresses to the skin.

2. Create a distraction with loud noise.

3. Clip the hair with a 40 blade.

4. Apply a scented lotion to the skin.

The correct answer is: Clip the hair with a 40 blade.

The correct response highlights the importance of proper preparation of the animal's skin for ultrasound to ensure clear imaging results. Clipping the hair with a 40 blade is a standard practice because it minimizes interference from hair and allows for better contact between the ultrasound transducer and the animal's skin. This enhances the quality of the ultrasound images, making it easier to interpret the results. In terms of the other options, applying warm compresses to the skin might be helpful in some situations but is not a standard requirement for ultrasound preparation. Creating a distraction with loud noise is generally not beneficial as it may cause anxiety for the animal, making the procedure more difficult. Applying a scented lotion to the skin could interfere with the ultrasound by either changing the texture of the skin or affecting the transducer's ability to make proper contact, thus not contributing positively to the imaging process.