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Focus On – Diagnostic Imaging

Lung Ultrasound in Veterinary Practice

Program Director:

Univ. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wess Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA (DE)

Principal Course Master(s):

Univ. Prof. Dr. Gerhard Wess Dipl. ACVIM, Dipl. ECVIM-CA (DE)

Course Master(s):

Dr. Katarzyna Kraszewska (PL)
Dr. Michał Gajewski (PL)

Course Overview

Lung ultrasound has become an invaluable tool in everyday veterinary practice, both in inpatient and outpatient settings. Its simplicity resembling the technique of auscultation makes it an accessible and effective method for identifying the causes of respiratory issues in animals. Point-of-care lung ultrasound is especially beneficial in situations that demand quick diagnostics, such as emergency rooms, internal medicine departments, intensive care units, and during anesthesia.
The ability for veterinarians to independently and rapidly assess causes of dyspnea, as well as monitor a patient’s condition, underscores the value of this diagnostic tool in routine clinical practice. It is therefore no surprise that increasing numbers of young veterinarians and students worldwide are eager to expand their knowledge and hands-on skills in general and lung ultrasound.
The course curriculum includes detailed lung ultrasound examinations combined with Doppler analysis, utilizing pulsed-wave Doppler, power Doppler, and color Doppler techniques—elements that make this course unique.
The course spans two days of lectures followed by a third day dedicated to case analysis and hands-on practical sessions. Practical training is performed on live animals and specially designed phantoms—animal lungs with pathological changes embedded in gel.

Course Program (Subject to change)

Course Program
  • Ultrasonographic anatomy of the thorax
  • Ultrasound machine settings for optimal evaluation of lung artifacts and consolidations
  • Basic artifacts and their underlying mechanisms
  • Evaluation and classification of subpleural consolidations
  • Lung ultrasound algorithms and the VetLUS sliding technique using linear and microconvex probes
  • Discussion of specific pathological conditions:
    o Cardiogenic vs. non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
    o Pneumonia
    o Atelectasis and gravitational atelectasis during general anesthesia
    o Pulmonary fibrosis
    o Pulmonary tumors
    o Use of Doppler techniques in lung diagnostics
    o Curtain sign in thoracic ultrasound

Tuition fee*:

TBA

Early registration fee*:

TBA

Early registration deadline:

01/01/2026

Total hours:

TBA

ATF hours (AU, DE, LU, CH):

TBA

ECTS credits (Master & Certificate):

* eLibrary access is included in the course fee

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