In the UK, many sonographers, echocardiographers, and ultrasound technicians working within the NHS or private healthcare are exploring new opportunities to broaden their skills. One area attracting increasing interest is animal ultrasound. At first glance, it seems a natural transition: the principles of ultrasound physics, scanning technique, and image optimisation are the same whether you’re scanning humans or animals.

However, moving into animal ultrasound isn’t as simple as applying existing skills to a different patient group. There are species-specific nuances, handling considerations, and professional boundaries that make retraining absolutely essential. This is why structured guidance from someone who has already walked the path is invaluable.

One of the leading figures in this space is Catherine Stowell, founder of Portable Ultrasound Machines and the not-for-profit Animal Ultrasound Association (AUA). With her background as a sonographer and echocardiographer, Catherine has created a unique training pathway that blends technical skill, clinical insight, and ongoing support—something no other course currently offers worldwide.

The Overlap Between Human and Animal Ultrasound

Human ultrasound technicians and sonographers and already possess a strong foundation in probe handling, image acquisition, and interpreting normal versus abnormal findings. These transferrable skills are a huge asset when considering a move into animal scanning.

Yet there are important differences that make retraining a necessity:

• Anatomical differences: A dog’s liver, a cat’s kidneys, or a ewe’s uterus are not positioned like their human equivalents. Without species-specific knowledge, mistakes can easily be made.
• Animal handling: Unlike NHS patients, animals rarely lie still on a couch. Gentle restraint, stress reduction, and practical positioning are all part of the skillset.
• Professional roles: In human medicine, sonographers and echocardiographers produce diagnostic reports from their findings. In veterinary practices or as an independent animal ultrasound technician, you can produce a report and recommend that a breeder or pet owner goes to a veterinary surgeon for a diagnosis, but never offer one yourself.

This highlights the importance of learning from someone who truly understands the transition from human to animal scanning.

Catherine Stowell and the Animal Ultrasound Association

The Animal Ultrasound Association was established by Catherine to raise the standard of training in the animal health sector. The AUA’s courses stand out because they are:

• Written and delivered by Catherine herself, drawing on her experience as both a sonographer and echocardiographer across human and animal patients in all manner of settings.
• Focused on quality and ongoing mentorship, ensuring learners aren’t left without support once the course is completed.
• Structured as a genuine starting point, rather than an isolated workshop, helping to build both competence and confidence.

The flagship Companion Animal Pregnancy Scanning  course is an online, pre-recorded course designed for flexibility with extended content for RVNs, veterinarians and human ultrasound professionals. It allows learners to begin their animal ultrasound journey at their own pace, with content tailored to provide practical and relevant knowledge. For many, it’s the perfect springboard into further training and real-world scanning.

The Importance of Setting Realistic Expectations

One of the most important messages Catherine shares is that animal ultrasound training does not automatically lead to job opportunities within veterinary practices.

Within the NHS, sonographers benefit from strong job security, structured pay bands, and high hourly locum rates. Veterinary practice is very different: vets are under no obligation to hire external scanners, and roles for non-vet ultrasonographers are not formally established. Some practices may welcome support, but much depends on how open-minded the vet is.

For that reason, animal ultrasound should be seen less as a guaranteed career path and more as a sideline or independent pursuit. Opportunities may include:

• Providing scanning services to dog or cat breeders (e.g. pregnancy scanning).
• Seasonal work on farms, scanning livestock.
• Collaboration with open-minded vets who value external expertise.

While it may not offer the job security of an NHS post, it can provide independence, flexibility, and a chance to work closely with animals in a rewarding way.

Who Is Animal Ultrasound Right For?

Animal ultrasound is best suited to professionals who are:

• Looking for independent, flexible work alongside their NHS or private healthcare role.
• Motivated by fulfilment and curiosity, rather than job guarantees.
• Willing to build relationships with breeders, farmers, and vets.

It can be a particularly attractive option for those balancing family life, as scanning can be fitted around other commitments more easily than hospital shift patterns.

Getting Started: Equipment and Training

Starting out in animal ultrasound doesn’t need to be daunting. With the right training and equipment, you can begin scanning confidently. Options include:

• Budget-friendly scanners such as the Elite 5600, which is capable of excellent imaging in skilled hands.
• Portable handheld devices like the ScanX Air Vet, perfect for flexibility and scanning in different environments.

When paired with the AUA’s VIP Scanning Academy, these machines provide the ideal springboard into practical scanning. From there, learners can build on their skills with more advanced and specialised courses.

Importantly, many learners are eligible for finance, making both training and equipment more accessible and helping to spread the investment over time.

A Fulfilling and Independent Path

For NHS sonographers and echocardiographers, the step into animal ultrasound is not about replicating your career, it’s about creating something new and personal. It may not come with the same security or hourly rates as locum hospital work, but it offers something equally valuable: independence, flexibility, and the joy of working with animals.

By training with someone who understands both worlds, you can avoid pitfalls, gain species-specific expertise, and develop a rewarding sideline that enriches your professional life.

Final Thoughts

Retraining in animal ultrasound is not for everyone. It will not replace the security of an NHS post or guarantee a veterinary practice affiliated job. But for those who are passionate about animals and eager to expand their horizons, it can be an exciting, flexible, and deeply fulfilling pursuit.

If you are a nurse, ultrasound technician, or sonographer in the UK considering your next step, the Animal Ultrasound Association provides not only training but also the mentorship and community you’ll need to succeed, while Portable Ultrasound Machines is on hand for equipment advice specific to your budget, level of expertise and ambition.

Why not explore the options, ask questions, and discover whether this could be the next chapter in your professional journey?