[ExplEngineer]

I would have to disagree with the statement that an abdominal ultrasound does not require an anesthetic. This may be true, but it is truly dependent upon the individual dog, and how he/she reacts to tests, behaves when receiving Vet care, etc. If forgoing a piece of toast for a morning will provide you with both the flexibility, and the ability to have more accurate tests run and to secure a more fact-based diagnosis, well, he will be okay without that piece of toast. My dogs are family, and I would never do anything to harm them, or to even make them even less than happy, but I would not jeopardize the success of a procedure for such a minimal sacrifice. Additionally, there are times when the results of one procedure or test requires a follow-on with a different, more specific diagnostic test or procedure, e.g. an MRI or PET Scan, this contingency can be addressed immediately if the dog is properly prepped for the administration of an anesthetic which is generally required for these procedures despite the fact that they are far less invasive than a biopsy or other invasive procedure. At a point along the way, the dog will become acclimated to the process of diagnostic procedures and the level of stressor imposed will be mitigated if the sequence of procedures can be addressed in a single visit or event, and thusly a sacrifice of normalcy such as his piece of toast may only be required on a single day. It is difficult to fully address all of the issues concerning these requirements, but generally, if you trust your Veterinarian (and if you don’t, find another one for everyone’s sake), I would suggest that you comply with this relatively simple, and minimally disruptive pre-testing regime. In the end, if you are like I am, you will want to achieve the best possible outcome within the context of both diagnostics and treatments and it appears that withholding this small amount of food for a minimal amount of time, even if it is disruptive of a daily routine will result in a positive “risk-reward” ratio.