Combining Doppler with an appropriate size "cuff" for small animals, provides the veterinarian with the same, non-invasive method for testing blood pressure as is available in human medicine.
A small probe is placed over a peripheral artery (e.g., digital or coccygeal). An ultrasonic crystal in the probe transmits pulse wave sounds back to the amplifier. The pressure cuff is then placed proximal to the probe. The cuff is inflated until the pulse sounds are no longer audible. The cuff is slowly deflated using the manometer, until pulse sounds are audible once more, at which point the manometer displays a numeric value of the animal's systolic pressure.