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To date there have been no studies that describe the ultrasonographic evaluation of kidney development in canine fetuses. The aim of this prospective and longitudinal study was to monitor fetal kidney development with ultrasound and use fetal kidney measurements as a complementary biometric index for estimation of gestational age. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 15 clinically healthy pregnant bitches every four days from 30th day of pregnancy, until visualization of the fetal renal pelvis was no longer possible. Four distinct periods of ultrasonographic canine fetal kidney development were defined. Kidney length and renal pelvis distention were measured on longitudinal plane images. The fetal kidney ranged from 0.40 cm to 2.30 cm in length, and diameter of the pelvis ranged from 0.06 cm to 0.17 cm, however by the end of gestation the renal pelvis was no longer dilated and so its diameter could not be measured. Statistical analysis confirmed a relationship between gestational age and fetal kidney growth. Ultrasonographic evaluation of fetal kidney development is simple to perform. There is a strong correlation between gestational age and kidney length, which allowed generation of an equation to estimate delivery date with high sensitivity between 48 and 52 days of pregnancy. Fetal organ development can be considered complete when the renal pelvis is no longer dilated, this finding can assist the ultrasonographer in staging the gestation by prompting examination for fetal intestinal motility which begins at the same gestational age. Measurement of fetal kidney length can be used in conjunction with other methods to estimate gestational age and predict delivery time.

The aim of this study was to develop regression models for correlation of canine fetal heart development with body size to characterize normal development or suggest cardiac anomalies. Twenty clinically healthy pregnant bitches, either brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic, were examined ultrasonographically. Transabdominal fetal echocardiography was conducted every 4 days from the beginning of cardiac chambers differentiation until parturition. Ten cardiac parameters were measured: length, width and diameter of the heart; heart area; left and right ventricular dimensions; left and right atrial dimensions; and aortic and pulmonary artery diameter. Femoral length, biparietal diameter and abdominal cross-sectional area were also recorded. Regression equations were developed for each parameter of fetal body size, and linear and logarithmic models were compared. The model with the highest correlation coefficient was chosen to produce equations to calculate relative dimensions based on the correlations. Only the left-ventricular chamber differed between the two racial groups. Biparietal diameter was the independent parameter that produced the highest correlation coefficient for the most fetal cardiac dimensions, although good correlations were also observed using femoral length and abdominal cross-sectional area. Heart width and heart diameter were used as surrogates of cardiac development, as these measurements showed the best statistical correlation. Quantitative evaluation of fetal cardiac structures can be used to monitor normal and abnormal cardiac development.

Modern high-resolution ultrasound images enable earlier assessment of measures of fetal development, including identification of the bowel. The aim of this study was to describe the ultrasonographic development of fetal bowel and correlate this with gestational age; define whether ultrasonographic visualization of fetal intestinal peristalsis in utero is associated with fetal maturation and determine whether there is a difference in fetal intestinal peristalsis detection time between fetuses delivered by normal delivery and cesarean. A cohort study was conducted in pregnant bitches presented to a veterinary hospital, to assess fetal bowel development. Statistical analysis was used to establish the correlation of the stage of fetal bowel development, as recorded by ultrasound, with outcomes of normal delivery and cesarean section. The study was broken down into three stages: the first stage was a descriptive analysis of fetal bowel development by ultrasound; the second stage compared time (in days) of bowel development between groups (normal delivery vs. cesarean); and the third stage was correlated survival probability for fetuses born on any day after detection of intestinal peristalsis with fetal maturity. All statistical analyses were significant. It is possible to monitor pregnancy progression using ultrasonographic evaluation of bowel development and this can reliably identify the end of fetal organogenesis. However, ultrasonographic detection of bowel segments with visualization of wall layers and associated peristalsis should not be used as the sole indicator for cesarean section planning because it is not possible to determine ultrasonographically whether the bowel is functional (mature).

An accurate diagnosis of cardiac disease requires knowledge of normal heart parameters. In total, 100 clinically healthy, unsedated New Zealand white rabbits were studied to establish well-tolerated and repeatable techniques for echocardiography (echo) and electrocardiography. In total, 50 thoracic radiographs were obtained to establish normal cardiac parameters. Electrocardiographic complexes were used to measure heart rate, rhythm, amplitude, and duration of the wave components. Cardiac structures and systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated using echo. Thoracic digital radiographs were obtained with standard radiographic techniques. A subjective analysis of the cardiac silhouette was done as well as objective measurements using the vertebral heart score. These normal values will assist in the diagnosis of cardiac disease in rabbits.

The aim of this study was to describe changes in umbilical artery blood flow in the later stages of canine pregnancy. Seventeen pregnant bitches were examined sonographically to evaluate umbilical artery blood flow at the following antepartum times: 120–96, 96–72, 72–48, 48–24, 24–12, 12–6 and 6–1 h. The peak systolic velocity and end diastolic velocity were measured to calculate the resistive index (RI). Bitches were classified into two groups according to delivery method: normal delivery (Group 1, n = 11) and Cesarean section, due to fetal distress, (Group 2, n = 6). During the study, the RI of the umbilical artery in bitches in Group 1 significantly declined in the time periods 72–48, 24–12, 12–6 and 6–1 h before delivery when compared to the reference RI (120–96 h antepartum period), with values ​​below 0.7 in the 12–6 and 6–1 h periods. In Group 2, the RI decreased significantly in the antepartum periods 96–72, 72–48, 48–24 h with respect to the period 120–96 h, and increased in the periods from 24–12, 12–6 and 6–1 h (being significantly higher in this last period) until the time of Cesarean section. Therefore monitoring of changes in umbilical artery RI in the pre-partum period may provide information about time of delivery in bitches and also assist in the diagnosis of possible dystocia and fetal distress.

OBJECTIVE To describe the effect of fasting on the technical success of abdominal ultrasonography specifically in respect of examination of the gall bladder, duodenum, pancreas, adrenal glands and portal vein in dogs. METHODS Randomised, prospective study of 150 dogs with a variety of physical characteristics. Animals were divided into two groups of 75 dogs each. Dogs in Group 1 were fasted for 8 to 12 hours before ultrasonographic evaluation and those in Group 2 were not but received food anytime between 10 minutes and 2 hours before the procedure. RESULTS Intraluminal gas can influence the visibility of organs, but intraluminal gas accumulation occurred independently of fasting status. The assessment of abdominal organs was not affected by whether or not an animal was fasted. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE Routine fasting of dogs before abdominal ultrasonography is not essential.

The aim of this study was to quantitatively investigate the oscillation of the fetal heart rate (HR) in advance of normal delivery and whether this index could be used to indicate impending delivery. In addition, fetal HR oscillation and umbilical artery resistive index (RI) were correlated to determine if the combination of these parameters provided a more accurate prediction of the time of delivery. Sonographic evaluation was performed in 11 pregnant bitches to evaluate the fetal HR and umbilical artery RI at the following antepartum times: 120 to 96 hours, 72 to 48 hours, 24 to 12 hours, and 12 to 1 hours. Statistical analysis indicated a correlation between the oscillation of fetal HR and the umbilical artery RI. As delivery approached a considerable reduction in the umbilical artery RI was documented and greater oscillations between maximum and minimum HRs occurred. We conclude that the quantitative analysis of fetal HR oscillations may be used to predict the time of delivery in bitches. The combination of fetal HR and umbilical artery RI together may provide more accurate predictions of time of delivery.

Ultrasonographic determination of fetal sex in dogs has not previously been reported. The aim of this study was to describe a method for determination of intrauterine fetal sex using ultrasound. A cohort study was conducted in pregnant bitches to perform ultrasound examination of the fetal genitalia between the eighth and ninth week of gestation. Fetal sex was determined in utero by consensus agreement of two sonographers. Eighteen pregnant bitches were included in this study, and a total of 39 fetuses were evaluated. The accuracy of ultrasonography to determine the sex with a 95% confidence interval was 62.24% to female fetuses and 65.48% to male fetuses. The sonographic accuracy in determining fetal sex can be achieved at 100% when there are up to two fetuses in the litter; however, the accuracy of the technique reduces (66.7%) when more than three fetuses are present. This study describes the sonographic appearance of the external genitalia in canine fetuses in utero associated with a specific position of the fetus and reports that sex determination is possible between 55 and 58 days of gestation.

Ultrasonography is a safe and efficient technique for monitoring fetal development and viability. One of the most important and widely used parameters to verify fetal viability is the fetal heart rate (HR). In human medicine, the fetal HR normally oscillates during labor in transient accelerations and decelerations associated with uterine contractions. The present study investigated whether these variations also occur in canine fetuses and its relationship to parturition. A cohort study was conducted in 15 pregnant bitches undergoing two-dimensional high-resolution ultrasonographic examination during the 8th and 9th week of gestation. Fetal HR was assessed in M-mode for 5 minutes in each fetus in all bitches. In addition, the bitches were monitored for clinical signs of imminent parturition. Associations between the HR, antepartum time, and delivery characteristics were evaluated with a Poisson regression model. Fetal HR acceleration and deceleration occurred in canine fetuses and predicted the optimal time of parturition. These findings can help veterinarians and sonographers better understand this phenomenon in canine fetuses.

Objectives To compare ultrasonographic diagnoses with the findings of surgical exploration to identify and classify potential diagnostic errors. Methods A cross-sectional prospective study of surgically confirmed ultrasound findings was conducted over a period of 29 months in two veterinary hospitals. Any errors in diagnosis made by the sonographer were classified as perceptual, cognitive, equipment-related, inevitable or multifactorial. Results One hundred and five ultrasound examinations were performed in 88 dogs and 17 cats. Errors in ultrasound diagnosis occurred in 17 animals (16·2%). These errors were identified as cognitive in 10 animals, inevitable in 5 and multifactorial in 2. Clinical Significance This study demonstrates that whilst errors of diagnosis do occur during ultrasonographic examination of the abdomen, understanding the causes of these errors will contribute to the development of this imaging modality.

Nos últimos anos o furão (Mustela putorius furo) tornou-se um conhecido animal de estimação sendo observada uma população em constante crescimento no Brasil, e por conseqüência cada vez mais presente em clínicas veterinárias. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar a anatomia ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais de furões-europeus hígidos. Foram utilizados 20 animais, dentre os quais nove eram machos e onze fêmeas, com idade média total de três anos. Localizaram-se em 100% dos furões os linfonodos mesentéricos, em 55% dos animais os linfonodos pancreático-duodenal e esplênico, em 20% o linfonodo gástrico e em 5% o linfonodo hepático. Conclui-se que a localização e características ultrassonográfica dos linfonodos abdominais em furões são muito similares aos linfonodos abdominais de gatos, sendo este estudo uma orientação preliminar para a localização dos linfonodos abdominais de furões hígidos. In recent years the ferret (Mustela putorius furo) has become popular pet featuring a ever growing population in Brazil, and being increasingly found in veterinary clinics. This study aimed to evaluate the ultrasound anatomy of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets. We used 20 animals, nine of which males and eleven females, with overall mean age of three years. We located the mesenteric lymph nodes in 100% of the ferrets, the pancreatic-duodenal lymph nodes and the splenic ones in 55%, the gastric lymph node in 20%, and the hepatic lymph node in 5%. We measured their lengths. It is concluded that the location and sonographic characteristics of the abdominal lymph nodes in ferrets are very similar to the abdominal lymph nodes of cats. This is a preliminary orientation for the location of abdominal lymph nodes of healthy ferrets.

Objectives: To assess the accuracy of intestinal ultrasound for diagnosis of intestinal obstruction in dogs and cats. Methods: A prospective clinical study was performed. Inclusion criteria were dogs and cats with clinical signs suggestive of gastrointestinal obstruction. Animals with no obstruction detected on ultrasound were excluded if they could not be monitored for 48 hours to confirm absence of obstruction. Sonographic diagnosis of small intestinal obstruction was based on identification of at least two findings suggestive of intestinal obstruction. Results: Ninety-two patients suspected of having intestinal obstruction were included. Correct diagnosis of intestinal obstruction was made in 21 cases (23%), and in 68 (74%) this diagnosis was excluded. Interpretation of the images on prospective analysis had sensitivity, positive predictive, specificity and negative predictive values of 100%, 87.5%, 95.8% and 100%, respectively. Clinical Significance: Ultrasonography is an excellent method for investigation of animals with gastrointestinal disorders, and is particularly useful for excluding obstructive processes.

O propósito deste trabalho foi determinar a viabilidade da ultrassonografia para avaliar o canal auditivo externo de cães, aferindo a espessura e arquitetura da parede do conduto auditivo e bula timpânica. Foram avaliados 10 cães da raça Retriever do Labrador não portadores de otite externa. O exame foi realizado com o aparelho de ultrassonografia bidimensional e transdutor linear de 14 MHz, com todos os animais sob efeito de anestesia geral. O exame foi efetivado antes e depois do conduto ser preenchido com solução salina, promovendo uma janela acústica anecóica. A artéria maxilar foi identificada com o Doppler colorido o que facilitou a localização da bula timpânica em todos os cães. A definição da imagem da parede proximal ao transdutor foi pior quando comparada à parede distal r em todos os animais, isto devido à proximidade da parede com a face de leitura do transdutor. Nos cães que apresentavam uma maior quantidade de cerúmen a superfície do epitélio estava com uma camada hiperecóica mais evidente. A membrana timpânica não foi identificada em nenhum animal. Conclui-se que ultrassonografia é viável e deve ser mais pesquisada na contribuição diagnóstica das doenças óticas em cães. The purpose of this study was to determine the viability of ultrasonographic evaluation of the external ear in dogs. The thickness and architecture of the ear wall and tympanic bulla of 10 Labrador Retrievers without ear disease was evaluated. The examination was performed with an ultrasound system and a 14 MHz bidimentional linear-array transducer and general anesthesia, before and after the infusion of saline solution into the ear canal. The maxillary artery was identified with color Doppler and helped to establish the location of the tympanic bulla in all dogs. The proximal wall was less well-defined when compared with the distal wall of the ear canal. Dogs with increased ceruminal content within the ear canal showed a hypoechoic epithelium. The tympanic membrane was not identified. It was concluded that ultrasound evaluation is feasible and needs to be explored as clinical diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of ear diseases in dogs.

Os objetivos desse trabalho foram avaliar as dificuldades da execução do método PennHIP no diagnóstico da displasia coxofemoral, comparar essa modalidade com a empregada pelo CBRV e determinar a influência do treinamento na interpretação por meio de uma análise interobservador. Foram utilizados 15 cães da raça Labrador, realizou-se exame radiográfico conforme as recomendações do CBRV e análise da distração articular. A comparação entre as técnicas se deu de forma subjetiva e pela concordância Kappa(K) quando na análise interobservador. Os valores de foram K= 0,44 moderada pelo método diagnóstico convencional e K=1,0 quase perfeita pelo método PennHIP, todavia, houve maior variabilidade no PennHIP quando na comparação entre os membros. Conclui-se que apesar das dificuldades o método PennHIP deve ser introduzido na rotina de avaliação radiográfica para pesquisa da displasia em conjunto com a avaliação recomendada pelo CBRV.

Interpretation of pulmonary radiographs is one of the most difficult aspects of radiology and interobserver variability is high. The aim of this study was to assess variations in interpretation of pulmonary pathology amongst Brazilian veterinarians with different levels of training and experience, using the interpretation by American board-certified radiologists as a reference. We identified areas where interpretation is particularly challenging. Sixty digital canine thoracic radiographic examinations were interpreted by four groups of three Brazilian observers, each group being defined by different levels of training and experience. The radiographic findings of the 4 groups of observers in the study were compared to a reference interpretation established from the findings of three ACVR board-certified radiologists. The degree of discrepancy for each list between each group and the reference interpretation was assessed according to a three-level scoring system: no discrepancy, minor discrepancy, or major discrepancy. Data was analyzed using a Kappa and Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel tests. Brazilian veterinarians with the most training and experience showed the least interobserver variation and best performance when compared to the reference interpretation, followed by those with practical training, but with little work experience in professional practice. The radiographic patterns that were associated with the highest interobserver variability were the vascular, unstructured interstitial and bronchial patterns. Interobserver major discrepancies occurred in all groups, but is more evident in groups with the least training (44.4%) and the general practitioners (26.7%) group. It can be concluded that training positively influences the accuracy of radiographic interpretation and is recommended to reduce erroneous diagnoses.