Evaluation of Liver Parenchyma in Dogs with Hyperlipidemia Using Ultrasound Attenuation Imaging (ATI).

(1) Background: Ultrasound attenuation imaging (ATI) is an innovative technique that allows for the evaluation of the degree of lipid infiltration of the liver parenchyma in a simple and non-invasive way. The objective of this study was to verify the applicability of the ATI method in the evaluation of hyperlipidemia. (2) Methods: This study included 53 dogs between January 2021 and December 2022, of which 21 were healthy (A) and 32 had hyperlipidemia (B).

Tomographic and ultrasound evaluation of the thyroid gland in pet guinea pigs.

There has been increasing interest in the literature on primary thyroid diseases in guinea pigs, which are believed to be underdiagnosed. This study describes the size and characteristics of the thyroid gland on ultrasound (US) and CT examinations in the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) without evidence of thyroid pathology and examines the possible use of US as a routine examination for thyroid diseases. This prospective and anatomical study included 20 guinea pigs that underwent CT for dental pathologies and US for thyroid gland (TG) examination.

Ultrasonographic measurements of the normal adrenal glands in guinea pigs (Cavia Porcellus).

Hyperadrenocorticism is an uncommon but important endocrine disease in guinea pigs, but due to its subtle clinical signs and the limited information in veterinary literature, it can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Ultrasound of the adrenal glands in patients with suspected hyperadrenocorticism can help in identifying adrenomegaly. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify ultrasonographic adrenal gland dimensions in presumed healthy guinea pigs using the same standardized method described for dogs and cats.

Sonography of the pituitary gland in pet rats.

Pituitary gland (PG) tumors are common in rats over the age of 2. CT and MRI can be difficult to apply in this species, whereas ultrasound is more feasible and useful. To our knowledge, there are no studies on PG ultrasound in rats.

Diagnostic utility of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in nephropathic dogs and its correlation with renal contrast-enhanced ultrasound in course of acute kidney injury.

Aims of our study were to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic value of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in dogs with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and acute on chronic kidney disease, its correlation with renal functional (creatinine, urea), and prognostic parameters (serum calcium-phosphorus product, urinary output), and with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (qualitative and quantitative evaluation). The study was prospective. A group of healthy (Group A) and a group of nephropathic dogs (Group B) were included.

Ultrasonographic appearance and possible clinical relevance of hyperechoic foci of mineralization in the canine intrahepatic biliary tree.

Background: The evidence of mineralizations in the canine liver is usually considered an incidental finding of unclear clinical significance, frequently observed in small-size old dogs.

Aim: To describe the ultrasound features of intrahepatic biliary tree foci of mineralization, to assess their clinical relevance and their possible relationship with other gastrointestinal pathological disorders.

Methods: A retrospective analysis evaluating the database of canine patients admitted to two referral veterinary centers we carried out.

Ultrasonographic Findings of Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency in Dogs.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasound features of the pancreas during EPI in this species.

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography of liver in healthy dogs: anaesthesia as a source of variability.

Two-dimensional shear wave elastography (2D-SWE) is a non-invasive method to quantitatively evaluate the liver stiffness (LS), allowing the detection of hepatic pathological changes in both dogs and humans. In dogs, some factors such as patient movement and respiration can cause artefacts and potential errors of measurements. Therefore, anaesthesia has been suggested to reduce the effect of the movement on 2D-SWE in dogs.

Pseudomembranous Cystitis: An Uncommon Ultrasound Appearance of Cystitis in Cats and Dogs.

In veterinary medicine, pseudomembranous cystitis (PC) is a rare condition described only in cats. The purposes of this retrospective study were to describe ultrasound features of PC in cats and dogs, predisposing factors, comorbidities and outcomes. Cats and dogs with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of PC were included in the study.

Ultrasonographic Monitoring in 38 Dogs with Clinically Suspected Acute Pancreatitis.

Abdominal ultrasound examinations (AUEs) are commonly used in the diagnostic evaluation of canine acute pancreatitis (AP). The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate and monitor the ultrasonographic changes observed in dogs with clinically suspected AP on consecutive AUEs. The study population was constituted by 38 client-owned dogs hospitalized for no less than 48 h from January 2016 to December 2019.

Radiographic vertebral left atrial size: A reference interval study in healthy adult dogs.

Thoracic radiography is a useful technique for the evaluation of cardiac dimensions, especially when echocardiography is not possible. The vertebral left atrial size (VLAS) has recently been proposed as a new radiographic method for quantifying left atrial dimensions in dogs. The aims of this retrospective, reference interval, observational study were to describe values for VLAS in a group of healthy adult dogs and to compare intraobserver and interobserver agreement for VLAS versus vertebral heart score (VHS) methods.