Abdominal Imaging in Small Animals

The size of an organ can indicate pathology. Compare the size to other structures or fixed landmarks.

Abdominal radiographs can show abnormal shapes due to physiological or pathological reasons.

The presence or absence of an organ can indicate displacement. Look for the organ's normal location.

Abnormal mineralisation or metallic opacity can indicate foreign bodies or calculi.

Loss of serosal detail suggests free abdominal fluid. Young and emaciated animals naturally have poorer serosal detail.

Radiographic views where the X-ray beam passes through the animal from the ventral side (belly) to the dorsal side (back).

Radiographic views where the X-ray beam passes through the animal from the right side to the left side.

Radiographic views where the X-ray beam passes through the animal from the left side to the right side.

A radiographic procedure that uses a contrast agent to enhance the visibility of internal structures. It's often used for examining the gastrointestinal tract and urinary system.

A type of radiographic view where the patient is positioned on their side, allowing visualization of specific areas of the abdomen, often used to diagnose abdominal distention.

A radiographic view where the X-ray beam passes from the dorsal side (back) to the ventral side (belly), often used for examining the chest, but not as commonly used for the abdomen.

A radiographic technique where the X-ray exposure is adjusted to minimize the amount of scatter radiation, resulting in a clearer image.

A type of radiographic imaging that uses a specialized device called a grid to absorb scattered x-rays, resulting in a higher-quality image with less blurring.

The large intestine's appearance is relatively constant on radiographs, often filled with varying amounts of heterogeneous fecal material.

Constipation results in large intestinal dilation and opaque fecal material, sometimes visible as megacolon. It can be caused by bone ingestion.

Enlargements in the abdomen can displace the large intestine. Ventral displacement can be caused by an enlarged kidney, sub-lumbar lymph node, or retroperitoneal space. Dorsal displacement can be caused by an enlarged prostate, uterus, or bladder.

Barium sulfate is a positive contrast agent used for gastrointestinal studies. It is given orally or rectally, is palatable, coats the mucosa well, and is contraindicated in cases of perforation or swallowing disorders.

Performing a barium swallow involves starving the animal for 12-24 hours and giving barium sulfate as a liquid through a stomach tube. Lateral and VD views are taken immediately, including the thorax to visualize the esophagus. Luminal filling defects can be identified.

A contrast study that uses both positive and negative contrast media to visualize the bladder. Positive contrast highlights the bladder lumen, while negative contrast outlines the bladder wall.

A contrast study that uses positive contrast media injected into the urethra to visualize its anatomy. It's helpful for identifying narrowing, blockage, or other abnormalities.

Similar to a retrograde urethrogram, but also includes contrast injected into the vagina. This allows for evaluation of both female reproductive and urinary tracts.

Contrast media is used to highlight internal structures, such as the bladder and urethra, during X-ray imaging.

A type of contrast media that absorbs X-rays, making the structures they fill appear white on the image.

The inability of food to move through the digestive tract. Characterized by an enlarged small intestine with fluid, gas, or a mix of both.

A type of ileus caused by a physical blockage, like a foreign object, tumor, or a section of the intestine folding in on itself.

A type of ileus caused by the digestive muscles not working properly, like when the body is low on potassium or there's inflammation in the gut.

An enlargement of the small intestine measuring more than 1.6 times the height of the lumbar vertebrae (L5). Suggests ileus.

A foreign object in the gut that can be seen on a plain radiograph, especially if it's metallic or mineralized.

A sign of partial intestinal obstruction by a foreign body, where small particles of the object are visible.

Taking multiple radiographs of the abdomen at different angles to move gas and fluid in the intestines, aiding in diagnosis.

A type of ileus where a section of intestine folds into itself, like a telescope. Often seen in younger animals and can be associated with tumors in older animals.

The greater curvature of the stomach is the outer curve of the stomach. It is a common location for filling defects, which are areas of the stomach that do not fill with barium. This can be due to a variety of reasons, such as tumors, ulcers, or polyps.

The upper limit of normal size is 2.5 -3.5 x L2 for dogs and 2.4 – 3.0 x L2 for cats on a VD view radiograph, where L2 is the vertebral body at the level of the second lumbar vertebrae.

The kidney is located in the retroperitoneal space, which is the space behind the peritoneum. The kidney is essentially fixed in this space. However, if the kidney is enlarged, it can displace the colon ventrally, meaning that the colon is pushed towards the belly.

Struvite, Calcium Oxalate and Calcium Phosphate stones are all radio-opaque. Radio-opaque material allows X-rays to pass through them.

A contrast study is a radiographic examination that uses a contrast agent, such as barium, to highlight specific structures in the body. This is often used to evaluate the urinary system.

Ultrasound is a diagnostic imaging technique that uses sound waves to create images of the body's internal structures. This method can give a clearer picture of the luminal surface and bladder wall, as well as the prostate in dogs.

The presence of free abdominal fluid is suggested when the serosal detail is lost. However, younger and emaciated animals may normally have poor serosal detail, so this should be considered.

Microhepatica is a condition where the liver is abnormally small. It can be a sign of portosystemic shunt, which is a condition where blood bypasses the liver.