This is a really good recent paper on the subject from human medicine: Emerg Med J. 2012 Jan;29(1):19-23. doi: 10.1136/emj.2010.101584. Epub 2010 Oct 28. Lung ultrasound is an accurate diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of pneumonia in the emergency department. Cortellaro F1, Colombo S, Coen D, Duca PG. In summary these authors found that, in … Continue reading
Now, this is a common problem. Dogs with dysuria and/or haematuria. You perform a full abdominal ultrasonogram and, behold! – an apparent soft tissue mass in the bladder. So, what is it? An FNA is generally regarded as being inadvisable since transitional cell carcinomas may seed along the needle line. Cystoscopy is certainly an option … Continue reading
It always makes me mad when exam questions ask ‘What is the commonest…….’ because it varies so much from one publication to another and from one geographical area to another. Dysplasia of the tricuspid valve is supposedly relatively rare in cats; but it has been the most frequently seen feline congenital heart defect in our … Continue reading
A videoclip of lung rockets from an unfortunate cat with severe CHF. This shows the B lines sliding from side to side with respiratory movement of the lung against the body wall. Chest radiographs confirmed changes consistent with pulmonary oedema. [wpvideo ez3GDaaU] Sadly, in addition to CHF he also had multi-limb arterial thromboembolism and a … Continue reading
Hot topic of the moment in veterinary ultrasonography this is. Images below from an old dog with acute severe malaise (to the extent of recumbency) but few specific signs. Haematology and biochemistry relatively unremarkable. Abdominal ultrasonography similarly so. However, ultrasonographic survey of the chest revealed a site on the lower left chest wall with abnormal … Continue reading
This is a graphic illustration of what happens to the portal circulation in GDV cases. The torsion of the mesenteric attachments and pressure from the inflating stomach cause occlusion of the main portal vein. This is an important cause of abrupt reduction in venous return to the heart and subsequent catastrophic fall in cardiac output. … Continue reading
With a really marked hypercalcaemia in a seven-year-old dog one always hopes for primary hyperparathyroidism with a nice parathyroid nodule to remove. So, here is the left thyroid (linear probe, just love it!) …and those look like sizeable parathyroids right? Well, probably not actually. Parathyroids in perfectly normal dogs can be up to 7.5mm long … Continue reading
A video clip from a whelping bitch whom we saw this week. At this point she had been in second stage labour for about an hour with unproductive straining and a log-jam of big puppies not entering the pelvis. [wpvideo mBxxEw3j] I count that at a heart rate of about 120/minute (it’s a 7 second … Continue reading
One more on the topic of ultrasonography of lung lesions. This is a 9 year-old cat with a cough. Nothing outwardly dramatic. Admittedly thoracic radiographs look a little concerning: …but we’ve all seen lots of cats with asthma that look something like that. On the other hand, take a look at the ultrasonogram looking forward … Continue reading
Hyperaldosteronism in cats has the potential to cause hypernatraemia (and hence systemic hypertension -often manifesting as ocular bleeds and retinal detachments) and/or hypokalaemia (muscle weakness). It’s not all that common but it’s a nice diagnosis to make because treatment can really make a difference. The conventional cause is functional adenoma or carcinoma of one adrenal … Continue reading
