Tag Archives: cat
Should we recommend CT angiography for all potential portosystemic shunts -or is ultrasound good enough? Part I: extra-hepatic shunts
In all images here cranial is to left of image. I’ve listened to two authoritative presentations on shunts by specialist surgeons in the last month. To paraphrase, both of them said they recommend CT angio and find ultrasound too user-dependent and too unreliable. My impression is that there’s a general drift in this direction. I … Continue reading
Ultrasound in the diagnosis of acute enterocolitis in dogs and cats
Almost the most frequent presenting problem we see in our sonography practice is canine acute abdomen. And perhaps, more specifically, acute vomiting which fails to resolve within a couple of days supportive care. The bottom line for these is ‘does this dog need surgery or will it resolve with supportive care’. If you can see … Continue reading
Iatrogenic overhydration: diagnostic nightmaresville
The inconvenient bottom line is that there is nothing intrinsic about the appearance of effusions or tissue oedema caused by fluid overload to distinguish them from those caused by congestive heart failure or any other pathological process. We have to infer the probable cause (or causes) from history, physical examination, clin path and imaging. So, cardiogenic … Continue reading
Why is this cat with a huge left atrium not in congestive failure?
This is a cat we saw last week. She presented for routine vaccination and was found to have a tachydysrhythmia. No hyperpnoea, no dyspnoea, outwardly well. This is her echocardiography. First, right long axis four chamber view: Her left atrium measures about 28mm (normal being <16mm). Technically, that falls into the ‘huge’ category. … Continue reading
Should we routinely give gastroprotectants to dogs and cats prescribed glucocorticoids?
My observation is that, amongst UK veterinary practices and institutions, there is considerable variation in protocols on when to give prophylactic PPIs to dogs (and to a lesser extent) cats who are prescribed glucocorticoids. The mechanisms through which glucocorticoids might promote ulcer formation have been proposed to include inhibition of gastric mucus synthesis, enhancement of … Continue reading
