Tag Archives: echocardiography
Gabapentin as a sedative/anxiolytic prior to ultrasonography in cats
Gabepentin is an enormously useful drug to facilitate ultrasonography in cats. I’m sure most of you are aware of this by now but it’s worth publicising a little more because, to get best effect, the use of gabapentin needs to be planned in advance of the day of scanning. J Am Vet Med Assoc. … Continue reading
Ultrasonographic features of acute canine lung lobe torsion
It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to scan a lung lobe torsion case: since when my machine got upgraded. This patient is a young Whippet with a 24 hour history of acute-onset cough, tachypnoea and pleural effusion (modified transudate). Her echocardiogram is interesting. Although we have to take into account the fact … 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
Sonographic features of cardiac hepatopathy in a dog with cor triatriatum dexter
I have to confess that this dog caught me out initially. A 12 m.o. Springer Spaniel; relatively well in herself but presenting with abdominal distention due to progressive ascites (of the modified transudate variety). No loud murmur. This is the liver: That’s not normal. The parenchyma is heterogeneous: specifically, the centres … Continue reading
Canine infective endocarditis: observations on presentation, incidence and sonography
There remain relatively few published case series of infective endocarditis in dogs. The largest being Sykes et al. published in two parts: J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2006 Jun 1;228(11):1723-34. Evaluation of the relationship between causative organisms and clinical characteristics of infective endocarditis in dogs: 71 cases (1992-2005). Sykes JE1, Kittleson MD, … Continue reading
Exotic pets ultrasound workshop
Many thanks to the exotic pet team at Holly House Vets in Leeds for hosting us in a bit of adventurous scanning last night. It was really nice to go back and see how much their service has advanced. We were able to spend some time looking at snails, lizards, tortoises, ferrets … Continue reading
‘Supernormal’ left ventricular filling in athletic dogs
Early diastolic flow through the mitral valve, represented by the E wave on Doppler echocardiography, is driven by the pressure gradient between the full left atrium and the relaxing left ventricle. In most canine and feline patients, the commonest cause of accelerated transmitral flow is pathologically-increased left atrial pressure….due to either mitral insufficiency or compromised … Continue reading
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