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
This is a radiograph of the stifle of a dog with a two-week history of progressive, severe lameness: What do you think? In fact, whatever you think, I’m betting you’re not 100% certain. Now have a look at the ultrasonographic images: This is the medial aspect of the stifle joint with the tibia … Continue reading
Amazingly (actually maybe it’s not amazing :/) there appears to be just one published study on ultrasonography of canine anal sacs. This reflects a general lack of enthusiasm for anyone getting to grips with pathological conditions of the AGs. And it’s a sad state of affairs since they’re easy and rewarding to scan. That one … Continue reading
This is really quite a useful thing to be able to do. Imagine you’re presented with a dog, maybe of the brachycephalic variety, with markedly increased upper respiratory noise. OK you could anaesthetise it and examine the pharynx and larynx; but this is not going to be without risk and, ideally, you want to be … Continue reading
We are liking this very current article:. Comparison of clinical findings between dogs with suspected anaphylaxis and dogs with confirmed sepsis. Walters, Andrea M.; O’Brien, Mauria A.; Selmic, Laura E.; McMichael, Maureen A. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.9/15/2017, Vol. 251 Issue 6, p681-688. This is an interesting issue… I strongly suspect that I have missed diagnoses of anaphylaxis in the past … Continue reading
The patient in this case is a 6 m.o. Labrador pup who presented with acute severe fever, malaise, vomiting, melaena and jaundice. Blood revealed raised bilirubin, alkP, ALT, urea, creatinine and phosphate, isosthenuria, glycosuria and mild anaemia. An initial scan by the primary care vets revealed no specific abnormalities other than a very abnormal-looking gallbladder. … Continue reading
These images are from a 4 y.o. indoor DSH. Found acutely collapsed. No grounds to suspect trauma, no rodenticide access. The thorax is unremarkable…except that the left atrium looked a little under-filled (long-axis end-systolic diameter 9mm). In the abdomen, there is a moderate volume effusion: Although this image doesn’t show it, the effusion … Continue reading
This is just a slightly unusual shunt conformation in a six-month old kitten. As is common, the anomalous vessel originates from the base of the splenic vein and courses cranially and dorsally. The slightly unusual thing is that the confluence with the cava is intra-hepatic. With colour Doppler (clip starts with cava (above) … Continue reading
The patient, a neutered female adult Bulldog of unknown exact age was presented for investigation of skin problems, keratoconjunctivitis and lethargy. As part of the investigation routine abdominal ultrasonography was performed. However, routine things are not always routine…… The caudal vena cava is…….unusual….. Following the cava forwards things become more bizarre: Flow from the cava … Continue reading
On Friday I saw a pup with a PDA, another slightly older dog with a right gastric-t0-cava portosystemic shunt and a cat with a hairball. Of these, the hairball was the least glamorous but considerably the most challenging. The patient was a 9-year-old Maine Coon with a 6 month history of progressive weight loss and … Continue reading
