This was a real challenge. A 13 year-old male Weimaraner with a history of gradual deterioration, intermittent vomiting and weight loss who then deteriorated over the course of a few days with more frequent vomiting or unproductive retching. On physical examination he was thin, alert but weak and with moderate abdominal pain. Femoral pulses were … Continue reading
…that’s not a term I often use in conversation but this cat, a 12 year-old MN DSH, certainly does have a big, but otherwise unremarkable, pancreas. The left pancreatic lobe measures 13mm in diameter (compared to the top end of the normal range at 9.5mm). The history for this case is increased appetite in an … Continue reading
It’s been an interesting few weeks of nephrology for ultrasound4pets. Ureteral obstruction in a cat was first described in 1990. From there we have now moved to a situation where it has been described as ‘the leading cause of acute uraemia in North American cats’. The evolution of understanding has accelerated dramatically in the last … Continue reading
Just a few pictures from the last week to illustrate just how common pancreatitis is in both cats and dogs….and how much difference a high-frequency linear probe makes. This is the left pancreatic lobe from a cat with chronic recurrent abdominal pain. The pancreas is ringed by inflamed abdominal fat and the pancreatic parenchyma itself … Continue reading
This is just the most unbelievable story I’ve come across in some time. This 11 y.o. dog presented with episodic collapse. After a thorough work-up it transpired that she was sometimes hypoglycaemic and an insulin assay confirmed that levels were way above what would be expected at the time of hypoglycaemia. She was treated with … Continue reading
The thoracic medicine theme continues with this 3-month-old terrier pup. Initially presenting with stunted growth, matters then took a turn for the worse with sudden onset severe dyspnoea. On ultrasonography the heart was unusually difficult to see from the right side due to interposition of lung. From a left apical view the right ventricular wall … Continue reading
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
