A 12 year-old Springer Spaniel was examined for collapse at exercise and was found to have second degree heart block with a 4:1 p:QRS ratio: Echocardiography was performed to screen for structural heart disease. This left apical view shows mitral regurgitation: But if you look at the ECG trace it’s not happening in association with … Continue reading
This is very similar to the one from last week, but with videos: The main part of the portal vein is of unremarkable diameter (suggesting that most portal flow reaches this point). At the confluence with the gastroduodenal vein (GDV), however, flow is diverted through the GDV and then turns dorsally into the right gastric. … Continue reading
This poor chap had suffered ‘pyrexia of unknown origin’ for the best part of a year prior to this episode. Despite thorough investigation, a definite diagnosis remained elusive. Until he blew up a new lump on his left flank. That looks pretty consistent with an abscess doesn’t it? But no sign of anything foreign that … Continue reading
There are many aspects to this poor dog’s case. For about a year she suffered multi-limb lameness, then developed skin lesions with interface dermatitis, then severe anaemia, then liver disease. She was also ANA positive and fulfills many criteria for SLE. Ultrasonographically, the most striking feature as that it took me 10 minutes to find … Continue reading
Congenital extra-hepatic shunts in dogs most commonly involve diversion of blood from the portal system via either 1) the splenic vein and thence left gastric vein to the systemic circulation (cava, azygous or left phrenic veins) or 2) via the gastroduodenal vein and then right gastric vein to any of the same systemic veins. This … Continue reading
I have heard it suggested in cardiological circles that alternating bidirectional hepatic vein flow is an indicator of right heart congestive failure. But it’s not that straightfoward. Normal dogs also have not one but two reversed phase in their hepatic vein flow: As was described originally by Szatmari et al. some years ago: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11327368 The … Continue reading
Paraprostatic cysts are thought to arise from remnants of the mullerian duct. This is a case in which this putative embrological origin seems particularly convincing. A two-horned cystic structure runs between bladder and colon: &nbs… Continue reading
An 18 month old crossbreed was presented with a two month history of intermittent pyrexia and malaise. Recently he had become polyuric/polydipisc and hypercalcaemia was detected. His ultrasonography is striking: This is an area of retroperitoneal fat: There are numerous small, discrete hyperechoic nodules. And the same is true for his subcutaneous fat this is … Continue reading
This amazing video shows a wave of contraction passing along a dog’s accessory pancreatic duct towards the minor papilla on the descending duodenum: With still images this is a ‘bolus’ of pancreatic juice in transit and waiting to be released into the duodenum: Little has been written about pancreatic duct function in cats and dogs. … Continue reading
Just an unusual case. An acutely poorly, pyrexic pug who was in season at the time. As far as we know no mating involved. On abdominal ultrasonography, working from cranial to caudal the first abnormality was localised abdominal fat inflammation around the ovaries: The uterine horns are abnormally hypoechoic and contain a little turbid content … Continue reading
