IOHEXOL AND IOPAMIDOL MYELOGRAPHY IN THE DOG: A CLINICAL TRIAL COMPARING ADVERSE EFFECTS AND MYELOGRAPHIC QUALITY

In a blind clinical trial, adverse effects after iohexol and iopamidol myelography were evaluated in 151 dogs. Eighty-one dogs were given iohexol (240 mgI/ml) and 70 dogs were given iopamidol (200 mgI/ml) by pre-determined assignment. Each dog was evaluated postmyelographically for seizures, hyperthermia, prolonged recovery from anesthesia and intensification of pre-existing neural signs. Myelographic quality was evaluated with a subjective scoring method. In comparing iohexol and iopamidol groups, there was not a statistically significant difference in the incidence of adverse effects or in myelographic quality. Iopamidol and iohexol appeared to be equally efficacious for routine canine myelography.     

COLOR DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN PREDICTION OF THE REDUCIBILITY OF INTUSSUSCEPTED BOWEL IN 15 YOUNG DOGS

Color Doppler ultrasonography was performed in 15 young dogs with intestinal intussusception to test the hypothesis that color Doppler findings can be used as a predictor of the manual reducibility of the intussusception at celiotomy. Color flow Doppler ultrasonography indicated blood flow within mesentery of the intussuscepted bowel in 12 of 15 dogs and reduction was achieved in nine of these 12 dogs (75%). In the remaining three dogs and in three dogs where no color Doppler signal were observed, an irreducible intussusception was confirmed at celiotomy. Color Doppler ultrasonography is a useful method for predicting the reducibility of intussusception in dogs.     

Ultrasonographic signs of intestinal intussusception associated with acute enteritis or gastroenteritis in 19 young dogs

The ultrasonographic pattern of intestinal intussusception was studied in 19 young dogs with acute enteritis or gastroenteritis. The intussusception was observed to be a target-like mass consisting of a hyperechoic or anechoic center surrounded by multiple hyperechoic and hypoechoic concentric rings in transverse sections. In longitudinal sections, the intussusception appeared as multiple hyperechoic and hypoechoic parallel lines, as a tumor-like or pseudokidney mass, and as a trident-like configuration. Ultrasonography may provide a sensitive, specific, and accurate method of diagnosing intestinal intussusception in young dogs.     

Quantitative M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography in calves

A standardised echocardiographic protocol was applied to 18 healthy calves for the estimation of 51 anatomical and functional cardiac variables. These variables were measured in a long axis and a short axis view of the heart, and both two-dimensional and cursor-directed time-motion (M-) modes were used. The repeatability of each of the measurements was estimated by comparing values obtained twice within 24 hours, and most of the 51 variables showed a high degree of repeatability. Statistical analysis revealed a close correlation between cardiac measurements taken post mortem and by in vivo echocardiography, and between the echocardiographic values obtained in different scanning planes of the heart or ultrasonic modes, indicating that quantitative echocardiography is a reliable technique in calves.