EXCRETORY UROGRAPHY BY INTRAOSSEOUS INJECTION OF CONTRAST MEDIA IN A RABBIT MODEL

There are many indications for an intravenous excretory urogram. However, where intravenous access is not available, the intraosseous route to the circulation may be an alternative. We found that safe and diagnostic excretory urograms could be obtained in rabbits following the injection of different contrast media via the intraosseous route. In fact, these excretory urograms were indistinguishable from ones obtained by the conventional intravenous route. While the rabbits did not develop any abnormal clinical signs following the procedure, there were postmortem histologic lesions of osteochondrosis in 5 of 22 (22.7%) tibias receiving an intraosseous needle, but in none of the 14 tibias that did not receive an intraosseous needle. Further, the use of diatrizoate was associated with the development of osteochondrosis while the use of iopamidol was not.     

Exertional Rhabdomyolysis in an Adult Siberian Husky

The clinical features of severe exertional rhabdomyolysis in an athletic dog are reported. Many of the findings were similar to exertional myopathy in humans and horses. Clinical signs included hindlimb myalgia, hypovolemic shock and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Serum enzyme concentrations including creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotrans- ferase were elevated as a component of the syndrome. Aggressive management and continuous supportive care produced resolution of this life threatening condition.