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  • ThesisItemOpen Access
    Contrast radiography for the diagnosis of gastric disorders in dogs
    (Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, College of Veterinary and Animal Science, Mannuthy, 2005) Dileepkumar, K M; KAU; Rajankutty, K
    The study was carried out in twelve dogs of different breeds, age and either sex, with the history of gastric problems presented to the Veterinary Hospitals of the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences at Mannuthy and Kokkalai. These animals were randomly divided into two groups viz., Group I and Group II, each consisting of six animals. The trials were carried out as follows: In group 1, 25 % of barium sulphate suspension at the rate of 5 ml per kg. body weight was administered orally. In group II, 25 % barium sulphate suspension at the rate of 3 ml/kg. body weight followed by air at the rate of 2 to 10 ml /kg. body weight was administered into the stomach with a flexible polythene tube, after a survey radiography of the anterior abdomen. Manual control of the animals were sufficient for oral administration of barium sulphate suspension when it was used alone. But sedation with intramuscular administration of triflupromazine at the rate of 2 mg/kg. body weight was found satisfactory for easy administration of barium sulphate suspension followed by air into the stomach, through the flexible polythene tube. General appearances of the animals were weak, dull or alert according to the severity of the problem. The prominent clinical symptoms noticed in the animals were anorexia, vomiting, reduced water intake, occasional diarrhoea and pain on palpation of the abdomen. In most of the cases, the vomitus was yellowish. In three cases, which were diagnosed as gastric ulcers and gastric torsion, the vomitus was blood tinged. Diarrhoea was noticed in three cases in which diarrhoea was manifested, two cases were diagnosed as gastric ulcers and one was adenocarcinoma of the pylorus. The appearance of the abdomen was tucked up, tensed or flaccid depending on the type of the gastric problems. Palpation of the abdomen elicited pain in six animals and the presence of a palpable mass in one animal, which was later diagnosed as a case of radiolucent foreign body in the intestine. The variations observed in rectal temperature, pulse rate and respiratory rate, and colour of conjunctival mucous membrane were suggestive of the severity of gastric problems. Packed cell volume was below normal in eight anim­­als. Haemoglobin concentration was below the normal limit in one animal, which was suffering from gastric dilatation and volvulus. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate was within the normal range. Total leukocyte count was below normal in two animals and above normal in two animals. Total erythrocyte count was below normal in three animals. Reduction in packed cell volume and decreased total erythrocyte count with neutrophilia in cases of gastric impaction, gastric dilatation, gastric dilatation and volvulus (GDV) indicating anaemia and stress to the animal. Differential leukocytic count revealed leukocytosis with neutrophilia in gastric ulcers and reduction in packed cell volume and decrease in leukocytes with lymphocytosis in pyloric adenoma and gastric displacement. The severity and chronicity of the localized/ generalised inflammatory reaction were evident from these observations.Animal in which the condition was diagnosed as pyloric adenocarcinoma, the radiographic observations were delayed gastric emptying, sacculation at pyloric antrum, thickening and irregularities of the pyloric musculature with subserosal fluid collection of stomach wall. In the case which was diagnosed as gastric dilatation and volvulus, the radiographic features noticed were highly distended stomach with gas and delayed gastric emptying with the accumulation of contrast material at the pylorus. The case, which was, diagnosed as gastric displacement it was seen that the stomach was pushed cranially by the distended intestinal loops. In the case of gastric torsion, radiographic lesions observed was accumulation of barium meal in the pylorus as well as in the pyloric canal without any sign of gastric emptying. In the case of gastric ulcer, gastric emptying was normal and the area of decreased density in the stomach towards the pylorus, may be due to the localized reaction. In gastric erosions the borders of the stomach were appeared uneven at the region. In the case of impaction of the stomach and oesophagus due to plastic threads and electric wires, the barium meal flow was seen blocked by the middle of thoracic oesophagus and hence there was only slight radioopacity in the body of the stomach.From the study it could be seen that both contrast radiography with barium sulphate and combination of barium sulphate suspension and room air were useful for identifying radiolucent foreign bodies in the stomach, gastric tumours, gastric ulcers, pyloric obstruction, gastric dilatation and volvulus, displacement of the stomach, gastric torsion and impaction of the stomach. Though both the techniques were useful for studies related to gastric emptying, barium meal alone was advised. Since the technique was simple and accurate, require no need of anaesthesia and not associated with complications like aspiration. For gastric impaction studies, combination of barium sulphate suspension and air was not found feasible. For studying architecture of gastric mucous membrane combined use of both contrast materials were found to be useful.