RADIOLOGICAL AND ULTRASONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF LIVER AND SPLEEN IN GERIATRIC DOGS
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Date
2023-11
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SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY, TIRUPATI - 517 502. (A.P.) INDIA
Abstract
The present study entitled “Radiological and ultrasonographic evaluation of
liver and spleen in geriatric dogs” was conducted on dogs aged 7 years and above
presented to Department of Veterinary Surgery and Radiology, NTR College of
Veterinary Science, Gannavaram. 1246 geriatric dogs were presented and 512 cases
(41.0 %) had symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal, hepatic and splenic disorders.
and 41 cases (8.0 %) (3.2 % of total cases) had liver and spleen involvement. Spitz was
the most affected breed. Dogs aged between 7 to 10 years had higher incidence (78.1
%). Male dogs (51.2 %) showed slightly more incidence. Geriatric dogs having liver
affections showed clinical signs such as lethargy, anorexia, dyspepsia, icterus, dysuria,
polydipsia, polyurea and haematemesis and dogs with splenic affections showed
anorexia, emaciation, anaemia and slight abdominal distension. Radiographic signs
observed in the present study includes hepatomegaly, rounding of liver lobes,
hepatomegaly displacing the stomach and intestines dorsally and caudally, irregular
margins, shrunken liver (cirrhosis), dorsal displacement of liver, hepatic tumour
displacing the abdominal contents dorsally and caudally. Ultrasonographic lesions
observed in liver were rounding of liver lobe with diffuse hyperechoic hepatic
parenchyma, altered echotexture, mixed echogenicity, rounding of liver lobes with free
fluid in abdomen, focal hyperechoic lesion, solitary or multiple hepatic abscess with
irregular margin and hypoechoic centre, increased diffuse echogenicity with enlarged
portal veins suggestive of cirrhosis, solitary or multiple hyperplastic nodules suggestive
of hepatic tumour. Hyperechoic biliary sludge with thickened gall bladder wall was
seen in few cases. Dogs with splenic affections showed splenomegaly and loss of
serosal details in radiography and sonography showed splenic mass with irregular
margin and hyperechoic centre, hyperechoic splenic parenchyma in splenomegaly and
multiple masses with altered echotexture in splenic tumour. Mean values of Hb, PCV,
TEC, in the liver and spleen affected dogs was lower normal range. TLC was higher in
liver affected and liver and spleen affected dogs. In all the dogs mean values of AST
and ALP were elevated whereas ALT in liver affected and spleen affected dogs was
elevated. Increased levels of creatinine were observed in liver and spleen affected dogs.
Total protein and albumin were within normal range whereas mean values of serum
globulin in liver and spleen affected dogs were higher. To conclude, radiography and
ultrasonography were useful in identifying liver and splenic disorders, even before the
onset of clinical signs, and helps in correct diagnosis and to predict prognosis.