Contrast-enhanced ultrasonography of the thyroid gland in healthy dogs, hypothyroid dogs and dogs with non-thyroidal illness.

Diagnosis of canine hypothyroidism remains challenging, as non-thyroidal illness (NTI)-syndrome and medical treatment can influence thyroid hormone concentrations. Conventional ultrasound may give additional hints, however high interobserver variability has been described. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) allows detection of changes in tissue perfusion. The purpose of the present study was to assess the possible diagnostic value of CEUS regarding diagnosis of hypothyroidism. CEUS of the thyroid gland was performed in 52 healthy dogs, 16 hypothyroid dogs, and 20 NTI patients. The following perfusion parameters were calculated: Thyroid/carotid artery (TG/CA) ratios for peak enhancement (PE) and area under the curve (AUC), time to peak (TTP) and wash-in and wash-out rates (WiR, WoR) of the thyroid gland. Impact of sedation on perfusion parameters was investigated in 8 calm healthy dogs which were examined before and after sedation using midazolam and butorphanol. Significantly higher median TG/CA ratios for PE were detected for the left and right thyroid lobe in dogs with hypothyroidism (0.97/0.96) compared to healthy dogs (0.85/0.85) and dogs with NTI (0.84/0.84). AUCs were also significantly increased in hypothyroid dogs when compared to other groups. Dogs with NTI showed significantly lower WiR and WoR compared to other groups. Values for TTP were not significantly different between groups. Sedation had only impact on results of TTP which was significantly prolonged in sedated dogs. In conclusion, CEUS of the thyroid gland can provide an additional tool for diagnosis of hypothyroidism in dogs and support its differentiation from NTI. Sedation has limited impact on CEUS results.

[Outcome of selective mating in the Entlebucher Mountain Dog for reduction of ureteral ectopia]. / Ergebnis der selektiven Verpaarung beim Entlebucher Sennenhund zur Reduktion der ureteralen Ektopie.

INTRODUCTION: The Entlebucher Mountain Dog is predisposed to ureteral ectopia and associated diseases of the urinary tract as well as the kidneys, which can have severe to lethal consequences. Due to the clustered occurrence of clinical signs in 11 % of Entlebucher Mountain dogs in the absence of a genetic test for ureteral ectopia, screening was introduced in 2008 to allow phenotype-based breeding selection. The ureteral orifices of the dogs are visualized by ultrasound and existing urinary retention or urinary incontinence is documented. The diagnostic findings were evaluated centrally with assignment to one of five phenotypes depending on the localization of the ureteral orifices and the renal and ureteral shape. Breeding approval and mating restrictions are the responsibility of the respective breeding associations and predominantly Entlebucher Mountain Dogs with extravesical ectopic ureters and/or clinical signs were excluded from breeding. The effect of phenotype-based selective mating on the incidence of ureteral ectopia and its clinical signs, as well as possible factors influencing the expression of the phenotype, were determined in the birth cohorts after the introduction of screening. Analysis of the data set of 1456 phenotyped Entlebucher Mountain Dogs showed, that at 11 % versus 5 %, males were more frequently assigned to the extravesical phenotype than females. The effect of phenotype-based breeding selection was examined in a subpopulation consisting of phenotyped parents and their offspring (n = 876). The prevalence of the extravesical phenotype decreased from 24 % in the 2005 to 2007 birth cohorts to 1,4 % in the 2015 to 2017 birth cohorts. Since 2015 almost no Entlebucher Mountain Dogs with incontinence, hydroureter or hydronephrosis have been recorded. It was feared that the additional selection measures to control ureteral ectopia in the small Entlebucher Mountain Dog population would intensify the inbreeding increase. However, this has so far remained absent. Therefore, as long as no genetic test is available, it is recommended to continue phenotype-based breeding selection with exclusion of dogs with extravesical ureteral ectopia and/or hydroureter/hydronephrosis/urinary incontinence, while keeping an eye on the development of the inbreeding coefficient.

INTRODUCTION: Le Bouvier de l'Entlebuch est prédisposé à l'ectopie urétérale et aux maladies associées des voies urinaires ainsi que des reins, ce qui peut entraîner des conséquences fatales. En raison de l'apparition de signes cliniques chez 11 % des chiens et en l'absence d'un test génétique pour l'ectopie urétérale, un dépistage a été introduit en 2008 pour permettre une sélection d'élevage basée sur le phénotype. Les orifices urétraux des chiens ont été visualisés par échographie et la rétention ou l'incontinence urinaire existante documentée. Les résultats du diagnostic ont été évalués de manière centralisée avec attribution à l'un des cinq phénotypes en fonction de la localisation des orifices urétéraux ainsi que de la forme des reins et des uretères. L'approbation pour la reproduction et les restrictions d'accouplement relèvent de la responsabilité des associations d'élevage respectives et les bouviers de l'Entlebuch présentant des uretères ectopiques extravésicaux et/ou des signes cliniques ont majoritairement été exclus de la reproduction. L'effet de cet accouplement sélectif basé sur le phénotype sur l'incidence de l'ectopie urétérale et de ses signes cliniques ainsi que les facteurs possibles influençant l'expression du phénotype ont été déterminés dans les cohortes de naissance après l'introduction du dépistage. L'analyse de l'ensemble des données de 1456 Bouviers de l'Entlebuch phénotypés a montré que, à 11 % contre 5 %, les mâles étaient plus fréquemment affectés au phénotype extravésical que les femelles. L'effet de la sélection d'élevage basée sur le phénotype a été examiné dans une sous-population composée de parents phénotypés et de leur progéniture (n = 876). La prévalence du phénotype extravésical est passée de 24 % dans les cohortes de naissance de 2005 à 2007 à 1,4 % dans les cohortes de naissance de 2015 à 2017. Depuis 2015, presque aucun bouvier d'Entlebuch présentant une incontinence, un hydrouretère ou une hydronéphrose n'a été enregistré. Une possible augmentation de la consanguinité due aux mesures de sélection supplémentaires visant à contrôler l'ectopie urétérale ne s'est pas produite. Par conséquent, tant qu'aucun test génétique n'est disponible, il est recommandé de poursuivre la sélection d'élevage basée sur le phénotype avec exclusion des chiens présentant une ectopie urétérale extravésicale et/ou une hydrouretère/hydronéphrose/incontinence urinaire, tout en surveillant l'évolution du coefficient de consanguinité.

Gastric dilatation volvulus: a retrospective study of 203 dogs with ventral midline gastropexy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the recurrence rate of gastric dilatation volvulus and the incidence of complications in subsequent coeliotomies following ventral midline gastropexy. METHODS: The medical records of dogs treated for gastric dilatation volvulus by ventral midline gastropexy were retrospectively reviewed. Owners were contacted and invited to complete a questionnaire and to return to the clinic for ultrasonographic and radiographic follow-up. RESULTS: The questionnaire was completed by 203 owners 2 to 123 months postoperatively, 24 of whom attended the follow-up examination. Of the 203 dogs, 13 (6 · 4%) underwent subsequent ventral midline coeliotomy and none developed complications related to the gastropexy site. In 23 of the 24 re-evaluated dogs, the stomach was closely associated with the abdominal on radiography and/or ultrasound. The recurrence rate for clinical signs of gastric dilatation or gastric dilatation volvulus after ventral midline gastropexy was 6 · 4%. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that the recurrence of gastric dilatation volvulus after ventral midline gastropexy is low and adhesion of the stomach to the abdominal wall is persistent in almost all dogs that were re-examined. The gastropexy site did not appear to interfere with subsequent coeliotomy.

Contrast echocardiography for analysis of heart anatomy in tortoises.

OBJECTIVE: The cardiac anatomy in tortoises depicted on B-mode and color-Doppler should be better differentiated by additional contrast-echocardiography. MATERIAL AND METHODS: An intravenous contrast agent (INN-sulphur hexafluoride [SonoVue®]) was injected in four tortoises (three Testudo hermanni, one Agrionemys horsfieldii), via the coccygeal vein, with parallel B-mode echocardiographic examination. The results of the contrast-enhanced echocardiography were compared with the contrast-free B-mode recordings and color-Doppler ultrasound. RESULTS: The use of SonoVue® enabled clearer distinction of the cardiac structures, differentiation of the arising major arteries, identification of wash-out-shunts, and visualization of blood flow patterns throughout the tortoise heart. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This study enables the accurate depiction and differentiation of cardiac anatomy in tortoises through the use of a combination of B-mode, color-Doppler and contrast-echocardiography. Basic knowledge of blood flow in the reptile heart is essential to understand echocardiographic anatomy. Blood-flow-patterns and anatomy of the tortoise heart as found in this study will help to establish a basis for further echocardiographic examinations of these animals.

Comparison of stroke volume and cardiac output as measured by a single observer using four different ultrasound techniques in six clinically healthy cats.

The aim of this study was to assess agreement and repeatability of four ultrasound methods for measuring stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) in cats. Measurement of SV and CO was performed by the Teichholz method, the Simpson's method (SM), the area length method (ALM) and a volumetric flow method across the aorta (Trace method). For each method, the coefficient of variation (CV) was calculated and agreement was determined by Bland-Altman analysis. The CV was acceptable (<20%) for all parameters, except for SV and CO obtained by SM (28.8% and 22.4%, respectively) and ALM (21.6% and 22.6%, respectively). Narrow limits of agreement were observed between both planimetric methods (SM and ALM). The Trace method was the most repeatable, followed by the Teichholz method. Despite excellent inter-method agreement, neither of the planimetric methods produced results with adequate repeatability. As the Teichholz and Trace methods were acceptably repeatable, and probably gave the most representative values, they appear to be the most useful methods for the measurement of SV and CO in cats. Further investigations are needed to compare the echocardiographic methods described here with a standard technique such as thermodilution.