Doppler ultrasonographic evaluation of ductus venosus blood flow in 55 canine fetuses.

PURPOSE: The ductus venosus (DV) blood flow has been studied in fetal lambs and in humans. This study aims to describe the velocities, the Doppler indices and the morphological patterns of the venous blood flow in the DV of canine fetuses during physiological pregnancy. METHODS: The DV of 55 canine fetuses has been evaluated and the waveforms described using B-mode, color and pulsed-wave Doppler ultrasound technology. RESULTS: We found 48 diphasic waves and 7 threephasic waves. No monophasic waveform was found. Six of seven threephasic waveforms belonged to litters in which perinatal mortality occurred. The peak velocity during ventricular systole S (cm/s), the peak velocity during the ventricular diastole D (cm/s), the velocity during atrial contraction aV (cm/s), the S/D index, the pulsatility index (PI) and the resistance index were measured. CONCLUSIONS: All Doppler indices and velocities were significantly correlated with each other (p < 0.05). The number of newborn puppies and the age of bitches were not related to DV vascular indices or flow rate (p > 0.05). Gestational age was proportional to the PI (p < 0.02). Doppler ultrasonography allows the assessment of DV blood flow in canine fetuses during pregnancy.

A new method for ultrasonographic measurement of kidney size in healthy dogs.

INTRODUCTION: The authors propose a simple method for assessment of canine kidney size derived from the radiological technique described by Finco et al in 1971. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 26 healthy dogs ultrasonography was used to measure the length, height, and thickness of each kidney. These measurements were correlated with the lengths of the fifth and sixth lumbar vertebrae (L5 and L6), also measured by ultrasound. The resulting values were compared with the linear correlation method and the ratios defined using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between the dimensions of the right and left kidneys. The length of both kidneys displayed significant correlation with both the length of L5 and that of L6. In both cases, the renal:vertebral length ratios ranged from 1.3 to 2.7. DISCUSSION: The ratio of kidney length to the length of L5 or L6 can be considered a useful parameter for assessing the size of the kidneys in healthy dogs. The normal range we identified in this study (from 1.3 to 2.7) is sufficiently narrow to allow sonographic detection of even limited changes in renal length.