Ultrasonographic features of liver affections in dogs

The present study was conducted on 34 dogs with the history of anorexia, inappetence, weight loss and icterus. These animals were subjected to ultrasonography using a 3.5 MHz microconvex transducer. Ultrasonographically, hepatitis (n=10), cirrhosis (n=3), hepatic congestion (n=13), hyperechoic nodules (n=4), cholecystitis (n=8) and hepatomegaly (n=5) could be well differentiated. More than one condition could be seen in the majority of the cases. It was concluded that ultrasonography is a sensitive imaging techniques for diagnosis of hepatic affections in dogs. However, diagnosis based on ultrasonography should be complemented with haematobiochemical and clinical findings to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.