Morphometric evaluation of liver size using ultrasonography and radiography in apparently healthy dogs

The objective of the study was to establish the radiographic and ultrasonographic morphometry of liver lobes in healthy dogs. The study was conducted on 41 apparently healthy dogs (female=27, male=14) with an average age of 4.17±0.48 yr, and average body weight of 22.89±1.56 kg, of different breeds of dogs bred in Indian conditions. The animals were evaluated on the basis of signalment, history, clinical signs, haematology, biochemistry, radiographic and ultrasonographic findings. Horizontal radiographic linear measurement of liver in lateral recumbency ranged from 8.19 cm to 15.8 cm with a mean±SE value of 11.63±0.39 cm. The vertical dimension of liver ranged from 7.63 cm to 14.82 cm with a mean±SE of 11.87±0.48 cm. Evaluation of liver size linearly by radiography was not a reliable method due to wide variations in the breed size. On ultrasonography the mean size of liver was found 3.42±0.14 cm for caudate lobe and 7.00±0.19 cm for left lobe. On the basis of 95% CI (confidence interval) value it was concluded that liver size of less than 7.38 cm irrespective of liver lobe, on ultrasonography, should be considered normal in dogs.