title: Gastric emptying as assessed by barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres in healthy dogs consuming a commercial kibble ration.
abstract: Barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS) were used to assess gastric emptying in medium-sized dogs consuming a commercial kibble ration. Two sizes of spheres were used: 1.5 mm and 5.0 mm in diameter. Ventrodorsal and right lateral recumbent radiographs were taken immediately before and after consumption of the test meal, and then hourly. The lag phase and the time to 25% (GET25), 50% (GET50), and 75% (GET75) gastric emptying of each sized marker were calculated. There was no significant difference between the lag phases of the small and large BIPS. There was a significant difference between the 1.5 and 5.0 markers at GET25, GET50, and GET75 in these medium-sized dogs. In a majority (70%) of the dogs in this study, GET25 of the 1.5-mm marker occurred at 4.73+/-1.44 hours; GET50 (1.5 mm) occurred at 8.29+/-1.62 hours, and GET75 (1.5 mm) occurred at 10.82+/-1.35 hours. The 5.0-mm markers tended to empty erratically and slowly. Four of the eight dogs retained some of the large markers in their stomachs at the end of the study period (24 hours).
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames 50011, USA.
authors.forename: O L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Jergens
authors.forename: K G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Miles
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Christensen
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D003287:Contrast Media; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005746:Gastric Emptying / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010316:Particle Size; D020959:Polyethylene; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D001466:Barium Sulfate; D020959:Polyethylene