title: Normal canine pediatric gastrointestinal ultrasonography.
abstract: The normal sonographic appearance of the adult canine gastrointestinal tract has been described. Interpretation of abdominal ultrasonographic findings in puppies is difficult due to the lack of information on normal ultrasonographic findings. The gastrointestinal tract, jejunal lymph node size and the presence and appearance of abdominal fluid were investigated in 23 normal, 7-12-week-old Beagle puppies. The duodenal wall thickness was greater than in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract (mean 3.8 +/- standard deviation [SD] 5 mm, range 3.2-4.8 mm). The mean stomach wall thickness was 2.7 +/- SD 0.4 mm (range 2.2-3.7 mm), the mean jejunal wall thickness was 2.5 +/- SD 0.5 mm (range 1.2-3.4 mm), and the mean colonic wall thickness was 1.3 +/- SD 0.3 mm (range 0.7-2.0 mm). In addition, mean duodenal and jejunal mucosal layer thicknesses measured 2.7 +/- SD 0.5 mm (range 2.0-3.8 mm) and 1.5 +/- SD 0.4 mm (range 0.6-2.5 mm), respectively. Homogenous, hypoechoic jejunal lymph nodes were easily found and the mean thickness was 7.1 +/- SD 2.2 mm (range 1.5-12.5 mm). A mild amount of anechoic free peritoneal fluid was present in all puppies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort 0110, Republic of South Africa. nerissa.stander@up.ac.za
authors.forename: Nerissa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Stander
authors.forename: Wencke M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goddard
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Kirberger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001202:Ascitic Fluid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D016014:Linear Models; D041741:Lower Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography