title: Ultrasonographic evaluation of the thickness of the wall layers in the intestinal tract of dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To ultrasonographically measure the thickness of the individual wall layers of the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  85 dogs with no clinical signs or ultrasonographic evidence of gastrointestinal tract disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total wall thickness and thickness of the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa were measured ultrasonographically in the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of each dog.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mucosal layer was the thickest layer of the duodenum and jejunum. There was a significant difference in thickness of the mucosal layer between small and large dogs. Mean ± SD thickness of the mucosal layer of the duodenum for small, medium, and large dogs was 2.4 ± 0.5 mm, 2.6 ± 0.6 mm, and 2.8 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. Mean ± SD thickness of the mucosal layer of the jejunum for small, medium, and large dogs was 1.8 ± 0.4 mm, 2.0 ± 0.4 mm, and 2.2 ± 0.5 mm, respectively. The remaining wall layers of the duodenum and jejunum were similar in thickness, and there were no significant differences among small, medium, and large dogs. All layers contributed equally to the total colonic wall thickness. Mean ± SD thickness of the colonic wall for small, medium, and large dogs was 1.5 ± 0.3 mm, 1.4 ± 0.5 mm, and 1.6 ± 0.4 mm, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Values for thickness of the wall layers of the duodenum, jejunum, and colon of dogs reported here may be useful for assessing gastrointestinal tract diseases primarily targeting a specific wall layer.
authors.affiliation: Foster Hospital for Small Animals, Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536.
authors.forename: Nicole E
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Gladwin
authors.forename: Dominique G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Penninck
authors.forename: Cynthia R L
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Webster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004285:Dogs / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007420:Intestine, Large / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D014463:Ultrasonography