Urinary Bladder

Indications: Stranguria, hematuria, pyuria, crystalluria, incontinence.

Sonographic Findings: Cystitis, neoplasia, calculi, blood clots, ectopic ureters.

Kidneys and Ureters

Indications: Anuria, polyuria, proteinuria, incontinence, elevated renal enzymes, renomegaly, painful abdomen.

Sonographic Findings: Congenial or inherited malformations. Diffuse renal parenchymal changes associated with chronic or acute changes including infection or toxicity. Neoplasia. Focal renal parenchymal changes such as cysts, nephroliths, dystrophic mineralization, infarcts or abscesses. Retroperitoneal effusion, hemorrhage or inflammation. Collecting system disorders including pyelectasia, hydronephrosis, or pyelonephritis. Ureterectasis, ureteroliths, or ureteral obstruction.

Adrenal Glands

Indications: Cushing's Syndrome, Addison's Disease, hypertension, seizures.

Sonographic Findings: Bilateral or unilateral adrenomegaly, unusually small adrenal glands, nodules, masses, mineralization.

Spleen

Indications: Splenomegaly, anemia, abdominal mass, hemoabdomen, abdominal pain.

Sonographic Findings: Solid or cavitary masses or hematomas. Torsion, infarcts, or thrombosis. Speckling. Accessory spleens.  

Liver

Indications: Hepatomegaly, microhepatica, elevated liver enzymes, diabetes, anorexia, abdominal effusion, painful abdomen, seizures. 

Sonographic Findings: Diffuse echogenic changes suggestive of steroid hepatopathy, lipidosis, vacuolar hepatopathies, congestion, acute or chronic hepatitis, neoplasia, necrosis, fibrosis or cystic cavitary lesions. Focal changes suggestive of cyst, abscess, hematoma, nodular hyperplasia, neoplasia, or granuloma. Solid or cavitary masses. Lobe torsions. Portal thrombosis.

Note: CT scan with contrast is recommended over ultrasound for screening patients with suspect congenital or acquired portal systemic shunts.

Biliary System

Indications: Elevated liver enzymes, abdominal pain, anorexia, abdominal effusion.

Sonographic Findings: Gallbladder polyp or neoplasia. Cholecystitis, gallbladder wall edema gallbladder rupture. Sludge, cholelithiasis, mucocele. Cholangitis, biliary obstruction from inflammation, neoplasia, or stone. 

Pancreas

Indications: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, fever, anorexia, abdominal effusion.

Sonographic Findings: Acute or necrotizing pancreatitis, edema, hemorrhage, abscess. Chronic pancreatitis, pancreatic atrophy, pancreatic cysts, dilated pancreatic duct, pancreatolithiasis. Upper right quadrant changes such as focal peritonitis, decreased upper GI peristalsis, duodenal corrugation. Secondary bile duct obstruction. Nodular hyperplasia, neoplasia. 

Gastrointestinal Tract

Indications: Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, anorexia, abdominal effusion, melena, hypoproteinemia, abdominal distention.

Ultrasound Findings: Foreign material or neoplasia causing obstruction, plication, or perforation. Ileus. Inflammatory conditions such as gastritis, gastric edema, or inflammatory bowel disease. Dilated lacteals suggestive of lymphangectasia. Diffuse or focal neoplasia. Intussusception. Typhlitis, colitis.

Reproductive Organs

Indications: Male: suspect cryptorchid; hematuria, pyuria, stranguria; enlarged scrotal sac. Female: Abnormal vaginal discharge, recurrent urinary tract infections, clinical signs of estrus in a spayed female, pregnancy confirmation, mammary gland changes. 

Ultrasound Findings: Cryptorchid location. Benign prostatic neoplasia, prostatitis, neoplasia or abscess.  Testicular neoplasia, infection, cyst, or torsion. Scrotal hernia or trauma. Endometritis, pyometra, cystic endometrial hyperplasia. Uterine or uterine stump neoplasia. Cystic ovary. Mammary neoplasia, cysts, and inflammation.

General Abdomen

Indications: Peripheral lymphadenopathy, abdominal effusion, fever of unknown origin, anemia, arrhythmia, cancer staging.

Ultrasound Findings: Abdominal lymphadenopathy. Peritonitis. Hemorrhage. Granulomas, masses, abscesses. Pancreatitis. Retroperitoneal and mesenteric masses. Vascular thrombosis. Hernias. Fat necrosis.

Cardiac Ultrasound

Indications: Heart murmur. Arrhythmia. Hypertension. Plural effusion, cardiac effusion. Cardiomegaly. Syncope. Increased respiratory rate, coughing. Reluctance or intolerance to exercise. Aortic thromboembolism in felines. Heartworm disease. 

Ultrasound Findings: Chronic degenerative valve disease. Dilated cardiomyopathy. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Pulmonary hypertension. Pericardial effusion. Neoplasia.

Note: Dr. Wagner limits her exams to acquired heart disease. Juveniles with suspected congenital abnormalities or those wishing to screen breeding dogs are recommended to schedule a visit with a cardiologist.