Standardization of ultrasonography examination protocol of adrenal glands in healthy dogs

Abstract

The present study was undertaken in dogs to standardize Ultrasonography examination protocol of adrenal glands in apparently healthy dogs. The animals were divided into three groups of six animals each: group I (0 to 9 months), group II (> 9 months up to 6 yr) and group III (>6 yr). Ultrasonographic examination was done in lateral recumbency in all the examined dogs. Ultrasonographic scans of adrenal glands were recorded in sagittal plane. The adrenal glands were scanned by placing the transducer in the sub-costal area (immediately behind the last rib) in the dorsal plane (along the body length, parallel to the dorsum of the dog), locating the aorta and caudal vena cava in long axis. Ultrasonography of adrenal glands in dogs does not require anaesthesia. The sub-costal approach was found to be the best approach to scan left adrenal gland using a 7.5 MHz linear transducer. This ultrasonographic examination protocol may assist in the diagnosis of pathologies of the adrenals or other organs.