GASTRIC-EMPTYING OF SOLID RADIOPAQUE MARKERS IN HEALTHY DOGS

The gastric emptying of 1.5 mm diameter (small) and 5.0 mm diameter (l arge) radiopaque markers (BIPS) was assessed in 20 dogs. The markers w ere fed to the dogs in a test meal and abdominal radiographs were made hourly thereafter, Studies were repeated three times in each dog, The variation between two veterinarians interpreting the radiographs was low, The sex, age and day of the study did not have a significant effe ct on the lag phase or the time taken to empty 25%, 50% and 75% of the markers (T-25, T-50 and T-75 respectively), There was a weak but sign ificant positive correlation between the body weight and T-50. There w as no significant difference in gastric emptying parameters between th e large and small markers. The mean gastric emptying versus time curve of the small markers on day one was chosen to represent the reference curve for healthy dogs, The lag phase of the small markers on day one was 2.45 +/- 2.04 hours, the T-25 was 4.85 +/- 2.15 hours, the T-50 w as 6.05 +/- 2.99 hours and the T-75 was 8.32 +/- 2.72 hours (mean +/- SD).