EVALUATION OF ROUTINE ABDOMINAL ULTRASONOGRAPHY AS A TECHNIQUE FOR IMAGING THE CANINE ADRENAL-GLANDS

The adrenal glands of 50 consecutive canine patients were examined by one of three sonographers during routine abdominal ultrasonography. Ex perience of the sonographers did not appear to alter the ability to id entify or completely evaluate either the left or right adrenal gland. The left adrenal gland was identified in 96% of dogs examined, whereas the right adrenal gland was identified in 72%. The right adrenal glan d was significantly more difficult to evaluate than the left adrenal g land. Factors which complicated adrenal gland visualization included p yloric and duodenal gas, deep-chested body conformation, and obesity. Large body size (more than 10 kg) hindered sonographic evaluation of t he right adrenal gland but not the left. Adrenal identification rates were similar in fasted and nonfasted dogs.