Hepatic ultrasonography in the dog

Abstract

Ultrasonography may be used to evaluate noninvasively a wide variety of diseases affecting the canine liver. Hepatic mass lesions, parenchymal pathology, gallbladder and biliary disease, and vascular abnormalities may be detected and characterized by ultrasonography. Ultrasonically guided percutaneous liver biopsy can improve the succes and safety of obtaining diagnostic cytologic material. The response of liver disorders to treatment may be effectively monitored by serial ultrasonographic examination. The ultrasonographic diagnosis of canine liver disease is described and illustrated with 11 case history reports.