Page 954 - Equine Clinical Medicine, Surgery and Reproduction, 2nd Edition

Urinary system 929

VetBooks.ir 7.8 7.9

Fig. 7.8 Transabdominal ultrasonogram of the Fig. 7.9 Transabdominal ultrasonogram of the normal
normal right kidney (arrow): long-axis cross-sectional left kidney (arrow): long-axis cross-sectional view. The
view. homogeneous organ above the kidney is the spleen.

7.10 7.11

Fig. 7.10 Transabdominal ultrasonogram of the
urinary bladder (arrow). A high concentration of
calcium carbonate crystals and mucus makes equine Fig. 7.11 Contrast cystogram. The urinary catheter
urine quite echogenic. (dotted line) extends throughout the urethra into the
bladder (arrow).

Ultrasonography of the bladder is best performed or retrograde contrast studies (Fig. 7.11) may be
transrectally; however, the transabdominal approach performed.
may be useful in small horses and foals. Note that Renal nuclear scintigraphic imaging in horses is
equine urine is not homogeneous and will have a available on a limited basis. It can be employed for
variable echogenicity (Fig. 7.10). The bladder wall the measurement of glomerular filtration rate (GFR)
should be assessed for masses, both ultrasonographi- with application of radiopharmaceuticals. Excretion
cally and by rectal palpation. Cystic calculi can also patterns and the presence of space-occupying lesions
be confirmed ultrasonographically. may be defined. Examination of dynamic properties
Urinary tract radiography is diagnostically adequate of filtration and excretion patterns with nuclear scin-
in foals and miniature horses. Excretory urography tigraphy are prone to erroneous results.