• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Ultrasonography of the reproductive tract (Proceedings)

April 1, 2008
Cheri Johnson, DVM, DACVIM

Radiology and ultrasonography are useful for evaluating the ovaries, uterine wall, and intrauterine contents; for confirming pregnancy; and for assessing fetal viability.

Radiology and ultrasonography are useful for evaluating the ovaries, uterine wall, and intrauterine contents; for confirming pregnancy; and for assessing fetal viability. The normal uterus and ovaries in a nonpregnant animal are not detected by routine abdominal radiography. During normal anestrus they may be difficult to identify by ultrasonography. Increased size and density and an abnormal shape of the uterus may be detected by either technique. Ultrasonography can be used to evaluate the uterine wall and the intrauterine contents. Ultrasonography may also help identify ovarian remnants, or ovarian cysts in animals with persistent estrus and hyperestrogenism (follicular cysts) or persistent anestrus (nonfunctional or luteal cysts). It may be able to identify ovarian neoplasia as well. Negative findings with diagnostic imaging do not necessarily exclude disease in the reproductive tract, especially in females.

Because of the difficulty involved in catheterizing the cervix, contrast studies of the uterus and uterine tubes (i.e., hysterosalpingography) are rarely done in bitches and queens. During estrus, contrast material deposited in the cranial vagina may enter the uterus and provide a hysterogram, but at other stages of the cycle, the cervix is normally closed. Positive-contrast vaginography, using a Foley catheter and a water-soluble contrast agent (e.g. diatrizoates such as Renografin®), is easily performed, but general anesthesia is necessary. Vaginography can be considered if vaginoscopy fails to clearly identify strictures, anatomic defects, masses, or foreign material in the vagina.

Advertisement

In the evaluation of male reproductive disorders, radiography is used primarily to assess the size of the prostate gland and to identify metastatic lesions in dogs with suspected prostatic adenocarcinoma. Ultrasonography is very useful to identify and characterize lesions within the prostate, testis, and epididymis; to help determine the cause of testicular or scrotal swelling; to assess the character of the spermatic cord in suspected cases of torsion; and to help establish the location of undescended testes. Ultrasonography is routinely used to guide biopsy needles for obtaining specimens from the prostate gland and focal lesions within the testis or epididymis.

Examples of normal and abnormal findings on ultrasound examination of the male and female reproductive tract will be shown.

From: Johnson CA, Reproductive System Disorders. In: Nelson RW and Couto CG (eds) Small Animal Internal Medicine 4th edition. St. Louis, Elsevier

Related Content:

Medical
Dog owners are not getting proactive OA information from their veterinarians
Dog owners are not getting proactive OA information from their veterinarians
Performing a health exam on geriatric parrots
Performing a health exam on geriatric parrots
Case study: A new year to keep pets safe from alcohol poisoning
Case study: A new year to keep pets safe from alcohol poisoning

Advertisement

Latest News

Comparing treatments for restoring the skin barrier in atopic dogs

Increasing efficiency and productivity in uncertain times

AAVMC awards almost $100,000 in diversity scholarships

News wrap-up: This week’s headlines, plus Maryland Zoo welcomes baby addra gazelle

View More Latest News
Advertisement