Thursday, 15 May 2025

What Lies Beneath: Radiographic Diagnosis of Abdominal Emergencies in Dogs and Cats | Chapter 3 | Medical Science: Recent Advances and Applications Vol. 4

Abdominal emergencies in veterinary medicine pose significant diagnostic challenges, requiring rapid identification and intervention to prevent life-threatening outcomes such as peritonitis, septic shock, and multi-organ dysfunction. Abdominal radiography remains a vital first-line diagnostic tool in these situations due to its accessibility and speed. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the role of plain and contrast radiography in diagnosing acute abdominal conditions in small animals. Common emergency presentations—including gastric dilatation-volvulus, intussusception, hernias, ileus, peritonitis, urinary bladder rupture, and hepatobiliary or reproductive tract disorders—are discussed in detail.

The importance of proper radiographic technique, patient positioning, and projection selection is emphasised, along with interpretation of key signs such as gas patterns, organ displacement, and fluid accumulation. The utility of contrast agents in enhancing gastrointestinal imaging and improving diagnostic specificity is also examined.

While radiography offers crucial diagnostic insights, its limitations—particularly in detecting subtle soft tissue lesions—necessitate integration with clinical examination, laboratory findings, ultrasonography, or CT. This review aims to support veterinary clinicians in making informed, rapid decisions using radiography as part of a multimodal diagnostic strategy for managing acute abdominal conditions.

 

Author (s) Details

Hadzijunuzovic-Alagic Dzenita
Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Hadzimusic Nejra
Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71 000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

 

Please see the book here:- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/msraa/v4/5411

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