Radiography of Congenital Disorders of the Urogenital and Gastrointestinal Tract in Cats and Dogs

Ideally plain radiographs are taken in two orthogonal views of the region of main interest. The patient should be presented with an empty colon and after fasting 12 hours. This minimizes superimposition of faeces and ingesta and is a precondition for contrast studies, too. Although sonography is a very valuable tool in diagnosing especially uorgenital tract disorders contrast studies provide extra information of the function of various organs (for example peristalsis of GIT or kidney perfusion).

Contrast studies that are helpful for
detecting congenital GIT disorders:

• plain radiographs should always proceed contrast studies to get an overview of the abdomen and to find the correct exposure dates; when using positive contrast media exposure factors should than be increased and decreased when using negative contrast media (air).

• only small amounts of barium sulphate may be used for evaluating the location of the esophagus or stomach

• 7-12 ml/kg 30% w/v barium sulphate will be used for evaluation of the stomach size, shape and contractility as well as the intestines

• large volumes of food mixed with contrast media will demonstrate the solid phase of gastric emptying

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