Dr. Rendano's Protocol for Examining the Abdomen

Place the pet in dorsal recumbency if appropriate; consider sedation if the pet will not stay and if sedation is appropriate.   Clip hair from the ventral abdomen if needed and if permitted – sternum to pubis and laterally as far as needed to be able to visualize the kidneys, right adrenal gland and spleen.   Wet the area to be imaged with alcohol and apply coupling gel.   Place appropriate frequency probe/transducer on the abdomen to visualize the spleen and left kidney-refine power, gain, TGC settings etc. as needed.   Each organ system should be evaluated in sagittal and transverse planes.  Static images can be saved and organs/lesions measured as appropriate.   Start recording the study and proceed as follows-clockwise assessment the abdominal viscera:   Place probe by last sternebra and then move it to evaluate: left side of liver right side of liver gall bladder portal vein andporta hepatis spleen left kidney left adrenal gland urinarybladder reproductiveorgan(s) sublumbar lymph nodes right kidney right adrenal gland stomach bowel mesenteric lymph nodes pancreas

• Place animal in right lateral recumbency and evaluate:
  • pancreas (if not previously seen)
  • left adrenal gland (if not previously seen

 

• Place animal in left lateral recumbency and evaluate:
  • right adrenal gland (if not previously seen)

 

• Make concluding statements after you evaluate each organ system. If there is a mass lesion define, freeze, label and measure it.