In veterinary medicine, pseudomembranous cystitis (PC) is a rare condition described only in cats. The purposes of this retrospective study were to describe ultrasound features of PC in cats and dogs, predisposing factors, comorbidities and outcomes. Cats and dogs with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of PC were included in the study. The bladder ultrasound findings that were recorded were: pseudomembranes’ characteristics, abnormalities of the bladder’s wall and content and anomalies of the pericystic peritoneal space. Ten cats and four dogs met the inclusion criteria. Four pseudomembrane adhesion patterns were described. The presence of pseudomembrane acoustic shadowing was observed in the 60% of cats. A total of 80% of the cats included were presented for urethral obstruction (UO) and/or had at least one episode of UO in the previous 2 months. Thirteen patients out of fourteen received only medical therapy, and all of them survived. PC is a rare disorder in cats and dogs and there are some ultrasonographic differences between the two species, suggesting a greater severity of the pathology in cats. Chronic cystitis and UO may have a potential role in the development of feline PC. Finally, the medical approach can be a non-invasive and effective approach for PC.

Abdominal ultrasound examinations (AUEs) are commonly used in the diagnostic evaluation of canine acute pancreatitis (AP). The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate and monitor the ultrasonographic changes observed in dogs with clinically suspected AP on consecutive AUEs. The study population was constituted by 38 client-owned dogs hospitalized for no less than 48 h from January 2016 to December 2019. Dogs included in this study were suspected of AP based on the clinical examination and abnormal rapid specific canine pancreatic lipase test performed at admission. Dogs were submitted to two AUEs, the first on the first day of hospitalization, and the second between 40–52 h after the first one. Twelve dogs had both AUEs suggestive of AP. Fourteen dogs received an ultrasonographic diagnosis of AP exclusively on the second AUE. Twelve dogs remained negative on both the first and the second AUE. In 26 out of 38 patients the second AUE was suggestive of AP. If a patient is suspected of AP, it is advisable to carry out ultrasonographic monitoring at least within the first 52 h after admission, since ultrasonographic signs of AP may only become observable later after hospitalization.

Aims of our study were to evaluate the feasibility and diagnostic value of two-dimensional shear wave elastography in dogs with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease, and acute on chronic kidney disease, its correlation with renal functional (creatinine, urea), and prognostic parameters (serum calcium-phosphorus product, urinary output), and with contrast-enhanced ultrasound (qualitative and quantitative evaluation). The study was prospective. A group of healthy (Group A) and a group of nephropathic dogs (Group B) were included. Shear wave elastography was performed on the left kidney of the subjects of both groups; contrast-enhanced ultrasound was performed only in dogs with acute kidney injury and acute on chronic kidney disease. Sixty-four dogs were included (Group A, n=24; Group B, n=40). The renal stiffness values were significantly higher in Group B than Group A; optimal cut-off stiffness values for detection of renal pathology were: ≥1.51 m/sec (area under the curve, 0.84; 95% confidence interval 0.74–0.94) and ≥6.75 kPa (area under the curve, 0.84; 95% confidence interval 0.73–0.94). For contrast-enhanced ultrasound, a significant positive correlation was found between renal stiffness, area under the curve, and wash-out area under the curve values of cortex quantitative analysis. No correlations were found between renal stiffness and renal functional and prognostic parameters. Shear wave elastography showed diagnostic utility to detect renal abnormalities in dogs with acute kidney injury, chronic kidney disease and acute on chronic kidney disease, however, it could not differentiate between these different nephropathies.

Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a syndrome characterized by insufficient synthesis of pancreatic enzymes leading to clinical symptoms of malabsorption and maldigestion. There are no studies about ultrasonographic appearance of the pancreas with EPI in dogs. The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe ultrasound features of the pancreas during EPI in this species. Dogs with history and clinical signs of maldigestion, serum canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) values <5 µg/L, and abdominal ultrasound exam were included in the study. Size, shape, margin, echogenicity, echostructure, and pancreatic duct appearance of the right pancreatic lobe were valued. Additional sonographic intestinal findings were recorded. Thirty-four dogs were included. The mean pancreatic thickness in our population was significantly lower than the mean reference values of healthy dogs. In 68% of dogs, the pancreas had a normal ultrasound appearance. Ultrasonographic intestinal abnormal findings were identified in 85% of dogs and were suggestive of inflammatory bowel disease. Despite the fact that EPI is a functional diagnosis, ultrasound evaluation should be considered among the useful tests. The finding of a normal but thinned pancreas associated with sonographic intestinal signs of inflammatory bowel disease in dogs with typical history and supportive clinical signs could suggest a diagnosis of EPI.

Hyperadrenocorticism is an uncommon but important endocrine disease in guinea pigs, but due to its subtle clinical signs and the limited information in veterinary literature, it can be underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Ultrasound of the adrenal glands in patients with suspected hyperadrenocorticism can help in identifying adrenomegaly. The purpose of this prospective study was to identify ultrasonographic adrenal gland dimensions in presumed healthy guinea pigs using the same standardized method described for dogs and cats. A conscious ultrasound scan was conducted on twenty client‐owned, presumed healthy guinea pigs, and their adrenal glands were measured. A possible correlation between adrenal dimensions with age, sex, and body weight was investigated. The mean length, cranial and caudal pole thickness for the left and right adrenal glands were, respectively, 12.64 ± 2.11 mm and 11.55 ± 1.52 mm; 4.83 mm ± 1.03 mm and 4.69 ± 1.34 mm; 4.8 ± 1.23 mm and 4.04 ± 0.75 mm. The thickness of the left caudal pole was significantly higher than the right (P = 0.02). A significant positive correlation was found between the length of the left adrenal gland and both age (r = 0.46; P = .03) and weight (r = 0.59; P = .01). Statistical correlation between the thickness of each cranial and caudal pole, with age, sex, or weight, was not found. The dimensions provided could prove a useful tool in the clinical evaluation of guinea pigs with suspected hyperadrenocorticism.