The aim of this retrospective, cross‐sectional, study was to evaluate clinical findings and outcomes for different ultrasonographic patterns of hepatic emphysema in dogs and cats. Dogs and cats with an ultrasonographic diagnosis of hepatic emphysema and a known outcome, from January 2010 to January 2018, were enrolled. The following data were recorded from medical and ultrasonographic records: ultrasonographic patterns of hepatic emphysema (parenchymal, portal venous, biliary), clinical signs, laboratory findings, and outcomes (favorable, poor). A total of 33 dogs and four cats met the inclusion criteria. Among these, 23 cases were classified as hepatic portal venous gas, 10 as parenchymal emphysema, and four as biliary emphysema. Clinical diagnosis categories were as follows: infection/sepsis (9), gastro‐intestinal disease (9), iatrogenic (9), trauma (5), and liver neoplasia (5). An increase in serum liver enzymes was significantly associated with parenchymal emphysema (P = .03). Other clinical and laboratory findings were not associated with the type of hepatic emphysema. Hepatic portal venous gas was mostly transient in patients with ultrasonographic follow‐up. The overall mortality was 40.5%. A significant difference was found between mortality by portal venous gas (21.7%) and mortality by parenchymal emphysema (90%) (P = .003). In conclusion, the ultrasonographic differentiation of hepatic emphysema between hepatic portal venous gas and parenchymal emphysema may be important for the prognosis of hepatic emphysema. The presence of parenchymal emphysema may be a poor prognostic indicator, while hepatic portal venous gas may be more benign. However, ultrasound findings should be carefully evaluated in the context of clinical findings.

pyometra (7), coagulopathy, thrombocytopenia, and anticoagulant therapy (2). Finally, cystocentesis is not recommended in patients with known bladder neoplasia (2). Severe complications associated with cystocentesis, though uncommon, have been previously described especially in dogs, and include uroabdomen, septic peritonitis, and laceration of the abdominal aorta (AA) (4,8). A large study of complications of the procedure performed under ultrasonographic guide has not been previously published; in particular, the clinical and echographic features of adverse effects of cystocentesis have not been evaluated by controlled studies. The aim of this study was to determine the types of complications related to ultrasound-guided diagnostic cystocentesis (UGDC) in dogs and cats, focusing the paper on ultrasonographic features.

BackgroundEmphysematous pyometra is a rare canine disease characterized by gas-forming bacteria infecting the uterus and causing an accumulation of both gas and infectious exudate in the uterine lumen. While radiological features of emphysematous pyometra have been previously described in dogs, the ultrasonographic appearance has not been reported.Case presentationA 7-year-old intact female Labrador Retriever was presented because of a 1 day history of vomiting, anorexia, mild polyuria/polydipsia and signs of fatigue. On physical examination the dog had a swollen vulva with a sparse amount of yellow discharge. Lateral and ventrodorsal radiographs showed a dilated predominantly gas-filled tubular structure located in the mid and cranial abdomen traversing from left to right and ending dorsally at the level of the 12th thoracic vertebra. A small intestinal ileus was initially suspected. Following the radiographic examination, abdominal ultrasound was performed. In the left mid and caudal abdomen there were two thin-walled gas-containing tubular structures. One had the typical layered appearance of an intestinal wall and represented the descending colon. The second structure had a similar thickness but homogenously hypoechoic wall and contained gas and echogenic fluid in the lumen. By use of several positional changes of the dog aiming to alter the location of the intraluminal gas, the second structure was traced to the right ovary cranially and the uterine body caudally, confirming that the structure was the right uterine horn. A final diagnosis of emphysematous pyometra was made.ConclusionUltrasound can be used as a non-invasive diagnostic method to differentiate between small intestinal ileus and emphysematous pyometra.

A 13-year-old spayed female German shepherd dog was presented for acute onset of lethargy, anorexia, and disseminated erythematous skin lesions. Thoracic radiographs and abdominal ultrasonographic findings were consistent with metastatic hemangiosarcoma. Multiple, ill-defined, irregularly shaped hypoechoic nodules were also detected within the thoracic and abdominal wall. Hemangiosarcoma metastases to the skeletal muscle were confirmed based on histopathological examination. Multivisceral involvement was also confirmed by necropsy. Metastatic neoplasia should be considered as a differential diagnosis for dogs with ill-defined, irregular, hypoechoic, intramuscular nodules.

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