Ultrasound Evaluation of Small Bowel Thickness Compared to Weight in Normal Dogs

Abstract

The use of ultrasound to measure small bowel thickness is an important part of any ultrasound examination of the abdomen. Increased thickness of the intestinal wall is a hallmark for the detection of diseases ranging from inflammatory bowel disease to neoplasia. Our subjective impression has been that dogs with no clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease often have sonographic measurements greater than published norms. The purpose of this study was to prospectively reevaluate these norms. The clinical history on all dogs receiving an abdominal ultrasound examination was evaluated for signs of gastrointestinal disease. Those without clinical signs were entered into this study. The documentation of body weight, breed, jejunal thickness, and duodenal thickness was made in 231 dogs. Dogs were placed into five groups based on their weight. Sixty-nine breeds were represented with weight ranging from 2.1 to 64 kg. A statistically significant (P < or = 0.05) correlation between body weight and both jejunal and duodenal thickness was observed. We also found that the maximum thickness in both jejunum and duodenum in healthy dogs was larger than previously reported. These data indicate norms for the jejunum of < or = 4.1 mm for dogs up to 20 kg, < or = 4.4 mm for dogs between 20 and 39.9 kg, and < or = 4.7 mm for dogs over 40 kg. The data indicate norms for the duodenum < or = 5.1 mm for dogs up to 20 kg, < or = 5.3 kg for dogs between 20 and 29.9 kg, and < or = 6.0 mm for dogs over 30 kg.

Gastrointestinal Wall Thickness Measured with Transabdominal Ultrasonography and Its Relationship to Demographic Factors in Healthy Subjects

“…To our knowledge, this is a new finding in humans. However, it has previously been observed in dogs [20]. The effect is most pronounced in the duodenum, left colon and rectum.…”

Diagnostic Utility of Abdominal Ultrasonography in Dogs with Chronic Diarrhea

“…The GI tract was evaluated for wall thickness, appearance of wall layers, luminal contents and diameter, and motility. Wall thickness was measured from the inner luminal interface to the outer serosal surface, and considered normal if within published reference ranges (stomach: 2–5 mm, duodenum: 3–6 mm depending on body weight, jejunum: 2–5 mm depending on body weight, ileum: 2–4 mm, and colon: 2–3 mm) . Wall layers were considered normal if all layers were clearly visible, had normal relationship with each other, and were of normal echogenicity .…”

Normal Canine Pediatric Gastrointestinal Ultrasonography

“…T he ultrasonographic appearance of the normal adult canine gastrointestinal tract has been described and reference ranges for wall thicknesses of different segments have been established 1–3 . These data include body weight‐correlated reference values for duodenal and jejunal wall thicknesses but do not take into account differences in age or maturity 3 …”