Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

Chapter Three The Abd omen 297
Fig. 3-49 A 1-year-old male Bichon Frisé with
dementia after eating. A, The liver (black L) is
very small and the angle of the stomach is
directed cranially. There is poor detail due to a
lack of abdominal fat. B, The liver (black L) is
small and the stomach (black s) is displaced
cranially. Diagnosis: Small liver due to portosystemic
shunt.
A
B
gained, and this often forms the basis for the impression that the liver is enlarged. If the
liver occupies the entire cranial abdomen and can be identified easily caudal to the last rib
on both the left and right sides, there will be little argument that the liver is enlarged. In
some patients, the liver is identified more easily on the left side than on the right. This does
not necessarily indicate that the liver is enlarged. Focal enlargement of the liver may cause
displacement of other organs, but this also is difficult to recognize during an ultrasonographic
examination. As is the case for evaluation of the liver size radiographically, rounding
of the liver margin detected during an ultrasonographic examination may be used as
an indicator of hepatomegaly.
Recognizing a small liver presents a similar problem. In some dogs, the liver will be
contained within the rib cage, and because of gas within the stomach and overlap from the