Stress response related to ultrasonographic examination in dogs

Abstract

This study investigated whether abdominal ultrasonography, a frequently used examination method in clinics and hospitals, causes stress in dogs. For the study, 10 healthy dogs were used. Following general examination, intravenous catheters were placed in the V. cephalica accecorius of the dogs and blood specimens were collected to obtain serum and plasma samples (minute 0). After a 30-min break, ultrasonography was applied following shaving of the abdominal region. Serum and plasma samples were collected from the intravenous catheters at the 5th, 15th, and 20th minutes of the ultrasonographic examination during which the urinary bladder, left kidney, spleen, stomach, liver, right kidney, transverse colon, and ascending colon were examined. The total antioxidant status (TAS), total oxidant status (TOS), nitric oxide (NOx), and cortisol levels of serum and plasma samples were analyzed and differences were statistically determined with respect to time. No statistically significant time-dependent changes in the TAS and cortisol values were observed. However, there was a time-dependent change in the TOS and NOx values, but when comparing all the times, no changes were observed. The results showed that abdominal ultrasonographic examination, a routinely and frequently used method, does not induce any stress factors and therefore cannot lead to health problems.