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 inthe 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 fromthe intravenous catheters at the 5th, 15th, and 20th minutes of the ultrasonographic examination during which the urinary bladder, leftkidney, 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 werestatistically determined with respect to time. No statistically significant time-dependent changes in the TAS and cortisol values wereobserved. However, there was a time-dependent change in the TOS and NOx values, but when comparing all the times, no changes wereobserved. The results showed that abdominal ultrasonographic examination, a routinely and frequently used method, does not induceany stress factors and therefore cannot lead to health problems.