DIFFUSE IDIOPATHIC SKELETAL HYPEROSTOSIS WITH SECONDARY DYSPHAGIA IN A BLACK-HANDED SPIDER MONKEY (ATELES GEOFFROYI).

A 32-yr-old male black-handed spider monkey (Ateles geoffroyi) with marked kyphosis and reduced spinal range of motion developed intermittent regurgitation, which was managed with an acid reducer. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) was suspected in this animal due to radiographically evident ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. At repeat radiographic evaluation 1.5 yr later, due to weight loss and increased frequency of regurgitation, the cervical spine was deviated ventrally and appeared to be impinging on the thoracic inlet. The spider monkey was humanely euthanized due to poor prognosis, and the presumptive diagnosis of DISH was confirmed via postmortem computed tomography and necropsy. DISH has not been reported in black-handed spider monkeys, and secondary dysphagia, an uncommon but recognized consequence in humans, has not been reported in a nonhuman primate. Earlier recognition of this possibly underreported disease process may increase treatment options and effectiveness of intervention.

Catheter occlusion of the dorsal sagittal sinus-confluens sinuum to enable resection of lateral occipital multilobular osteochondrosarcoma in two dogs.

CASE DESCRIPTION: A 6-year-old neutered male mixed-breed dog (dog 1) and 5-year-old neutered male Boston Terrier (dog 2) were evaluated because of lateralized multilobular osteochondrosarcoma (MLO) of the occiput. CLINICAL FINDINGS: Diagnostic imaging revealed proliferative bony occipital masses in both dogs and a nodule in the right caudal lung lobe of dog 1. For both dogs, MRI revealed intact flow through the dorsal sagittal sinus (DSS) into 1 transverse sinus. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: In dog 1, a 4F balloon catheter was introduced into the DSS to the confluens sinuum (CS) and inflated over 16 hours to occlude venous flow. The mass with the CS was removed 24 hours later, and the skull was reconstructed. The dog was discharged from the hospital 2 days after surgery and survived 17 months before euthanasia because of metastasis. In dog 2, balloon catheter insertion into the DSS failed, and a 3.5F rubber catheter was placed up to the CS to occlude flow. The occiput with MLO was removed 48 hours after catheterization, and the skull was reconstructed. Dog 2 was discharged from the hospital after 3 days and was doing well 15 months later. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Findings for these 2 dogs suggested that deliberate preoperative occlusion of the DSS and CS allows successful resection of occipital neoplasms across the midline. Without prior occlusion of the DSS, development of lethal cerebral edema would have been likely. Gradual balloon catheter occlusion of the CS may facilitate challenging occipital mass excisions.

Use of a platelet-rich plasma-collagen scaffold as a bioenhanced repair treatment for management of partial cruciate ligament rupture in dogs.

Dogs are commonly affected with cruciate ligament rupture (CR) and associated osteoarthritis (OA), and frequently develop a second contralateral CR. Platelet rich plasma (PRP) is a component of whole blood that contains numerous growth factors, which in combination with a collagen scaffold may act to promote bioenhanced primary repair of ligament. This study tested the hypothesis that treatment of partial stable CR stifles with an intra-articular collagen scaffold and PRP would decrease the disease progression, synovitis and risk of complete CR over a 12-month study period. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 29 client-owned dogs with an unstable stifle due to complete CR and stable contralateral stifle with partial CR. All dogs were treated with tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) on the unstable stifle and a single intra-articular application of PRP-collagen in the stable partial CR stifle. Dogs were evaluated at the time of diagnosis, and at 10-weeks and 12-months after treatment. We evaluated correlation between both development of complete CR and time to complete CR with diagnostic tests including bilateral stifle radiographs, 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, and bilateral stifle arthroscopy. Additionally, histologic evaluation of synovial biopsies, C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations in serum and synovial fluid, and synovial total nucleated cell count, were determined. Results indicated that a single application of PRP-collagen in partial CR stifles of client owned dogs is not an effective disease-modifying therapy for the prevention of progression to complete CR. Radiographic effusion, arthroscopic evaluation of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) damage, and MR assessment of ligament fiber tearing in partial CR stifles correlated with progression to complete CR over the 12-month follow-up period. We determined that the best predictive model for development of complete CR in PRP-collagen treated partial CR stifles included variables from multiple diagnostic modalities.

Accuracy of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging using detection of fiber loss and a visual analog scale for diagnosing partial and complete cranial cruciate ligament ruptures in dogs.

Canine cranial cruciate ligament rupture is often bilateral and asymmetrical, ranging from partial to complete rupture. The purpose of our diagnostic accuracy study was to assess the accuracy of 3 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) detection of fiber loss and use of a visual analog scale in the diagnosis of complete versus partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture in 28 clinical dogs with unilateral complete rupture and contralateral partial rupture. Three Tesla MRI was performed on 56 stifles using sagittal sequences (T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat saturation, proton density fast spin echo, and T2-weighted 3D fast spin echo CUBE). Two MRI observers assessed the cranial cruciate ligament for fiber loss and completed a visual analog scale. The MRI data were compared to arthroscopy and clinical status. Accuracy classifying partial or complete rupture was assessed using receiver operating characteristic analysis. Compared to arthroscopy, for complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI detection of fiber loss were 0.78, 0.50-0.60, and 0.68-0.71, respectively, and, for partial tears, specificity was 1.00. An MRI visual analog scale score ≥79 was indicative of complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture (sensitivity 0.72-0.94 and specificity 0.71-0.84). Using a visual analog scale cut-point ≥79, observers achieved good accuracy discriminating clinical status of partial or complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture (area under the curve 0.87-0.93). MRI evaluation for fiber loss and use of a visual analog scale are specific in stifles with clinically stable partial cranial cruciate ligament rupture. In stifles with clinically unstable complete cranial cruciate ligament rupture, both MRI tests are sensitive though not specific compared to arthroscopy. As a diagnostic imaging method, MRI may help guide treatment in patients with cranial cruciate ligament damage, particularly for stable partial rupture.

Radiographic and magnetic resonance imaging predicts severity of cruciate ligament fiber damage and synovitis in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture.

Cruciate ligament rupture (CR) and associated osteoarthritis (OA) is a common condition in dogs. Dogs frequently develop a second contralateral CR. This study tested the hypothesis that the degree of stifle synovitis and cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) matrix damage in dogs with CR is correlated with non-invasive diagnostic tests, including magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 29 client-owned dogs with an unstable stifle due to complete CR and stable contralateral stifle with partial CR. We evaluated correlation of stifle synovitis and CrCL fiber damage with diagnostic tests including bilateral stifle radiographs, 3.0 Tesla MR imaging, and bilateral stifle arthroscopy. Histologic grading and immunohistochemical staining for CD3+ T lymphocytes, TRAP+ activated macrophages and Factor VIII+ blood vessels in bilateral stifle synovial biopsies were also performed. Serum and synovial fluid concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (ICTP), and synovial total nucleated cell count were determined. Synovitis was increased in complete CR stifles relative to partial CR stifles (P<0.0001), although total nucleated cell count in synovial fluid was increased in partial CR stifles (P<0.01). In partial CR stifles, we found that 3D Fast Spin Echo Cube CrCL signal intensity was correlated with histologic synovitis (SR = 0.50, P<0.01) and that radiographic OA was correlated with CrCL fiber damage assessed arthroscopically (SR = 0.61, P<0.001). Taken together, results of this study show that clinical diagnostic tests predict severity of stifle synovitis and cruciate ligament matrix damage in stable partial CR stifles. These data support use of client-owned dogs with unilateral complete CR and contralateral partial CR as a clinical trial model for investigation of disease-modifying therapy for partial CR.

3D FSE Cube and VIPR-aTR 3.0 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging predicts canine cranial cruciate ligament structural properties.

Estimation of cranial cruciate ligament (CrCL) structural properties in client-owned dogs with incipient cruciate rupture would be advantageous. The objective of this study was to determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measurement of normal CrCL volume in an ex-vivo canine model predicts structural properties. Stifles from eight dogs underwent 3.0 Tesla 3D MRI. CrCL volume and normalized median grayscale values were determined using 3D Fast Spin Echo (FSE) Cube and Vastly under-sampled Isotropic PRojection (VIPR)-alternative repetition time (aTR) sequences. Stifles were then mechanically tested. After joint laxity testing, CrCL structural properties were determined, including displacement at yield, yield load, load to failure, and stiffness. Yield load and load to failure (R(2)=0.56, P <0.01) were correlated with CrCL volume determined by VIPR-aTR. Yield load was also correlated with CrCL volume determined by 3D FSE Cube (R(2)=0.32, P <0.05). Structural properties were not related to median grayscale values. Joint laxity and CrCL stiffness were not related to MRI parameters, but displacement at yield load was related to CrCL volume for both sequences during testing (R(2)>0.57, P <0.005). In conclusion, 3D MRI offers a predictive method for estimating canine CrCL structural properties. 3D MRI may be useful for monitoring CrCL properties in clinical trials.

Use of computed tomography for measurement of kidneys in dogs without renal disease.

OBJECTIVE To determine the size of the left and right kidneys by use of CT in dogs of various breeds without evidence of renal disease. DESIGN Retrospective, observational study. ANIMALS 21 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES Renal length, diameter of the abdominal aorta, and length of the L2 vertebral body were measured independently on multiplanar reformatted non-contrast-enhanced CT images by 3 observers at 3 time points. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement for renal length were determined. Associations of renal length with body weight, aorta diameter, and L2 vertebral body length were assessed by calculation of Pearson correlation coefficients and 95% confidence intervals. Renal measurements were normalized to patient size by calculating renal length-to-aorta diameter and renal length-to-L2 vertebral body length ratios for comparison with previously published radiographic and ultrasonographic measurements. RESULTS All kidneys were identified and measured on CT images by all observers. Intraobserver and interobserver agreement were excellent. Body weight, aorta diameter, and length of the L2 vertebral body were significantly correlated with renal length. Renal length-to-aorta diameter and renal length-to-L2 vertebral body length ratios (7.4 and 2.7, respectively) fell within the ranges of previously published values for these measurements. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE As CT becomes more widely available in general practice, knowledge of typical renal measurements and anatomic ratios obtained with this modality in dogs may be useful. A prospective study with a larger population of dogs, ideally including formulation of a reference range, is needed.

Acute resolution of pulmonary alveolar infiltrates in 10 dogs with pulmonary hypertension treated with sildenafil citrate: 2005-2014.

OBJECTIVE: To describe clinical canine patients with naturally occurring pulmonary hypertension and radiographic pulmonary alveolar infiltrates before and after treatment with sildenafil. ANIMALS: Ten client-owned dogs. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of dogs with echocardiographically-determined pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary alveolar infiltrates on thoracic radiographs was performed before (PRE) and after (POST) sildenafil therapy. Clinical scores, pulmonary alveolar infiltrate scores and tricuspid regurgitation gradients were analyzed PRE and POST sildenafil. RESULTS: Pulmonary alveolar infiltrates associated with pulmonary hypertension developed in a diffusely patchy distribution (10/10). Sixty percent of dogs had a suspected diagnosis of interstitial pulmonary fibrosis as the etiology of pulmonary hypertension. Median PRE clinical score was 4 (range: 3-4) compared to POST score of 0 (0-2) (p = 0.005). Median alveolar infiltrate score PRE was 10 (5-12) compared to POST score of 4 (0-6) (p = 0.006). Median tricuspid regurgitation gradient PRE was 83 mmHg (57-196) compared to 55 mmHg POST (33-151) (p = 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: A subset of dogs with moderate to severe pulmonary hypertension present with diffuse, patchy alveolar infiltrates consistent with non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema. The typical clinical presentation is acute dyspnea and syncope, often in conjunction with heart murmurs suggestive of valvular insufficiency. This constellation of signs may lead to an initial misdiagnosis of congestive heart failure or pneumonia; however, these dogs clinically and radiographically improve with the initiation of sildenafil.

Osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy in dogs: 27 cases (2000-2012).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the signalment, neurologic examination and imaging findings, and outcome in dogs treated medically or surgically for osseous-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (OACSM). DESIGN: Retrospective case series. ANIMALS: 27 client-owned dogs. PROCEDURES: Medical records for dogs with OACSM (diagnosis made in 2000 through 2012) were reviewed. Collected data included signalment, neurologic examination findings (graded from 0 [normal] to 5 [tetraplegia]), imaging findings, treatment, and outcome. From MRI and CT images, measurements were obtained for subjective grading of spinal cord compression. RESULTS: Among the 27 dogs, the median age was 2 years; there were 15 Great Danes, 3 Mastiffs, 3 Newfoundlands, and 6 other large-breed dogs. For medically treated dogs (n = 7), the median initial neurologic grade was 2; for surgically treated dogs (20), the median initial neurologic grade was 3. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed dorsolateral spinal cord compression in 22 dogs and lateral spinal cord compression in 5 dogs. Dogs with more severe compressions were slightly more likely to undergo surgical than medical treatment. Median survival time of medically treated dogs was 43 months, and that of surgically treated dogs was 60 months. Fifteen of 19 dogs treated surgically had improved neurologic grades at 4 to 8 weeks after surgery and had a good to excellent long-term outcome. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Surgical treatment of dogs with OACSM resulted in neurologic improvement and was associated with a good long-term outcome. For dogs that received medical treatment, neurologic deterioration continued but some patients did well for several years.

Surgical management of vertebral synovial cysts in a rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus).

CASE DESCRIPTION: An approximately 8-month-old female Miniature Lop rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) was evaluated because of an acute onset of progressive paraparesis. CLINICAL FINDINGS: The rabbit was ambulatory paraparetic, and results of neurologic examination were consistent with a myelopathy localizing to the T3-L3 spinal cord segments. Evaluation with CT myelography revealed focal extradural spinal cord compression bilaterally at the level of the articular process joints of T12-L1. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME: A Funkquist type A dorsal laminectomy was performed at T12-L1, and the vertebral column was stabilized with pins and polymethylmethacrylate-based cement. Multiple vertebral synovial cysts were confirmed on histologic evaluation of the surgically excised tissues. The rabbit was nonambulatory with severe paraparesis postoperatively and was ambulatory paraparetic at a recheck examination 7 weeks after surgery. Fourteen weeks after surgery, the rabbit appeared stronger; it walked and hopped slowly but still fell and dragged its hindquarters when moving faster. Thirty-seven weeks after surgery, the neurologic status was unchanged. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Although thoracolumbar myelopathy in rabbits is commonly secondary to vertebral fracture, vertebral synovial cysts should be considered a differential diagnosis for rabbits with slowly progressive paraparesis. Decompressive surgery and stabilization can result in a good outcome for rabbits with this condition.

Episodic blindness and ataxia in a horse with cholesterinic granulomas.

An 11-year-old Oldenburg mare presented following three episodes of acute, transient blindness, ataxia, and disorientation within the preceding 7 months. Clinical improvement, including return of vision, occurred within 1 week of initiating corticosteroid therapy for each of the three episodes. However, mild right-sided miosis was a consistent finding on ophthalmic examinations. Routine clinicopathologic testing revealed no significant abnormalities, and testing of cerebral spinal fluid for selected infectious diseases was unrewarding. Computed tomography of the brain demonstrated a hyperattenuating mass with peripheral mineralization in the rostroventral aspect of each lateral ventricle. The mare was euthanized due to a guarded to poor prognosis. On histopathology, the masses consisted of clusters of cholesterol clefts admixed with leukocytes, mineral deposits, and connective tissue. Cholesterinic granulomas of the lateral ventricles and hydrocephaly were diagnosed. Cholesterinic granulomas should be considered a differential diagnosis in horses presenting for intermittent blindness.

Quantitative contrast ultrasound analysis of renal perfusion in normal dogs.

Eight normal dogs with no evidence of renal disease, weighing between 8 and 25 kg were imaged using contrast harmonic ultrasound after injection of a microbubble contrast medium. All dogs received three separate bolus injections of 0.05 ml of commercial contrast medium (Definity). Time/mean pixel value (MPV) curves were generated for selected regions in the cortex and medulla of the left kidney in each dog. Upslope, downslope, baseline, peak intensity, and time to peak were calculated for each zone. For a bolus injection, within the renal cortex (averaging all subjects) the upslope was 7.4 +/- 1.5 MPV/s, downslope was -0.4 +/- .2 MPV/s, baseline was 66.8 +/- 9.3 MPV, peak was 103.6 +/- 8.2 MPV, time to peak (from injection) was 12.8 +/- 5.3 s and from time of contrast medium reaching the kidney was 5.1 +/- 2.0 s. Within the renal medulla (averaging all subjects), upslope was 2.8 +/- 1.7 MPV/s, downslope was -0.3 +/- .2 MPV/s, baseline was 39.3 +/- 6.0 MPV, peak was 65.2 +/- 14.3 MPV, time to peak from injection was 20.9 +/- 6.4 s and from time of contrast reaching the kidney was 11.6 +/- 4.1 s. These baseline data may prove useful in the evaluation of dogs with diffuse disease or vascular compromise.

Suppression of cold ischemic injury in stored kidneys by the antimicrobial peptide bactenecin.

BACKGROUND: Cold ischemic injury plays an important role in short- and long-term function of kidneys after transplant. Antimicrobial peptides have not previously been studied for their impact on cold ischemia in transplanted kidneys. METHODS: Bactenecin (L- and D-forms) was added to University of Wisconsin (UW) preservation solution for 3-day cold storage of dog kidneys. Effects on membrane permeability were studied in synthetic liposomes and in kidney cortex tissue slices. The role of bactenecin as a tissue mitogen and direct cytoskeletal stabilizer were studied with cultured cells and in vitro. RESULTS: Bactenecin (both L- and D- forms) resulted in significant decreases in postoperative serum creatinine and time required for return of creatinine to the normal range showing the effect was independent of chirality. Bactenecin permeabilized synthetic liposomes and altered kidney cortex tissue slice membrane permeability characteristics, irrespective of chirality. Neither did bactenecin act as a mitogen for either primary renal tubule or Madin-Darby canine kidney (MDCK) cells stored in UW solution, nor did it appear to directly affect cytoskeletal dynamics. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the antimicrobial peptide bactenecin can improve the quality of static cold storage of kidneys. The mechanism of its action is independent of receptor binding and does not appear to involve either an effect on the cytoskeleton or via activity as a mitogen. Current evidence best supports the hypothesis that bactenecin protects against cold ischemic injury by a controlled permeabilization of the membranes of the kidney during cold storage.

Sonographic features of drug-induced splenic congestion.

Drug-induced splenic congestion has been reported in dogs secondary to barbiturate administration. This research attempted to verify and quantify size changes associated with drug-induced splenic congestion in dogs. Transverse plane ultrasound images of the spleen in normal dogs were collected to determine the maximum diameter in the minimum dimension prior to, and 15 min after, administration of acepromazine, thiopental, or propofol. Significant splenic enlargement was seen after administration of acepromazine (P<0.01) and thiopental (P=0.02), but no enlargement was seen after administration of propofol. Significantly increased attenuation (P<0.01) and a trend of increased backscatter (P=0.09) were measured after administration of acepromazine. These results indicate that measurable splenomegaly occurs after acepromazine and thiopental administration. This represents the first report of a condition causing measurable diffuse increased attenuation in the spleen. Propofol does not cause measurable splenic enlargement under the conditions of this research.

Intrathymic injection of anti-Fas monoclonal antibody prolongs murine non-vascularized cardiac allograft survival.

Fas is a pro-apoptotic molecule involved in activation-induced cell-death of T lymphocytes, central and peripheral tolerance and immune privilege. We sought to determine the role of Fas in the thymus after organ transplantation. Heterotopic non-vascularized heart transplants from C3H mice were placed in C57Bl/6 recipients. A hamster anti-mouse anti-Fas mAb (JO2) was injected in the thymus of allograft recipients at the time of transplant. Results were compared with intrathymic injections of hamster IgG (HIgG), anti-FasL, as well as surgical thymectomy or intraperitoneal or intravenous injections of JO2 as controls. Intrathymic injection of 5 microg JO2 induced massive thymocyte apoptosis and enhanced allograft survival compared to HIgG (median graft survival 16 days vs 12.5 days, respectively, P=0.01). The effect was receptor and ligand specific. Intraperitoneal or intravenous injections of JO2 did not prolong graft survival. Thymocyte apoptosis was confirmed in vitro, in vivo and in situ. In the thymus, double positive immature CD4+8+ thymocytes were most susceptible to Fas-induced apoptosis. Our data shows that specific modulation of Fas pathways in the thymus at the time of transplant improves modestly but significantly murine heterotopic non-vascularized cardiac allograft survival and is associated with apoptosis of immature CD4+8+ thymocytes.

Quantitative contrast harmonic ultrasound imaging of normal canine liver.

Eight adult dogs with no evidence of liver disease, weighing between 8 and 25 kg were imaged after injection of a microbubble contrast medium using harmonic ultrasound imaging. All dogs received three separate bolus contrast injections, and six dogs also received three separate constant rate infusions each. Time/Mean Pixel Value curves were generated for selected regions of the liver. Upslope, downslope, baseline, peak, change, and time to peak were calculated. For bolus injection (averaging all subjects), upslope was 3.85 +/- 1.50 Mean Pixel Values/s, downslope was -0.71 +/- 0.30 Mean Pixel Values/s, baseline was 72.38 +/- 17.82 Mean Pixel Values, peak was 120.26 +/- 17.44 Mean Pixel Value, change from baseline to peak was 47.88 +/- 6.92 Mean Pixel Values, time to peak (from injection) was 22.88 +/- 6.79 s, and time to peak (from first upslope) was 13.88 +/- 1.55 s. Data acquisition and analysis from constant rate infusions was more cumbersome than for bolus, and results were less repeatable. There were significant differences (p < .005) in upslope, downslope, peak values, and time to peak between the two methods. These baseline data may prove useful in the evaluation of dogs with diffuse hepatic disease.

The effect of body wall on video signal analysis measurements.

Rectangular body wall specimens were extracted from 16 juvenile swine and 9 adult beagle hounds after euthanasia. The body wall specimen included the epidermis to parietal membrane, with falciform fat removed. Ten images of a reference phantom with known attenuation and 10 additional images of the phantom with the specimen placed between the transducer and phantom surface were collected with a 5-MHz ultrasound system and computer with frame grabber board. Mean pixel values were converted to relative echogenicities. Echogenicity versus depth yielded an estimate of attenuation. An unpaired t test was applied to compare reference attenuation values with and without body wall, and a Pearson correlation was applied to body wall parameters versus measured attenuation through body wall. Measured attenuation through body wall increased significantly in dogs (P = 0.0016) and swine (P < 0.0001) when compared with phantom material alone. Increased attenuation positively correlated to body wall thickness (r = 0.6442) and mean gray level within body wall (r = 0.5069) for swine but not in canine. The presence of body wall in images used for video signal analysis significantly increases the measured attenuation in a phantom. This increase does not correlate with a measurable body wall parameter in dogs.

Ultrasonographic appearance of edema caused by injections in the mammary gland attachments of dairy cows.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the ultrasonographic appearance and detectability of edema induced by SC injection of mild silver protein suspension in the mammary gland attachments of dairy cows. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 6 lactating cows. PROCEDURE: In each cow, the number of quarters that received injections was randomly assigned. A mild silver protein susoension was injected SC into cranial and caudal mammary gland attachment sites. The number of injections and volume injected were determined on the basis of the appearance of the mammary gland and the desired subjective visual effect. Seventeen sites were chosen for injection and 7 sites did not receive injections. Ultrasonographic images were obtained 1 day prior and 6 days after injections were started. Cows received injections 1, 3, and 5 days after initial sonography. The sonographer was unaware of which sites received injections. RESULTS: Ultrasonography revealed alternating hypoechoic and hyperechoic bands at injection sites. Certain injections caused the intimal surface of the subcutaneous abdominal vein to develop a corrugated appearance. All injection sites were correctly identified ultrasonographically (100% sensitivity, 100% specificity) with a positive and negative predictive value of 1.0. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that mild silver protein suspension injected SC to enhance the appearance of the mammary glands of dairy cows can be readily detected by ultrasonography. Detection of injection sites should be made on the basis of the distribution and ultrasonographic appearance of edema.