Abdominal ultrasonography in small animals: Examination of the liver, spleen and pancreas

Ultrasonography is an important diagnostic technique in veterinary medicine. It may be used to examine most structures in the small animal ahdomen, providing a rapid, non‐invasive means of supplementing information obtained by physical examination and radiography. Limitations of ultrasonography include the non‐specific nature of many observed abnormalities, which prevents a specific diagnosis, and the difficulty of identifying certain normal organs such as the pancreas. This paper reviews ultrasonography of the liver, spleen and pancreas, and ultrasound‐guided biopsy in small animals, and indicates areas of potential future development.