The clinical utility of the right lateral intercostal ultrasound scan technique in dogs.

When performing abdominal ultrasonography in dogs the right aspect of the liver porta hepatis right kidney right adrenal gland pancreas and duodenum are often not fully visible from a ventral or subcostal approach The right lateral intercostal plane is an alternative approach that allows evaluation of these structures This report provides multiple case examples that demonstrate the sonographic anatomy via the right intercostal approach Other cases are included to demonstrate indications for this approach animals in which the right intercostal approach may prove most useful include large- and giant-breeddogs deep-chested dogs dogs with gas distention of the stomach duodenum and colon dogs with micro-hepatia and those with abdominal effusion and pain.