Challenges and distribution of radiographic diagnosis in dogs at a tertiary veterinary institution

Abstract

Radiography is an important clinical diagnostic tool in any Veterinary establishment and especially for a tertiary institution. It is however limited by lack of functional equipment and staff. This study attempts to assess the challenges faced by the Radiology Unit of the Surgery Clinic and enumerate the distribution of cases at a tertiary veterinary centre between August 2016 and June 2017. All the referred cases to the unit within the study period were accessed (n=52). 26 were selected based on the inclusion criteria which were a radiography request from a clinician and an actual return to clinic of a clear radiograph. Age, sex, lesions and clinical history were recorded from case files and radiographs. The age of animals presented ranged from one month to 13 years. Eleven (11) representing 42.3% of the dogs were female while 14(53.8%) were male, and one animal’s sex was omitted. Eighteen (18) were single lesions while four presented with multiple lesions, and four had no observable lesions. Fourteen 14 (53.8%) were fracture cases of long bones either for diagnosis or post-reduction evaluation. Three (11.5%) were to check for suspected thoracic metastasis in cases where lumps were found in other parts of the body. Four (15.3%) were of the pelvis to diagnose hip dysplasia. Seven (26.9%) were to aid diagnosis in cases in which swellings were palpated within the abdomen and one (3.8%) was of the cervical spine while another was of a foot (3.8%). The implication of lack of radiographic equipment and staff problems in a tertiary veterinary centre were elucidated and ideal conditions suggested.

Keywords: Diagnosis, Dogs, Radiography, Surgery, Tertiary veterinary centre, University