Evaluation of renal Doppler indices in healthy dogs

Grey scale, B-mode ultrasonographic findings are non-specific in establishing an early diagnosis and assessing damage to the kidneys. Doppler studies of the interlobar/arcuate blood vessels have a typical waveform and fixed values for Resistive Index (RI) and Pulsatility Index (PI). To distinguish abnormal from normal kidneys, knowledge of the normal renal RI and PI is a must. In the present study, 15 clinically healthy dogs of either sex, aged 0.5–14 yr and weighing 5-30kg were included. They were subjected to B-mode grey scale ultrasonography and Duplex Doppler ultrasonography to determine the renal haemodynamics by the virtue of RI and PI. Grey scale ultrasonography confirmed good architechtural details and normal kidney size. RI was 0.56±0.02 (Mean±S.E) and PI was 1.05±0.03 (Mean±S.E) for healthy dogs.