Ultrasonographic examination of kidneys and urinary bladder of normal adult Spiti horses and Himalayan Hill mules of India

The objective of this study was to develop baseline topographical data of landmarks for locating kidneys and urinary bladder and to generate sonographic calliper measurements along with dynamic parameters of these organs. Ultrasonography was performed on 50 native adult (Spiti horses and Himalayan hill mules) healthy unsedated equines of either sex. The thickness, character and echo-architecture of these organs were recorded. The right kidney was found from 15th (±1) intercostal space (ICS) extending upto first lumbar vertebra, both in horses as well as in mules. The height of right kidney varied from 112.7 to 118.3 mm (Mean± SE= 115.6±1.01 mm) and its thickness varied from 58.4 to 71.2 mm (Mean± SE= 64.3±2.37 mm). While in mules height of right kidney varied from 90.7 to 109.2 mm (Mean± SE= of 101.1±3.14 mm) and its thickness varied from 47.3 to 56.8 mm (Mean± SE= 52.3±1.57 mm). The left kidney in horses was found between 16th ICS to 2nd lumbar vertebra, while in mules it was found from 16th ICS to 3rd lumbar vertebra. The height of left kidney varied from 87 to 107.8 mm (Mean± SE= 99.0±3.67 mm) and its thickness varied from 49.5 to 53.8 mm (Mean± SE= 51.8±0.72 mm). In mules the height of left kidney varied from 85.5 to 111.4 mm (Mean± SE= 95.3±2.36 mm) and its thickness varied from 43.4 to 55.7 mm (Mean± SE= 50.6±2.53 mm). During transrectal ultrasonography urinary bladder was observed as an oval to round structure in the caudal ventral abdomen, the wall thickness of urinary bladder varied from 2.7 to 2.8 mm (Mean± SE= 2.74±0.02 mm), 2.4 to 2.7 mm (Mean± SE= 2.62±0.05 mm) in horses and mules respectively. Hence detailed ultrasonographic examination of these organs helped us to compile baseline data, which will be helpful in future in management of the affections of these organs.