Description of digital fluoroscopic excretory urography in healthy New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Abstract

Disorders of the kidneys and urinary tract are relatively common in rabbits. Survey radiographs and abdominal ultrasound have inherent limitations in the evaluation of the urinary tract in this species; because of that, contrast study modalities are a valuable diagnostic tool in rabbits with urinary disorders. The aims of this study were to describe digital fluoroscopic excretory urography (DFEU) and to determine the urogram phases in healthy New Zealand rabbits. The median time of beginning of the nephrographic and pyelographic phases was 10 seconds (IQR: 10-12 seconds) and 1.39 minutes (IQR: 1.27-1.60 minutes). The median time in which the contrast medium was visible in the urinary bladder was 1.58 minutes (IQR: 1.44-1.72 minutes). Results of this study indicate that DFEU provides a good degree of opacification of the kidneys as well as the ureters, and allows the evaluation of the urogram phases. Text not justifed in the proof version.