Evaluación ecográfica del volumen y fracción de eyección vesicular biliar pre y postprandial en Felis catus alimentados con dietas comerciales secas.

Abstract

In veterinary medicine, ultrasound is a non-invasive method used to ensure standardization of the procedure for studying the bodily function of small animals. As such, the objectives of this study were to examine the gallbladder volume and contraction index activity in 39 clinically healthy adult cats fed premium and standard commercial dry diets at the Animalandia veterinary clinic. The gallbladder was assessed by ultrasound with measurements of length, width, and height after 8 hours of fasting at 30, 60, and 120 minutes post-ingestion, allowing estimation of the gallbladder size and, consequently, measurement of how much it contracts (percentage). This type of research was a longitudinal experimental study with a repeated measures one-way ANOVA design, p < 0.05, using a quantitative approach. However, there was a gradual reduction in gallbladder volume during all postprandial periods, with the most significant emptying occurring between 60 and 120 minutes. Diet type was also significantly different, with greater contraction and lower residual volume observed in cats fed the premium diet and slower emptying in those fed the standard diet. No strong association was found with body weight or sex.