Renal ultrasonography in healthy Saanen goats: topographic, biometric and echotextural assessment

This study aimed to establish reference ultrasound values for renal dimensions in healthy dairy goats and to investigate correlations between kidney size and body measurements. Thirty-four clinically healthy lactating Saanen goats underwent standardized ultrasonographic evaluations. The left kidney showed significantly greater length, height, and medullary pyramid dimensions than the right (p < 0.05). No significant differences were observed for other variables (p > 0.05). The right kidney was located in the craniodorsal quadrant between the 12th and 11th intercostal spaces, while the left kidney was primarily positioned in the right caudodorsal quadrant. Mean kidney volume was 68.91 ± 9.71 cm³ for the right kidney and 63.32 ± 22.31 cm³ for the left. Cortical and medullary diameters averaged 0.80 ± 0.13 cm and 0.81 ± 0.15 cm, respectively. Ureter, renal pelvis, and hilum measurements were 0.11 ± 0.03 cm, 0.20 ± 0.04 cm, and 0.60 ± 0.12 cm, respectively, for both kidneys. Weak correlations were found between body biometric parameters and renal dimensions. These findings underscore the importance of species-specific ultrasonographic reference values in small ruminants to enhance diagnostic precision and support the early detection of renal disorders. .