32 



DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE APPARATUS 



Physical Examination of the Liver. 



The liver covers the posterior surface of the diaphragm and extends 

 as far back on the abdominal wall as the umlnlical region. On the right 

 side it extends posteriorly and laterally along the ribs. The gall bladder 

 lies at about the height of the cartilage of the ninth rib, but does not 

 extend as far as the abdominal wall. 



The physical examination of the liver is very difficult to make. 

 Fortunately, the diseases of the liver in the dog are very rare and can be 

 detected by symptoms other than the direct examination of the gland. 

 The liver is examined by percussion and palpation (Fig. 16). The percus- 

 sion area of the liver is where the liver lies against the abdominal wall and 



Fig. 16. — Right side of the abdomen, showing the position of the organs. 



the ribs; this takes in on the right side the lower third of the eighth, 

 ninth and tenth ribs and upward and backward over the twelfth and 

 thirteenth ribs, and on the left side the twelfth rib. Under normal 

 conditions a dull hollow sound is heard on the percussion over the region 

 of the liver. The liver, however, may vary a great deal in the different 

 breeds of dogs and also in individual animals. 



The liver very frequently is in an abnormal position from various 

 diseases, as a result of exudative pleuritis, emphysema of the lungs, 

 pneumothorax, etc., also when the stomach and intestines are filled with 

 gas from accumulations of fluid in the abdominal cavity. Increase in the 

 size of the liver may indicate hyperaemia, fatty liver, amyloid degenera- 

 tion, abscesses, carcinoma, parenchymatous hepatitis, or biliary engorge- 

 ment. A decrease in the size of the organ is found in cirrhosis of the liver. 



The palpation of the liver is made in the following manner: the hand 



