GASTROINTESTINAL TRANSIT TIME OF HEALTHY DOGS BEFORE AND AFTER ENEMA ASSESSED BY CONTRAST RADIOGRAPHS WITH BARIUM-IMPREGNATED POLYETHYLENE SPHERES.

In this prospective experimental study, we aimed to assess the gastrointestinal (GI) transit of healthy dogs with and without an enema, using barium-impregnated polyethylene spheres (BIPS). Six healthy dogs underwent two experimental steps: evaluation of the GI transit using BIPS (BIPS group) before and after enema (BIPS+ENEMA group). All animals were fasted for 12hours, the transit was assessed in serial radiographs from 0 to 12h, and BIPS were counted in each segment of the GI tract, calculating the gastric emptying time and the time the spheres reached the descending colon. Blood cell count, serum biochemistry, electrolytes, and blood glucose levels were assessed during the experiment to evaluate the safety of both BIPs and enema. BIPS were easily identified in all segments of the GI tract. The BIPS group presented gastric emptying starting at H0 and H1, ending around H8. BIPS+ENEMA group showed a delayed gastric emptying, which began around H1 and extended to more than H12, and had a lower percentage of spheres in the descending colon at the end of the evaluation; however, the differences were not statistically significant. BIPS and enema did not cause changes in laboratory evaluation, and the 12-hour fast did not cause hypoglycemia. Based on the findings, when using BIPS for radiographic contrast, an enema is not a required procedure. The use of the enema and BIPS can be considered safe, with no apparent adverse effects in dogs.