Plasma cortisol levels in dogs undergoing diagnostic imaging procedures

MAMMALS react to adverse experiences such as pain with the activation of hypothalamus-hypophysis-adrenal gland axis, which promotes the synthesis of corticosteroids, leading to increased serum concentrations. Cortisol is the most significant of the corticosteroids in dogs (Cavallone and others 2001, 2002). There have been reports concerning cortisol levels in dogs subjected to anaesthesia and surgical stress (Fox and others 1998, Marcovich and others 2001, Naitoh and others 2002, Vaisanen and others 2002), but there appear to be no reports related to diagnostic imaging. This short communication describes a study in which the variations in plasma cortisol concentrations were studied during diagnostic imaging procedures in dogs in order to evaluate possible states of discomfort or pain that may be induced by the administration of contrast medium and by positioning manoeuvres.