Ultrasonographic measurement of kidney-to-aorta ratio as a method of estimating renal size in dogs.

Renal size is an important parameter in the assessment of renal disease in dogs. However, because of the great variability in body conformation, absolute renal measurements cannot solely be used when evaluating kidneys with ultrasonography. The use of a ratio comparing renal length and aortic luminal diameter (K/Ao) was investigated. After confirming the reproducibility of these measurements, K/Ao ratios were obtained in 92 dogs without clinical evidence of renal disease. Left and right K/Ao ratios were statistically similar. Based on 95% confidence intervals, renal size should be considered reduced if the K/Ao ratio is < 5.5 and increased when > 9.1.