Gastrografin as a gastrointestinal contrast agent in the Greek tortoise (Testudo hermanni).

Eighteen Greek tortoises (Testudo hermanni), divided into three groups, were kept at three different average ambient temperatures. Gastrografin was administered to all individuals by orogastric tube at a dosage of 1 ml/130 g body weight. The partial and total transit times were recorded by means of radiographs taken immediately postadministration and at 20, 40, 60, 90, 120, and 150 min and 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hr postadministration. Mean total transit times were 2.6 hr (range 1.5-4.0 hr) at 30.6 degrees C, 6.6 hr (range 3.0-8.0 hr) at 21.5 degrees C, and 17.3 hr (range 8.0-24.0 hr) at 15.2 degrees C. These transit times allow a radiologic diagnosis within a relatively short period, especially compared with contrast studies performed with barium sulfate. The visualization of the intestinal tract is good with Gastrografin; however, intestinal mucosal detail was not completely satisfactory.