Comparison of different doses of iohexol with amidotrizoate for excretory urography in cats.

In five cats with normal renal function, doses of 200, 400, 600 and 800 mg iodine kg(-1) bodyweight of iohexol (350 mg iodine ml(-1)) were assessed in comparison to a dose of 880 mg iodine kg(-1) bodyweight of meglumine-sodium amidotrizoate (370 mg iodine ml(-1)) to determine the smallest dose which produces diagnostically adequate results for excretory urography. Urographic quality, haematologic and biochemical parameters, urinalysis and urinary osmolality, pulse and respiratory rates, blood pressure and adverse effects were determined. Iohexol presented fewer adverse reactions and influenced blood pressure less than amidotrizoate. The smallest dose of iohexol which provided urograms of similar quality to amidotrizoate was 400 mg iodine kg(-1) bodyweight. This study suggests that iohexol is safer and produces urograms of better quality than amidotrizoate.