Epidemiological, clinical, and echocardiographic features and survival times of dogs and cats with tetralogy of Fallot: 31 cases (2003-2014).

OBJECTIVE To characterize the epidemiological, clinical, and echocardiographic features of dogs and cats with tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and determine their survival times. DESIGN Retrospective case series. ANIMALS 15 dogs and 16 cats with a diagnosis of TOF as determined via echocardiography.

Signalment, clinical features, echocardiographic findings, and outcome of dogs and cats with ventricular septal defects: 109 cases (1992-2013).

Objective: To determine the signalment, clinical features, echocardiographic findings, and outcome of dogs and cats with ventricular septal defects (VSDs).

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 56 dogs and 53 cats with VSDs.

Basal plasma concentrations of routine variables and packed cell volume in clinically healthy adult small-sized dogs: effect of breed, body weight, age, and gender, and establishment of reference intervals.

Background: Plasma variables may be affected by breed or body weight (BW). Small-sized dogs are very common, but no specific reference intervals (RI) are used.

Objectives: The primary objective of this prospective study was to assess the potential effect of breed, BW, age, and sex on routine plasma analytes and packed cell volume (PCV) in small-sized dogs.

Echocardiography and conventional Doppler examination in clinically healthy adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels: effect of body weight, age, and gender, and establishment of reference intervals.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the potential effect of body weight (BW), age, and gender on the most commonly used echocardiographic and conventional Doppler variables in a large population of healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), and (2) to establish the corresponding reference intervals (RI).

Animals: 134 healthy adult CKCS.

Methods: Ultrasound examinations were performed by trained observers in awake dogs.

Basal plasma concentrations of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide in clinically healthy adult small size dogs: effect of body weight, age, gender and breed, and reference intervals.

Plasma NT-proBNP has previously been evaluated in dogs with degenerative mitral valve disease (DMVD). However, reference intervals (RI) established according to the Clinical Laboratory and Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations have never been provided. The objectives of this prospective study were to assess effects of breed, body weight, age, and sex on plasma NT-proBNP, and to establish RI according to CLSI for this biomarker in a large population of dogs predisposed to DMVD.

Echoguided closed commissurotomy for mitral valve stenosis in a dog.

Surgical treatment of mitral stenosis (MS) usually consists of open mitral commissurotomy (MC) or percutaneous balloon MC, which require a cardiopulmonary bypass or transseptal approach, respectively. We describe here the first surgical management of congenital MS in a dog using a less invasive procedure, a surgical closed MC under direct echo guidance. A 5-year-old female Cairn terrier was referred for ascites, weakness, and marked exercise intolerance for 2 months, which was refractory to medical treatment.

Double valvular insufficiency in a Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus, Linnaeus, 1758) suffering from concomitant bacterial pneumonia.

Ultrasonography, and, to a lesser extent, echocardiography are now well-established, noninvasive, and painless diagnostic tools in herpetologic medicine. Various cardiac lesions have been previously described in reptiles, but valvulopathy is rarely documented in these animals and, consequently, is poorly understood. In this report, sinoatrial and atrioventricular insufficiencies were diagnosed in a 5-yr-old captive dyspneic Burmese python (Python molurus bivittatus) on the basis of echocardiographic and Doppler examination.

Successful treatment of a congenital pulmonic valvular stenosis in a snow leopard (Uncia uncia) by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty.

A 3-yr-old intact female snow leopard (Uncia uncia) was evaluated for progressive apathy, lethargy, and decreased appetite. Cardiac auscultation revealed a left basal grade IV/VI systolic ejection murmur, and an echocardiogram confirmed a severe pulmonic valvular stenosis (pressure gradient of 98 mm Hg). The lesion was managed by balloon valvuloplasty, resulting in a marked pressure gradient reduction (30 mm Hg).