Publications by authors named "Michelle Vereb"
Article Synopsis
- Predicting progression of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in dogs is difficult, but the mitral regurgitation severity index (MRSI) may help forecast when dogs will develop congestive heart failure (CHF) or die.
- A study with 869 dogs showed that MRSI values above 156 significantly predicted the onset of CHF and values above 173 were linked to all-cause death in dogs with MMVD stage B2, suggesting that MRSI is a strong prognostic indicator.
- MRSI is not reliably predictive for dogs in Stage C of MMVD, but it can be calculated using radiographically determined left atrial size, making it a practical tool for veterinarians
Background: A recent study showed higher high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I (hs-cTnI) concentrations in healthy dogs eating grain-free (GF) compared to those eating grain-inclusive (GI) diets.
Hypothesis/objectives: Healthy dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities eating GF diets at baseline will show improvements in cardiac biomarkers and echocardiographic variables after diet change, whereas healthy dogs eating GI diets at baseline will not improve.
Animals: Twenty healthy dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities (12 Golden Retrievers, 5 Doberman Pinschers, 3 Miniature Schnauzers).
Article Synopsis
- Recent studies focused on dogs with diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (daDCM), highlighting the need for research across various breeds.
- The study evaluated 60 dogs with DCM (majority on nontraditional diets) and 16 dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities (SCA), measuring changes in their heart health over time after diet modifications.
- Results showed that while there were minimal initial differences in taurine levels, dogs on nontraditional diets experienced noticeable improvements in heart function after dietary changes, indicating the potential benefits of diet on cardiac health in these dogs.*
Background: Associations of diet with dilated cardiomyopathy are under investigation.
Objectives: That cardiac assessment would show abnormalities in healthy dogs eating grain-free (GF) diets or diets with Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-listed ingredients of concern (peas, lentils, or potatoes) as top 10 ingredients (FDA-PLP), but not in dogs eating grain-inclusive (GI) diets or diets without FDA-listed ingredients of concern (PLP) in the top 10 ingredients (NoFDA-PLP).
Animals: One hundred eighty-eight healthy Doberman Pinschers, Golden Retrievers, Miniature Schnauzers, and Whippets.