The predictive value of clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic variables and cardiac biomarkers for assessing risk of the onset of heart failure or cardiac death in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease enrolled in the DELAY study.

Objectives: To identify the predictive value on time to onset of heart failure (HF) or cardiac death of clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic variables, as well as cardiac biomarkers N-terminal pro brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) and cardiac troponin I in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD).

Animals: One hundred sixty-eight dogs with preclinical MMVD and left atrium to aortic root ratio ≥1.6 (LA:Ao) and normalized left ventricular end-diastolic diameter ≥1.

DELay of Appearance of sYmptoms of Canine Degenerative Mitral Valve Disease Treated with Spironolactone and Benazepril: the DELAY Study.

Introduction: Efficacy of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEi) in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is controversial.

Hypothesis: Administration of spironolactone (2-4 mg q 24 h) and benazepril (0.25-0.

Longitudinal Analysis of Quality of Life, Clinical, Radiographic, Echocardiographic, and Laboratory Variables in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease Receiving Pimobendan or Placebo: The EPIC Study.

Background: Changes in clinical variables associated with the administration of pimobendan to dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) and cardiomegaly have not been described.

Objectives: To investigate the effect of pimobendan on clinical variables and the relationship between a change in heart size and the time to congestive heart failure (CHF) or cardiac-related death (CRD) in dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly. To determine whether pimobendan-treated dogs differ from dogs receiving placebo at onset of CHF.

Heart rate turbulence after ventricular premature beats in healthy Doberman pinschers and those with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objectives: To describe the measurement of heart rate turbulence (HRT) after ventricular premature beats and compare HRT in healthy Doberman pinschers and those with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), with and without congestive heart failure (CHF).

Animals: Sixty-five client-owned Dobermans: 20 healthy (NORMAL), 31 with preclinical DCM and 14 with DCM and CHF (DCM + CHF).

Methods: A retrospective study of data retrieved from clinical records and ambulatory ECG (Holter) archives, including data collected previously for a large-scale prospective study of Dobermans with preclinical DCM.

Echocardiographic assessments of longitudinal left ventricular function in healthy English Springer spaniels.

Objectives: To establish reference intervals for echocardiographic measures of longitudinal left ventricular function in adult English Springer spaniel (ESS) dogs.

Animals: This study involved 42 healthy adult ESS.

Methods: Animals were prospectively recruited from a general practice population in the United Kingdom.

Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study-A Randomized Clinical Trial.

Background: Pimobendan is effective in treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Its effect on dogs before the onset of CHF is unknown.

Hypothesis/objectives: Administration of pimobendan (0.

Reference intervals for transthoracic echocardiography in the English springer spaniel: a prospective, longitudinal study.

Objectives: To establish transthoracic echocardiographic reference intervals in adult English springer spaniel dogs.

Methods: Forty-two healthy adult English springer spaniels were prospectively recruited from a general practice population in the UK. Animals were examined twice, at least 12 months apart, to exclude dogs with progressive cardiac disease.

The times they are a-changin': Two-dimensional aortic valve measurements differ throughout diastole.

Introduction: Diastolic aortic valve measurements are used to obtain weight-independent cardiac ratiometric indices. However, whether clinically important variations in valve measurements occur during diastole remains undetermined.

Animals: One hundred sixty-three dogs and 40 cats; a mixture of healthy animals and patients with heart disease.

Longitudinal analysis of quality of life, clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic, and laboratory variables in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease receiving pimobendan or benazepril: the QUEST study.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in dogs.

Objectives: To compare, throughout the period of follow-up of dogs that had not yet reached the primary endpoint, the longitudinal effects of pimobendan versus benazepril hydrochloride treatment on quality-of-life (QoL) variables, concomitant congestive heart failure (CHF) treatment, and other outcome variables in dogs suffering from CHF secondary to MMVD.

Animals: A total of 260 dogs in CHF because of MMVD.

Efficacy of pimobendan in the prevention of congestive heart failure or sudden death in Doberman Pinschers with preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (the PROTECT Study).

Background: The benefit of pimobendan in delaying the progression of preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Dobermans is not reported.

Hypothesis: That chronic oral administration of pimobendan to Dobermans with preclinical DCM will delay the onset of CHF or sudden death and improve survival.

Animals: Seventy-six client-owned Dobermans recruited at 10 centers in the UK and North America.

Effects of sample handling on serum N-terminal proB-type natriuretic peptide concentration in normal dogs and dogs with heart disease.

Objectives: To determine whether serum N-terminal B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) concentration in normal dogs, and dogs with heart disease, is affected by freezing, or by sample ageing when stored at room temperature.

Animals, Materials And Methods: Thirty six dogs with heart disease and ten normal dogs. Serum NT-proBNP was measured within 60 min of sample collection.

Effect of pimobendan or benazepril hydrochloride on survival times in dogs with congestive heart failure caused by naturally occurring myxomatous mitral valve disease: the QUEST study.

Background: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in geriatric dogs despite conventional therapy.

Hypothesis: Pimobendan in addition to conventional therapy will extend time to sudden cardiac death, euthanasia for cardiac reasons, or treatment failure when compared with conventional therapy plus benazepril in dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) attributable to MMVD.

Animals: Two hundred and sixty client-owned dogs in CHF caused by MMVD were recruited from 28 centers in Europe, Canada, and Australia.

Discospondylitis in an adult horse.

Discospondylitis, of presumed bacterial origin, was diagnosed in an adult thoroughbred racehorse. The clinical signs were vague and associated with abnormal mobility of the neck and forelimbs. Clinical pathology showed only a non-specific inflammatory response.

Effects of sedation with detomidine hydrochloride on echocardiographic measurements of cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function in horses.

Twenty-six horses were sedated with detomidine hydrochloride (Domosedan, SmithKline Beecham Animal Health, Tadworth, Surrey, UK) at a dose of 10 micrograms/kg bwt, administered i.v. Echocardiograms were recorded before and after sedation, measurements of cardiac dimensions were made and functional indices were calculated.

Echocardiographic measurements of cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function in normal adult thoroughbred horses.

Cardiac dimensions and indices of cardiac function were measured in 29 clinically normal adult Thoroughbreds (TB) which performed minimal exercise using guided M-mode and two-dimensional (2-D) echocardiography, from a variety of image planes and measurement methods, and standardised imaging planes based on intracardiac anatomical landmarks. The different methods of measuring these variables were compared. The variables which were considered to be most valuable for quantitative echocardiography were measured in a further 9 horses.

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection in seven dogs.

Angiostrongylus vasorum infection was diagnosed in six dogs by the identification of larvae in sputum or faeces, or by the identification of adult worms post mortem. In another dog strong evidence of the condition was obtained but no parasites were identified. In four cases the main clinical signs were coughing and dyspnoea, but one dog had exercise intolerance and no history of coughing.