Myxomatous mitral valve disease in Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers: 134 cases (2007-2016).

Objective: To characterize features of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers.

Animals: 69 Miniature Schnauzers and 65 Yorkshire Terriers, each with MMVD.

Procedures: Medical record data for each dog were collected; the study period was January 2007 through December 2016.

A deleterious mutation in the ALMS1 gene in a naturally occurring model of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Sphynx cat.

Background: Familial hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a common inherited cardiovascular disorder in people. Many causal mutations have been identified, but about 40% of cases do not have a known causative mutation. Mutations in the ALMS1 gene are associated with the development of Alstrom syndrome, a multisystem familial disease that can include cardiomyopathy (dilated, restrictive).

Assessment of and gene variants in 48 Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Objective: To evaluate the frequency of variants in the pyruvate kinase dehydrogenase 4 () and titin () genes in a group of Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and to determine whether there were unique clinical attributes to each variant.

Animals: 48 Doberman Pinschers with DCM.

Procedures: Doberman Pinschers with recently diagnosed DCM were identified, and genomic DNA from each was genotyped with a PCR assay for detection of and genetic variants.

Retrospective evaluation of the safety and tolerability of pimobendan in cats with obstructive vs nonobstructive cardiomyopathy.

Background: Pimobendan is frequently used off-label for treatments of cats with congestive heart failure (CHF). Concern exists regarding the safety of pimobendan in cats with outflow tract obstruction (OTO).

Objectives: In cats treated with pimobendan, incidence of adverse effects will not differ between cats with OTO vs cats with nonobstructive cardiomyopathy.

Renin-angiotensin aldosterone profile before and after angiotensin-converting enzyme-inhibitor administration in dogs with angiotensin-converting enzyme gene polymorphism.

Background: An angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) gene polymorphism occurs in dogs; however, functional importance is not well studied.

Hypothesis: We hypothesized that dogs with the polymorphism would show alternative renin-angiotensin aldosterone system (RAAS) pathway activation and classical RAAS pathway suppression before and after ACE-inhibitor administration, as compared to dogs without the polymorphism that would show this pattern only after ACE-inhibitor administration.

Animals: Twenty-one dogs with mitral valve disease that were genotyped for the ACE gene polymorphism.

A missense variant in the titin gene in Doberman pinscher dogs with familial dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death.

The dog provides a large animal model of familial dilated cardiomyopathy for the study of important aspects of this common familial cardiovascular disease. We have previously demonstrated a form of canine dilated cardiomyopathy in the Doberman pinscher breed that is inherited as an autosomal dominant trait and is associated with a splice site variant in the pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 (PDK4) gene, however, genetic heterogeneity exists in this species as well and not all affected dogs have the PDK4 variant. Whole genome sequencing of a family of Doberman pinchers with dilated cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac death without the PDK4 variant was performed.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels with an ACE gene polymorphism and myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Objectives: Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in the dog. It is particularly common in the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (CKCS) breed and affected dogs are frequently managed with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I). We have previously identified a canine ACE gene polymorphism associated with a decrease in angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity.

Intracoronary allogeneic cardiosphere-derived stem cells are safe for use in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy.

Cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs) have been shown to reduce scar size and increase viable myocardium in human patients with mild/moderate myocardial infarction. Studies in rodent models suggest that CDC therapy may confer therapeutic benefits in patients with non-ischaemic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of allogeneic CDC in a large animal (canine) model of spontaneous DCM.

Accuracy of point-of-care lung ultrasonography for the diagnosis of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs and cats with acute dyspnea.

OBJECTIVE To determine the accuracy of a point-of-care lung ultrasonography (LUS) protocol designed to diagnose cardiogenic pulmonary edema (CPE) in dyspneic dogs and cats. DESIGN Diagnostic test evaluation. ANIMALS 76 dogs and 24 cats evaluated for dyspnea.

Suspected acute myocardial infarction in a dystrophin-deficient dog.

Golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) is a model for the genetically homologous human disease, Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Unlike the mildly affected mdx mouse, GRMD recapitulates the severe DMD phenotype. In addition to skeletal muscle involvement, DMD boys develop cardiomyopathy.

Case-control study of the effects of pimobendan on survival time in cats with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure.

Objective: To assess survival time and adverse events related to the administration of pimobendan to cats with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM).

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Animals: 27 cats receiving treatment with pimobendan and 27 cats receiving treatment without pimobendan.

Hybrid cutting balloon dilatation for treatment of cor triatriatum sinister in a cat.

A hybrid surgical approach and balloon dilatation were performed successfully in a cat with cor triatriatum sinister and clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Left lateral thoracotomy was used to access the heart and cutting balloon followed by standard balloon dilatation were utilized to dilate the perforation in the anomalous left atrial membrane. Clinical signs resolved completely after dilation of the anomalous left atrial membrane.

Cutting balloon catheterization for interventional treatment of cor triatriatum dexter: 2 cases.

Cutting balloon dilatation was performed successfully in two dogs with cor triatriatum dexter and clinical signs of ascites. The cutting balloon catheter uses incisional microtomes embedded in a balloon catheter. During balloon expansion, these microtomes incise the adjacent tissue, decreasing circumferential wall stress.

Canine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy and their use in therapeutic strategies.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder in which the loss of dystrophin causes progressive degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle. Potential therapies that carry substantial risk, such as gene- and cell-based approaches, must first be tested in animal models, notably the mdx mouse and several dystrophin-deficient breeds of dogs, including golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD). Affected dogs have a more severe phenotype, in keeping with that of DMD, so may better predict disease pathogenesis and treatment efficacy.

Pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect with aortopulmonary collaterals in an adult dog.

Pulmonary atresia and ventricular septal defect (PA-VSD) was diagnosed in a 2-year-old castrated male Terrier mix. Transthoracic echocardiography identified a large ventricular septal defect, overriding aorta and severe right ventricular hypertrophy. A main pulmonary artery could not be identified, consistent with pulmonary atresia or persistent truncus arteriosus.

Echocardiographic estimation of systemic systolic blood pressure in dogs with mild mitral regurgitation.

Background: Systemic hypertension is likely underdiagnosed in veterinary medicine because systemic blood pressure is rarely measured. Systemic blood pressure can theoretically be estimated by echocardiography. According to the modified Bernoulli equation (PG = 4v(2)), mitral regurgitation (MR) velocity should approximate systolic left ventricular pressure (sLVP), and therefore systolic systemic blood pressure (sSBP) in the presence of a normal left atrial pressure (LAP) and the absence of aortic stenosis.