A survey of the use of ultrasound by small animal veterinary clinicians.

This study aimed to determine the current use of ultrasound amongst small animal veterinarians. A total of 1216 small animal veterinary practitioners responded to an electronic survey that was administered through the Veterinary Information Network to all its members. Descriptive statistics were generated; limited inferential statistics were performed to examine specific relationships.

Pharmacokinetics of pimobendan after oral administration to dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Background: Pimobendan is an important therapy for dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). The pharmacokinetics are reported in healthy dogs but not in dogs with heart disease.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine if dog characteristics such as age, breed, body condition score, ACVIM stage of heart disease or biochemical laboratory value alter the pharmacokinetics of orally administered pimobendan and its metabolite in a cohort of dogs with naturally occurring MMVD.

Delayed-release rapamycin halts progression of left ventricular hypertrophy in subclinical feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: results of the RAPACAT trial.

Objective: Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) remains a disease with little therapeutic advancement. Rapamycin modulates the mTOR pathway, preventing and reversing cardiac hypertrophy in rodent disease models. Its use in human renal allograft patients is associated with reduced cardiac wall thickness.

The Role of Point-of-Care Ultrasound in Managing Cardiac Emergencies.

Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) is a useful imaging tool for the diagnosis and monitoring of cardiac emergencies. Unlike complete echocardiography, POCUS is a time-sensitive examination involving a subset of targeted thoracic ultrasound views to identify abnormalities of the heart, lungs, pleural space, and caudal vena cava. When integrated with other clinical information, POCUS can be helpful in the diagnosis of left-sided and right-sided congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion and tamponade, and severe pulmonary hypertension and can help clinicians monitor resolution or recurrence of these conditions.

Bilateral lysis of aortic saddle thrombus with early tissue plasminogen activator (BLASTT): a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study in feline acute aortic thromboembolism.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) on the treatment of feline aortic thromboembolism (FATE).

Methods: Cats diagnosed with FATE involving ⩾2 limbs were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter, double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled study within 6 h of an event. Diagnosis was made by clinical findings and one confirmatory criterion.

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.

Comparison of curvilinear-array (microconvex) and phased-array transducers for ultrasonography of the lungs in dogs.

Objectives: To compare the use of curvilinear-array (microconvex) and phased-array transducers for ultrasonographic examination of the lungs in dogs.

Animals: 13 client-owned dogs with left-sided congestive heart failure.

Procedures: In a prospective methods comparison study, 24 ultrasonographic examinations of the lungs (4 sites/hemithorax) were performed with both curvilinear-array and phased-array transducers at 3 clinical time points.

Use of whole genome analysis to identify shared genomic variants across breeds in canine mitral valve disease.

Familial mitral valve prolapse in human beings has been associated with several genetic variants; however, in most cases, a known variant has not been identified. Dogs also have a naturally occurring form of familial mitral valve disease (MMVD) with similarities to the human disease. A shared genetic background and clinical phenotype of this disease in some dog breeds has indicated that the disease may share a common genetic cause.

Focused ultrasound of the caudal vena cava in dogs with cavitary effusions or congestive heart failure: A prospective, observational study.

Introduction: Ultrasonographic indices of the inferior vena cava are useful for predicting right heart filling pressures in people.

Objectives: To determine whether ultrasonographic indices of caudal vena cava (CVC) differ between dogs with right-sided CHF (R-CHF), left-sided CHF (L-CHF), and noncardiac causes of cavitary effusion (NC).

Materials And Methods: 113 dogs diagnosed with R-CHF (n = 51), L-CHF (30), or NC effusion (32) were enrolled.

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).

Utility of point-of-care lung ultrasound for monitoring cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs.

Background: Point-of-care lung ultrasound (LUS) is an effective tool to diagnose left-sided congestive heart failure (L-CHF) in dogs via detection of ultrasound artifacts (B-lines) caused by increased lung water.

Hypothesis/objectives: To determine whether LUS can be used to monitor resolution of cardiogenic pulmonary edema in dogs, and to compare LUS to other indicators of L-CHF control.

Animals: Twenty-five client-owned dogs hospitalized for treatment of first-onset L-CHF.

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.

Lung ultrasonography findings in dogs with various underlying causes of cough.

Objective: To characterize lung ultrasonography (LUS) findings in dogs with a primary clinical complaint of cough.

Animals: 100 client-owned coughing dogs.

Procedures: A standardized LUS examination was performed for all dogs to quantify the number of B lines and identify subpleural abnormalities at 4 sites on each hemithorax.

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.

Evaluation of point-of-care thoracic ultrasound and NT-proBNP for the diagnosis of congestive heart failure in cats with respiratory distress.

Background: The diagnosis of congestive heart failure (CHF) in cats is challenging. Point-of-care (POC) thoracic ultrasound and NT-proBNP testing are emerging tools that may aid in diagnosis.

Hypothesis/objectives: To assess the diagnostic accuracy of POC lung ultrasound (LUS), focused cardiac ultrasound (FCU), and NT-proBNP in predicting a final diagnosis of CHF.

Distribution of alveolar-interstitial syndrome in dogs and cats with respiratory distress as assessed by lung ultrasound versus thoracic radiographs.

Objective: To assess distribution of alveolar-interstitial syndrome (AIS) detected by lung ultrasound (LUS) compared to thoracic radiographs (TXR).

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: University teaching hospital.

Outcome of positive-pressure ventilation in dogs and cats with congestive heart failure: 16 cases (1992-2012).

Objective: To describe the indications, duration of ventilation, underlying cardiac diseases, and outcome of dogs and cats undergoing positive-pressure ventilation (PPV) for treatment of congestive heart failure (CHF).

Design: Two-site retrospective study (1992-2012).

Setting: Two university small animal teaching hospitals.

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.

Management of cardiac emergencies in small animals.

Cardiac emergencies are life-threatening conditions that must be diagnosed quickly to avoid delays in therapy. A timely and accurate diagnosis leads to early relief of symptoms and improved survival. This article provides both a comprehensive review and updated management recommendations for common cardiac emergencies in dogs and cats.

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.

Pacemaker malfunction due to mechanical failure of the lead-header interface.

An 8 year old female spayed Boxer dog, diagnosed with concurrent vasovagal syncope and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy, presented for routine evaluation approximately three months following epicardial pacemaker implantation. Routine device interrogation revealed intermittent loss of ventricular capture and intermittent failure to appropriately sense. Following evaluation of chronic impedance data, failure of the pacemaker lead-header interface or lead conductor fracture was suspected.