Fasting triglyceride concentrations are associated with markers of lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis in healthy, non-obese dogs in lean and overweight condition.

Serum triglyceride concentrations increase in dogs with obesity, which is typically assessed by body condition score (BCS), however little is known about changes that take place in non-obese dogs in overweight condition. Further, the associations of triglyceride levels with other markers of energy homeostasis are poorly characterised in healthy animals. The present study aimed to evaluate associations between both BCS and triglyceride concentrations with other markers of lipid and glucose metabolism in healthy, non-obese dogs, as well as to assess whether these markers change significantly in non-obese dogs with overweight as compared to their lean counterparts.

Epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, echocardiographic findings and outcome in client-owned guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) with cardiac disease: 80 cases (2010-2021).

Objective: To characterize epidemiological, clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic features of cardiac diseases in guinea pigs examined at a referral exotics center.

Animals: 80 guinea pigs.

Procedures: Medical records of guinea pigs that had echocardiography performed between June 2010 and January 2021 were reviewed.

Accuracy of the modified vertebral heart score and the cardio-vertebral ratio for radiographic evaluation of cardiomegaly in ferrets.

Thoracic radiography is commonly used to assess the size of the heart and diagnose cardiac disease in ferrets. Several standardized radiographic heart size indicators have been introduced in this species and values in healthy ferrets have been reported. To date, none of these indicators has been tested in ferrets with cardiac disease.

Genome wide association study of 40 clinical measurements in eight dog breeds.

The domestic dog represents an ideal model for identifying susceptibility genes, many of which are shared with humans. In this study, we investigated the genetic contribution to individual differences in 40 clinically important measurements by a genome-wide association study (GWAS) in a multinational cohort of 472 healthy dogs from eight breeds. Meta-analysis using the binary effects model after breed-specific GWAS, identified 13 genome-wide significant associations, three of them showed experimental-wide significant associations.

Clinical, epidemiological and echocardiographic features and prognostic factors in cats with restrictive cardiomyopathy: A retrospective study of 92 cases (2001-2015).

Background: Restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM) is a common primary cardiomyopathy of cats. However, little information is available regarding prognostic variables in large populations of cats with RCM.

Objectives: To characterize the epidemiological, clinical, and echocardiographic features of cats with RCM and to document their survival times and risk factors for cardiac death (CD).

Interbreed variation of biomarkers of lipid and glucose metabolism in dogs.

Background: Markers of lipid and glucose metabolism are used in both clinical practice and research. Detection of abnormal laboratory results often relies on species-specific reference intervals, but interbreed variation can also affect data interpretation.

Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to compare concentrations of selected biochemical variables among different dog breeds.

Specific features and survival of French bulldogs with congenital pulmonic stenosis: a prospective cohort study of 66 cases.

Introduction: The objectives of this study were to characterize the epidemiological, clinical, and echocardiographic features of French bulldogs (FBs) with congenital pulmonic stenosis and document their survival times and risk factors for cardiac death (CD).

Animals: This study included 66 FBs with congenital pulmonic stenosis.

Methods: Prospective cohort study including a survival analysis to assess time to CD.

Quantitative assessment of systolic and diastolic right ventricular function by echocardiography and speckle-tracking imaging: a prospective study in 104 dogs.

Our aim was (1) to determine the within-day and between-day variability of several indices of systolic and diastolic right ventricular (RV) function by using conventional echocardiography and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) (Study 1), (2) to quantify these variables in a large healthy canine population (n = 104) with Doppler-derived estimated systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (SPAP) and left ventricular (LV) function, and (3) to establish the corresponding reference intervals (Study 2). For both studies, RV variables included tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right fractional area change (RFAC), STE longitudinal systolic strain (StS) of the RV free wall (RVFW) and of the entire RV (., global RV StS), STE longitudinal systolic RVFW strain rate (SRS), and the diastolic early:late strain rate ratio.

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.

Surgical Treatment of Cor Triatriatum Sinister in a Cat Under Cardiopulmonary Bypass.

Objective: To report the surgical repair of cor triatriatum sinister (CTS) incorporating heart-beating cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) in a cat.

Study Design: Clinical case report.

Animal: Fourteen-month-old, 5.

PREVALENCE OF VALVULAR REGURGITATIONS IN CLINICALLY HEALTHY CAPTIVE LEOPARDS AND CHEETAHS: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY FROM THE WILDLIFE CARDIOLOGY (WLC) GROUP (2008-2013).

The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate transthoracic echocardiograms from clinically healthy large felids for the presence of valvular regurgitations (VR). Physiologic VR commonly occur in normal dogs and cats, but the percentage of large felids with VR has not been previously reported. During a 5-yr study period (2008-2013), 28 healthy animals were evaluated under general anesthesia: 16 cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringuii) with a mean age of 1.

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.

The Shepherds' Tale: A Genome-Wide Study across 9 Dog Breeds Implicates Two Loci in the Regulation of Fructosamine Serum Concentration in Belgian Shepherds.

Diabetes mellitus is a serious health problem in both dogs and humans. Certain dog breeds show high prevalence of the disease, whereas other breeds are at low risk. Fructosamine and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) are two major biomarkers of glycaemia, where serum concentrations reflect glucose turnover over the past few weeks to months.

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.

Influence of the observer's level of experience on systolic and diastolic arterial blood pressure measurements using Doppler ultrasonography in healthy conscious cats.

The objective of this study was to determine the influence of the observer's level of experience on within- and between-day variability, and the percentage of successful systolic (SAP) and diastolic arterial blood pressure (DAP) measurements obtained by Doppler ultrasonography (DU) in awake cats. For this purpose, six healthy conscious cats were used and four observers with different levels of training performed 144 SAP and DAP measurements on 4 days using DU. Measurements were recorded five consecutive times, and mean values were used for statistical analysis.

Prospective echocardiographic and tissue Doppler screening of a large Sphynx cat population: reference ranges, heart disease prevalence and genetic aspects.

Objectives: (1) To investigate heart morphology and function using echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI), (2) to determine heart disease prevalence and characteristics, and (3) to assess potential genetic features in a population of Sphynx cats presented for cardiovascular screening.

Animals: A total of 147 echocardiographic examinations, including 33 follow-ups, were performed by trained observers on 114 Sphynx cats of different ages (2.62 ± 1.

Bradykinin restores left ventricular function, sarcomeric protein phosphorylation, and e/nNOS levels in dogs with Duchenne muscular dystrophy cardiomyopathy.

Aims: Cardiomyopathy is a lethal result of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but its characteristics remain elusive. The golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) dogs produce DMD pathology and mirror DMD patient's symptoms, including cardiomyopathy. We previously showed that bradykinin slows the development of pacing-induced heart failure.

Relationship between paradoxical breathing and pleural diseases in dyspneic dogs and cats: 389 cases (2001-2009).

Objective: To determine the strength of the relationship between paradoxical breathing (PB) and spontaneous pleural diseases in dyspneic dogs and cats.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Animals: Dogs (n = 195) and cats (194) with a recorded diagnosis of dyspnea examined at the National Veterinary Schools of Alfort and Toulouse (France) between January 2001 and October 2009.

Vascular endothelial dysfunction in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is restored by bradykinin through upregulation of eNOS and nNOS.

Little is known about the vascular function and expression of endothelial and neuronal nitric oxide synthases (eNOS and nNOS) in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Bradykinin is involved in the regulation of eNOS expression induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. We characterized the vascular function and eNOS and nNOS expression in a canine model of DMD and evaluated the effects of chronic bradykinin treatment.

Identification of 2 loci associated with development of myxomatous mitral valve disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in dogs. It is characterized by chronic progressive degenerative lesions of the mitral valve. The valve leaflets become thickened and prolapse into the left atrium resulting in mitral regurgitation (MR).

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.

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).

Prevalence of the MYBPC3-A31P mutation in a large European feline population and association with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in the Maine Coon breed.

Objectives: The MYBPC3-A31P mutation has been identified in the USA in a colony of Maine Coon cats with an autosomal dominant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The objectives of this prospective study were: 1) to evaluate the prevalence of this mutation in a large feline population from Europe; 2) to compare these data with the prevalence of HCM in the Maine Coon breed.

Animals And Methods: 1) 3757 cats from different breeds including 2744 Maine Coon cats were screened for the mutation.

Comparison of Doppler ultrasonography and high-definition oscillometry for blood pressure measurements in healthy awake dogs.

Objective: To determine the intra- and interobserver variability of systolic arterial pressure (SAP) and diastolic arterial pressure (DAP) measurements obtained with 2 indirect methods in awake dogs and percentage of successful measurements.

Animals: 6 healthy conscious adult dogs.

Procedures: 4 observers with different levels of training measured SAP and DAP on 4 days by use of Doppler ultrasonography (DU) and high-definition oscillometry (HDO).