Echocardiographic evaluation of the size of the main pulmonary artery and right pulmonary artery in dogs with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Evaluating the size of the pulmonary artery (PA) is key for the echocardiographic assessment of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs.

Hypothesis/objectives: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of the main PA (MPA) and right PA (RPA) sizes for the echocardiographic detection of PH in dogs, and to evaluate differences between precapillary and postcapillary PH dogs.

Animals: Four hundred four dogs; 136 controls and 268 with PH.

Development and validation of animal variant classification guidelines to objectively evaluate genetic variant pathogenicity in domestic animals.

Assessing the pathogenicity of a disease-associated genetic variant in animals accurately is vital, both on a population and individual scale. At the population level, breeding decisions based on invalid DNA tests can lead to the incorrect inclusion or exclusion of animals and compromise the long-term health of a population, and at the level of the individual animal, lead to incorrect treatment and even life-ending decisions. Criteria to determine pathogenicity are not standardized, i.

Clinical evaluation of a digital stethoscope with simultaneous phonocardiography and electrocardiography in cats.

A smartphone-based technology combining a digital stethoscope (DS) with simultaneous phonocardiography (PCG) and 1-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) is available. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the DS for the detection of heart disease in cats considering transthoracic echocardiography as gold standard. The study is prospective and observational inlcuding 42 client-owned cats.

A new smartphone-based digital stethoscope featuring phonocardiography and electrocardiography in adult horses.

Smartphone-based technology is increasingly used in veterinary medicine as a complementary tool for cardiac auscultation and ECG recording. This prospective observational study evaluates a digital stethoscope (DS) that consists of simultaneous phonocardiographic and one-lead ECG recording (dECG) in adult horses, comparing it with auscultation using a conventional stethoscope (CS) and reference base-apex ECG (rECG). A total of 104 horses underwent cardiac auscultation using CSs and DSs to detect arrhythmias and murmurs.

The vertebral right heart index: A new radiographic method to assess right heart enlargement in dogs.

In veterinary medicine, the radiographic assessment of right heart enlargement (RHE) is essentially subjective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the vertebral right heart index (VRHi) as a new quantitative radiographic method to detect RHE in dogs. This was a multicenter, retrospective, observational study, including dogs with RHE and control dogs.

Automated echocardiographic left ventricular dimension assessment in dogs using artificial intelligence: Development and validation.

Background: Artificial intelligence (AI) could improve accuracy and reproducibility of echocardiographic measurements in dogs.

Hypothesis: A neural network can be trained to measure echocardiographic left ventricular (LV) linear dimensions in dogs.

Animals: Training dataset: 1398 frames from 461 canine echocardiograms from a single specialist center.

Smartphone-based six-lead ECG: A new device for electrocardiographic recording in dogs.

Smartphone-based technology for electrocardiographic recording is now part of the new concept of mobile health in both human and veterinary medicine. Although smartphone-based ECG for electrocardiographic screening in dogs is reliable, one-lead ECG devices have mainly been evaluated. This prospective study assessed the feasibility and the diagnostic reliability of a new smartphone-based six-lead electrocardiograph (smECG) in dogs, in comparison to a standard six-lead electrocardiograph (stECG).

Evaluation of a smartphone electrocardiograph in healthy foals and comparison to standard base-apex electrocardiography.

Smartphone-based technology for ECG recording has recently spread as a complementary tool for electrocardiographic screening and monitoring in adult horses and in other animal species. The present study aimed to assess the feasibility and accuracy of a smartphone-based ECG in healthy foals. This was a prospective observational study (authorization n.

Echocardiographic reference intervals of the dimensions of the main pulmonary artery and the right pulmonary artery: a prospective study in 269 healthy dogs.

Introduction: No data are available on the echocardiographic reference intervals (RIs) for the main pulmonary artery (MPA) and right pulmonary artery (RPA) dimensions in a large sample of dogs. Therefore, we aimed to describe the echocardiographic RIs of the MPA and RPA dimensions in normal dogs.

Animals, Materials, And Methods: Two hundred and sixty nine healthy dogs of different breeds, age and body weight (BW) were prospectively enrolled in this multicenter, observational study.

Evaluation of a new smartphone-based digital stethoscope featuring phonocardiography and electrocardiography in dogs and cats.

This study assessed a new smartphone-based digital stethoscope (DS) featuring simultaneous phonocardiographic and one-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recording in dogs and cats. The audio files and ECG traces obtained by the device were compared with conventional auscultation and standard ECG. A total of 99 dogs and nine cats were prospectively included.

Right heart echocardiographic variables and prediction of clinical severity in dogs with pulmonary stenosis.

Background: Pulmonary stenosis (PS) usually is evaluated using echocardiography. A multiparametric approach, in addition to the maximum pressure gradient (PG), might be indicated to better characterize PS severity and address its management.

Hypothesis/objectives: Our hypothesis was that right heart size and function are associated with echocardiographic and clinical severity of pulmonary stenosis in dogs.

Prognostic relevance of left cardiac enlargement in dogs with preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease.

Introduction: According to the most recent consensus guidelines on canine myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), dogs with only left atrial enlargement (LAE) or left ventricular enlargement are classified as stage B1. The concomitant presence of LAE and left ventricular enlargement is needed to be classified as stage B2. The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the prognosis in stage B1 and stage B2 according to the revised definition.

Equine echocardiography: Can dobutamine infusion correct alterations due to sedation with alpha-2 agonists?

For the echocardiographic examination horses should not be sedated unless absolutely necessary because this alters cardiac dimensions and indices of function. However, some horses do not tolerate the echocardiographic procedure and require sedation to conduct the examination safely and obtain good quality images. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the concurrent infusion of dobutamine in horses sedated with romifidine counteracts the cardiovascular changes observed with sedation alone.

Right ventricular size and function evaluated by various echocardiographic indices in dogs with pulmonary hypertension.

Background: Three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography and 2-dimensional (2D) strain measurements of the right ventricle (RV) are important indices in humans with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and need further evaluation in dogs with PH.

Objectives: To evaluate various RV size and function indices in dogs with PH and to examine differences between pre- and postcapillary PH.

Animals: A total of 311 client-owned dogs: 100 dogs with PH, 31 with postcapillary and 69 with precapillary PH, and 211 healthy control dogs.

Transjugular Patent Ductus Arteriosus Occlusion in Seven Dogs Using the Amplatzer Vascular Plug II.

Although vascular plugs for the closure of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) have been validated in dogs, studies are lacking on its use as a first-choice device with a transjugular approach. The present case series describes the transvenous right jugular embolization of PDA using an Amplatzer Vascular Plug II in seven dogs of different ages, breeds, and body weights. Complete closure of the PDA was demonstrated in all cases.

Percutaneous Balloon Dilation in Two Dogs with Cor Triatriatum Dexter.

Percutaneous balloon dilation was performed in a Rhodesian Ridgeback and in an American Staffordshire Terrier affected by cor triatriatum dexter (CTD). Both cases had ascites without jugular venous distension or pleural effusion. In both dogs the CTD presented a perforated membrane but with different morphology: in one case the coronary sinus entered the caudal chamber of the CTD together with the caudal vena cava.

Evaluation of a Novel Precordial Lead System for the Electrocardiographic Diagnosis of Right Ventricular Enlargement in Dogs.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the reliability of precordial leads for the detection of right ventricular enlargement (RVE) in dogs. This was a prospective observational study. The RVE was defined by echocardiography.

Abnormalities of External Jugular Veins in Bulldogs with Pulmonary Valve Stenosis.

Two French bulldogs and one English bulldog affected by pulmonary valve stenosis and referred for pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty were diagnosed with different abnormalities of the external jugular veins. The diagnosis included unilateral absence of the right external jugular vein and bilateral hypoplasia of the external jugular veins, associated with persistent left cranial vena cava. Vascular ultrasound and computed tomography were used for the diagnosis.

Clinical and Electrocardiographic Findings for Predicting the Severity of Pulmonary Valve Stenosis in Dogs.

Pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) in dogs is usually suspected due to the presence of a heart murmur and clinical signs. Echocardiography is needed to confirm the diagnosis and define the severity of PS. This retrospective study evaluated the utility of clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) findings in the prediction of PS severity.

Fatal acute lung injury after balloon valvuloplasty in a dog with pulmonary stenosis.

A one-year-old French Bulldog was referred for the management of a severe form of pulmonary valve stenosis (PS) complicated by right-sided congestive heart failure. Echocardiography showed severe valvular PS with right ventricular concentric hypertrophy, dilatation and severe right atrial enlargement. A pulmonary balloon valvuloplasty (PBV) was performed with a balloon-to-pulmonary annulus ratio of 1.

Echocardiographic reference intervals for right ventricular indices, including 3-dimensional volume and 2-dimensional strain measurements in healthy dogs.

Background: There is currently a lack of reference intervals (RIs) for the novel measures like 3-dimensional (3D) echocardiography or speckle-tracking strain for assessment of right ventricular (RV) structure and function.

Objectives: To generate RIs and to determine the influence of age, heart rate, and body weight (BW) on various RV function indices using a dedicated RV software for 3D RV end-diastolic volume (EDV), end-systolic volume (ESV), ejection fraction (EF), global and free wall RV longitudinal strain (RVLS), end-diastolic area (RVEDA), end-systolic area (RVESA), fractional area change (FAC), tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), and tissue Doppler imaging (TVI)-derived systolic myocardial velocity of the lateral tricuspid annulus (S').

Animals: Healthy adult client-owned dogs (n = 211) of various breeds and ages.

Breath-by-breath analysis of respiratory sinus arrhythmia in dogs.

Dogs differ greatly in size, heart (HR) and breathing rates (BR). In addition, they have a clear Respiratory Sinus Arrhythmia (RSA) at rest. Therefore, better than any other mammalian species, dogs offer an opportunity to test whether resting RSA varies with body weight, HR or BR.

Evaluation of a new portable 1-lead digital cardiac monitor (eKuore) compared with standard base-apex electrocardiography in healthy horses.

Recently, the use of smartphone ECG devices has been reported in humans and animals. Nevertheless, as the electrodes of these devices are inseparable, they can create only a precordial reading in veterinary species. Thus, although the smartphone ECG devices are considered valuable as a screening tool for the detection of some common arrhythmias, they are not always a reliable method for the measurement of the duration of the electrical deflections.

Echocardiographic parameters in 50 healthy English bulldogs: preliminary reference intervals.

Introduction/objectives: The objective of the study was to provide echocardiographic reference intervals for English bulldogs (EBs) and to assess if age, sex, body weight (BW), and heart rate have an influence on echocardiographic variables.

Animals: We prospectively enrolled client-owned EBs that were considered healthy based on unremarkable history, normal physical examination, six-lead electrocardiography, and transthoracic echocardiography.

Materials And Methods: Breed-related reference intervals were provided, and associations between age, sex, BW, and heart rate and echocardiographic variables were tested using a multivariate analysis.