Anesthetic management and anesthesia-related complications in dogs with a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype: a retrospective study of 30 dogs (2010-2024).

Objective: To describe perioperative anesthetic management in canines with a dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) phenotype and to compare the frequency of general anesthesia-related complications with a control group of dogs without heart disease.

Animals: 30 dogs with DCM phenotype (cases) and 30 dogs without heart disease (controls).

Methods: Dogs presented to a teaching hospital between 2010 and 2024 that were diagnosed with a DCM phenotype via echocardiography were included in this study.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease in Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers.

Objective: To characterize myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) in Labrador Retrievers (LRs) and Golden Retrievers (GRs).

Methods: 52 LRs and 20 GRs diagnosed with MMVD composed a retrospective study sample (February 1, 2010, to July 31, 2021). Stored echocardiograms were remeasured.

Double Outlet Right Atrium in an American Domestic Shorthair Cat.

• DORA should be considered in cases with radiographic evidence of LA enlargement. • TTE can diagnose DORA. • Cats with DORA may remain undiagnosed until adulthood.

Transesophageal echocardiography using a microprobe for determination of transcatheter procedural candidacy, device selection, and procedural monitoring in small dogs with patent ductus arteriosus.

Introduction: Small dogs with patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) may be unable to undergo transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) with traditional probes.

Objectives: To report the utility of TEE using a microprobe in dogs weighing less than 4 kg diagnosed with PDA for determination of transcatheter procedural candidacy, device selection, and intraoperative procedural guidance.

Animals: Eight dogs weighing less than 4 kg diagnosed with PDA.

Pulmonary hypertension is associated with hypocoagulability in dogs: a retrospective analysis of 66 cases (2013-2021).

Objective: To describe coagulation profiles in dogs with echocardiographic evidence of pulmonary hypertension (PH), to compare them to coagulation profiles in dogs without echocardiographic evidence of PH, and to determine the relationship between coagulation profiles and echocardiographic probability of PH.

Animals: 66 dogs with PH (cases) and 86 dogs without PH (controls).

Methods: Retrospective evaluation of records between 2013 and 2021 of dogs that had both an echocardiogram and a coagulation panel performed within 7 days.

Echocardiographic values and prevalence of cardiac abnormalities in clinically healthy adult Borzoi dogs.

Objective: To develop breed-specific echocardiographic values for normal Borzoi and to report the prevalence of structural cardiac abnormalities.

Animals: 146 clinically healthy, adult Borzoi dogs.

Methods: Cardiac auscultation and standard echocardiograms were performed.

Use of physical examination, electrocardiography, radiography, and biomarkers to predict echocardiographic stage B2 myxomatous mitral valve disease in preclinical Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Introduction: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS) are predisposed to developing myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Dogs with stage B2 MMVD benefit from medication.

Objectives: To develop (1) breed-specific cut-offs for individual screening tests and (2) predictive models utilizing physical examination (PE), ECG, radiograph, and blood-based biomarker variables in combination for identification of echocardiographic stage B2 MMVD in preclinical CKCS.

Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis in dogs: a multicenter retrospective study.

Introduction: Pacemaker implantation is the treatment of choice for clinically relevant bradyarrhythmias. Pacemaker-lead-associated thrombosis (PLAT) occurs in 23.0-45.

Analytical validation, sample stability, and clinical evaluation of a new high-sensitivity cardiac troponin I immunoassay for use in dogs, with comparison to a previous ultrasensitive assay.

Cardiac troponin I (cTnI) is considered the gold standard biomarker for myocardial injury and shows a high degree of homology between humans and dogs. The ADVIA Centaur XP High-Sensitivity Troponin I (AC-cTnI-HS) assay has been validated for use in humans but not dogs. The study objectives were to analytically validate the AC-cTnI-HS assay in dogs, to assess correlation between the AC-cTnI-HS and a previous ADVIA Centaur TnI-Ultra (AC-cTnI-U) assay, to assess cTnI sample storage stability, and to clinically evaluate the AC-cTnI-HS assay in healthy dogs and dogs with cardiac disease.

Advanced imaging in an adult dog with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery and extensive collateral coronary circulation.

A three-year-old, spayed female, Bichon Frise was diagnosed with an anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery, a rare congenital coronary artery defect which has only been reported in two other dogs. Echocardiography was initially performed, though the final diagnosis was made with angiography and computed tomography angiography. An extensive network of collateral coronary circulation allowed for communication between the dilated, tortuous right coronary artery, and the anomalous left coronary artery.

A masked, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial evaluating safety and the effect on cardiac function of low-dose rapamycin in 17 healthy client-owned dogs.

Introduction: Geroscience studies of low-dose rapamycin in laboratory species have identified numerous benefits, including reversing age-related cardiac dysfunction. Cardiovascular benefits have been observed in dogs with 10 weeks of treatment, raising questions about possible benefits and adverse effects of long-term use of low-dose rapamycin. The objectives of this study were to assess the impact of 6 months of low-dose rapamycin on echocardiographic indices of cardiac function in healthy dogs and to document the occurrence of adverse events.

Resolution of congestive heart failure and reverse remodeling in two Chihuahuas with flail mitral valve leaflets.

Development of a flail mitral valve (MV) leaflet secondary to ruptured chordae tendineae in the setting of myxomatous mitral valve disease is a known complication of the disease that often results in severe mitral regurgitation. Two cases are presented in which a flail anterior MV leaflet caused severe mitral regurgitation and led to the development of congestive heart failure in male castrated Chihuahuas. Over variable periods of time, repeat cardiac evaluation disclosed reverse left-sided cardiac remodeling and lessened mitral regurgitation that allowed for withdrawal of furosemide in both dogs.

A multicenter, retrospective study of cardiac disease in Borzoi dogs.

Borzoi are large, relatively uncommon sighthounds anecdotally reported to suffer from sudden death. This multicenter retrospective cohort study aimed to describe the sample of Borzoi presenting to veterinary cardiologists for evaluation, with records searched from 14 centers across a study period of up to 20 years. The study sample was comprised of 152 client-owned Borzoi, with dogs most commonly presenting for pre-breed screening in 87/152 (52%), followed by evaluation of an arrhythmia in 28/152 (18%).

Whole blood and plasma taurine reference intervals in adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and correlations between taurine concentration, diet and mitral valve disease.

Objective: To determine breed-specific reference intervals for whole blood (WB) and plasma taurine concentrations in adult, overtly healthy Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) and determine whether taurine concentrations differ across preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) stages or between CKCSs eating diets that meet World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) nutritional guidelines versus other diets.

Animals: 200 privately owned CKCSs.

Procedures: Clinically healthy adult CKCSs were recruited prospectively.

Echocardiographic measurement of the mitral valve in normal Cavalier King Charles spaniels: repeatability, optimal future study methods, and preliminary reference intervals.

Introduction/objectives: Cavalier King Charles spaniels (CKCS) are ideal candidates for longitudinal study of myxomatous mitral valve (MV) disease and stage B1 clinical trials; however, the optimization of MV measurement acquisition and repeatability must be better defined to realize this potential. Additionally, breed-specific reference ranges for CKCS MV measurements are lacking. Study objectives were to assess measurement repeatability and define optimal methods for the longitudinal study of echocardiographic MV anatomy and to define preliminary, two-dimensional echocardiographic reference ranges for MV measurements in CKCS.

Effects of recording device, body position, electrode placement, and sedation on electrocardiogram intervals in dogs.

Selected electrocardiograph (ECG) intervals may be useful when incorporated into prediction models for cardiac risk assessment in dogs. Standard recommendations for ECG acquisition may not be adhered to in practice. Study objectives were to compare duration of P, PR, QRS, QT, and R wave peak time intervals in: (1) lead II ECGs vs.

Feasibility and clinical utility of transvenous intracardiac echocardiography in conscious, sedated horses.

Introduction/objectives: Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) is a method of obtaining echocardiographic images with a steerable ultrasound catheter placed within the heart via a venous or arterial approach. The objectives of this study were to assess the feasibility of a 5-10 MHz, 8 French, 90 cm ICE catheter to evaluate cardiac structures and function in standing, sedated horses, and describe standard views in this species.

Animals: Ten apparently healthy horses weighing 458.

Asymptomatic Canine Degenerative Valve Disease: Diagnosis and Current and Future Therapies.

Degenerative valve disease (DVD) is the leading cause of heart disease and heart failure in the dog. The first consensus statement published in 2009 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine was updated in 2019 and provides guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of DVD. These updated guidelines recommend treatment with pimobendan in stage B2 DVD characterized by sufficient left heart enlargement.

Pancarditis as the sole clinical manifestation of protothecosis in a Boxer dog.

A 4.2-year-old, male castrated Boxer was diagnosed with a dilated cardiomyopathy phenotype, complex arrhythmias and left-sided congestive heart failure, but died suddenly shortly after initial diagnostics were complete. Ultrasensitive cardiac troponin I was markedly elevated (9.

Prospective evaluation of the combined value of physical examination and biomarker variables in screening for preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers.

Introduction: Screening to assess likelihood of preclinical dilated cardiomyopathy (PC-DCM) prior to advanced diagnostic tests in Doberman Pinschers (DP) is desirable.

Objective: To investigate the combined value of physical examination (PE), N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (NTproBNP) and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) for identifying PC-DCM in DP.

Animals, Materials And Methods: All dogs underwent: PE, echocardiogram, 3-min ECG and cardiac biomarker measurement.

Pre-procedural femoral vessel ultrasound in dogs with patent ductus arteriosus: diameter, image quality and relationship with arterial catheterization.

Introduction: Objectives: Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in dogs is often treated via minimally invasive transvascular occlusion using femoral artery access. This study compared ultrasound-derived diameter and image quality of the right femoral artery (RFA) and vein (RFV) in dogs with PDA using a linear ultrasound probe (L-P) and phased-array transthoracic echocardiography probe (TTE-P). The case outcome was assessed.

Prediction of clinically important acquired cardiac disease without an echocardiogram in large breed dogs using a combination of clinical, radiographic and electrocardiographic variables.

Introduction: Large breed (LB) dogs develop dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Echocardiography is required for a definitive diagnosis but is not always available. Our objective was to assess the clinical utility of thoracic radiographs alone and in combination with physical examination and electrocardiography findings for the prediction of clinically important DCM or MMVD in LB dogs.

Intracardiac heartworms in dogs: Clinical and echocardiographic characteristics in 72 cases (2010-2019).

Background: Heartworms, a cause of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in dogs, can migrate from the pulmonary arteries into the heart resulting in life-threatening caval syndrome (CS).

Objectives: To describe clinical and echocardiographic characteristics in dogs with intracardiac heartworms including estimated heartworm burden and frequency of PH and pigmenturia.

Animals: Seventy-two client-owned dogs with heartworms.

Correlations between age, body size, sex, and conformation and ultrasound-measured femoral vessel diameter in the dog, with implications for transvascular procedural planning.

Transvascular interventional radiology procedures have advanced in veterinary medicine, but basic knowledge about expected vascular size and vascular imaging requires further exploration. A prospective analytical study of 230 client-owned dogs was carried out to investigate correlations between ultrasound-measured femoral artery (FA) and femoral vein (FV) diameter and various morphometric and demographic dog variables, compare ultrasound-measured femoral vessel diameter to diameter predicted by body weight, compare right- and left-sided femoral vessel diameter, and assess measurement repeatability. Internal diameter of the FA and FV was measured with ultrasound bilaterally.