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Background: Echocardiographic reference intervals have not been reported for North American whippets, or for whippets that have undergone pet‐level athletic training. Objectives: To develop normal echocardiographic reference intervals for North American whippets and investigate differences in echocardiographic parameters based on athletic conditioning in pet whippets engaged in competitive sports. Animals: One‐hundred healthy North American whippets. Methods: Dogs were examined at national shows between 2005 and 2009. Echocardiographic reference intervals were constructed and the effect of athletic conditioning on parameters of structure and function was assessed. Results: Two dimensional, M‐mode, Doppler and tissue Doppler reference ranges for healthy North American whippets are presented. Measures of left ventricular (LV) chamber diameter were larger in conditioned whippets (N = 25) and remained significantly larger than in unconditioned whippets (N = 16) when normalized for weight using allometric equations. Calculated LV mass was higher in conditioned dogs than in unconditioned dogs, and this difference persisted when LV mass was normalized by weight. Mitral E velocity was higher in conditioned dogs than in unconditioned dogs, whereas E/A and measures related to systolic function were not different. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Pet whippets in peak athletic condition have larger hearts than do less conditioned whippets, but measures of systolic function are similar. Whippet pet athletes may show eccentric LV hypertrophy at peak condition. Normal values for cardiac size and function in North American whippets might be considered abnormal if population‐specific whippet reference intervals are not used in analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To investigate the usefulness of radiographic measures of the left atrium and ventricle as surrogates for echocardiographic criteria in identifying dogs with stage B2 preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). ANIMALS 56 client-owned dogs with preclinical mitral regurgitation attributed to MMVD examined between April 19, 2016, and November 22, 2017. PROCEDURES Medical records were retrospectively searched, and data collected included age, body weight, heart murmur grade, and echocardiographic and radio-graphic measurements. Dogs were grouped according to whether they did (case dogs) or did not (control dogs) meet echocardiographic criteria used to identify dogs with stage B2 MMVD. Measurements for lateral thoracic radiographic variables normalized to vertebral body units (VBUs) were obtained, and results were analyzed to identify variables that could best discriminate between case and control dogs. RESULTS Three radiographic variables of left atrial size (vertebral left atrial size [VLAS], left atrial width, and the combined variable of VLAS + left atrial width) most accurately distinguished control dogs from case dogs, and the VLAS was the simplest and fastest to perform in a clinical setting. The optimal cutoff for VLAS was 2.5 VBUs (sensitivity, 70%; specificity, 84%; and likelihood ratio, 4.38), with VLAS > 2.5 VBUs for case dogs. The maximum specificity cutoff for VLAS was 3.0 VBUs (sensitivity, 40%; specificity, 96%; and likelihood ratio, 10.0), with VLAS > 3.0 VBUs for case dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that when echocardiography is unavailable, radiographic VLAS > 3 VBUs could be used with minimal risk of false-positive diagnosis of stage B2 MMVD in dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective-To characterize ocular findings in hypertensive dogs, determine prevalence of hypertension in dogs with ocular disease suggestive of hypertension, and examine possible relationships between degree of hypertension and ocular disease. Design-Retrospective case series. Animals-65 dogs initially referred for blood pressure measurement (n = 22), ophthalmic examination (25), or both (18). Procedures-Medical records were reviewed to identify dogs examined at the teaching hospital that underwent a complete ophthalmic examination and blood pressure measurement within a 24-hour period between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2007. Signalment, history, blood pressure measurements, ophthalmic examination findings, and any Vasoactive drug treatments were recorded. Ocular lesions considered likely to be associated with systemic hypertension included retinal hemorrhage, retinal detachment, hyphema, tortuous vessels, and subretinal edema. Results-Of the 65 dogs, 42 were hypertensive (systolic blood pressure ⩽ 160 mm Hg) and 23 were normotensive. Sixty-two percent (26/42) of hypertensive dogs had ⩽ 1 type of ocular lesion identified. Retinal hemorrhage was the most common ocular lesion in hypertensive dogs (17/42 140%I).The presence of ⩽1 type of ocular lesion had moderate sensitivity and specificity of 62% and 61 %, respectively, for identification of hypertension. Fifteen of the 25 (60%) dogs referred for blood pressure measurement after initial ophthalmic examination were found to be hypertensive. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Ocular lesions are common in dogs with systemic hypertension. Dogs with hypertension or diseases associated with hypertension should be monitored carefully for evidence of ocular target organ damage, and hypertension should be systematically ruled out in dogs with characteristic ocular lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of positive allergen reactions in cats with small-airway disease (i.e. ‘feline asthma’, ‘feline allergic bronchitis’, ‘feline bronchial disease’). Intradermal skin tests (IDT) and serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) tests were performed in 10 cats with idiopathic small-airway disease and in 10 normal cats without a history of respiratory disease. None of the cats had a history of skin disease or clinical signs of skin disease at the time of testing. Significantly more individual positive allergen reactions were found on serum IgE tests than on IDT in both groups of cats. Affected cats had significantly more individual positive allergen reactions on both tests than unaffected cats. Both IDT and serum IgE tests resulted in more individual positive allergen reactions to weeds, trees, grasses, and/or moulds in affected cats than in normal cats. Significantly more positive allergen reactions to house dust mites were found in affected compared to non-affected cats by IDT but not by serum IgE testing. One unexpected obstacle to inclusion of more affected cats in the study was the concurrent presence or history of suspect or known allergic skin disease. Concurrent allergic skin disease has not been reported in association with small-airway disease in cats. The increased prevalence of individual positive allergen reactions in affected cats may be due to increased immunological reactivity in these cats. Further studies are needed to answer this question and to determine what role, if any, aeroallergens have in the pathogenesis of this complex feline disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SYSTEMIC hypertension occurs as a primary condition or a complication of several diseases in dogs, and complicates several disease conditions of cats. The ability to measure blood pressure accurately and repeatably, and to interpret blood pressure measurements in the light of other patient information, is integral to the recognition and evaluation of symptomatic or asymptomatic hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Alpha2-agonist anesthetic combinations are often used in rodent anesthesia but no information about their effects on cardiac function in chinchillas exists. The purpose of this study was to utilize echocardiography to evaluate the cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine–ketamine anesthesia in chinchillas. Echocardiographic examinations were performed in eight adult chinchillas under manual restraint and following dexmedetomidine (0.015 mg/kg) and ketamine (4 mg/kg) administration. Dexmedetomidine–ketamine anesthesia resulted in a significantly decreased heart rate, fractional shortening, cardiac output, and flow velocity across the aortic and pulmonic valves, and significantly increased left ventricular internal diameter in systole. The observed changes in echocardiographic parameters are similar to those previously reported in chinchillas anesthetized with isoflurane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Evaluation of pimobendan in dogs with cardiomegaly caused by preclinical myxomatous mitral valve disease (EPIC) study monitored dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) as they developed congestive heart failure (CHF). Objectives: To describe the changes in clinical and radiographic variables occurring as dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly develop CHF, compared to similar dogs that do not develop CHF. Animals One hundred and thirty‐five, and 73 dogs that did or did not develop CHF, respectively. Materials and methods: The following variables were evaluated in 2 groups of dogs (dogs that did or did not develop CHF): Heart rate (HR), clinic respiratory rate (RR), home‐measured resting respiratory rate (RRR), rectal temperature (RT), body weight (BW), and vertebral heart sum (VHS). Absolute value and rate of change of each variable were calculated for each day a dog was in study. Daily means were calculated and plotted against time. The onset of CHF or last visit before leaving the study were set as reference time points. Results: The most extreme values and rate of change occurred in variables immediately before onset of CHF. Vertebral heart sum increased earliest. Heart rate, RR, and RRR also increased. Rectal temperature and BW decreased. Increases in RR and RRR were most extreme and occurred immediately before CHF. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs with MMVD and cardiomegaly experience increases in HR, RR, RRR, and VHS, and decreases in BW and RT as they develop CHF. The variables with highest absolute change and rate of change were RR and RRR. These findings reinforce the value of RR and RRR as indicators of impending or incipient CHF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An update to the 2007 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) consensus statement on the identification, evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats was presented at the 2017 ACVIM Forum in National Harbor, MD. The updated consensus statement is presented here. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on appropriate diagnosis and treatment of hypertension in dogs and cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mitral valve degeneration (MVD) is the most common form of heart disease in dogs, frequently leading to left-sided congestive heart failure and cardiac mortality. Although breed-specific disease characteristics and overrepresentation point towards a genetic origin for MVD, a causative mutation and complete molecular pathogenesis are unknown. Whippet dogs are overrepresented in incidence of MVD, suggesting an inherited component in this breed. Expressivity of this condition is variable with some dogs showing evidence of more severe disease at earlier ages than other dogs. This phenomenon makes a traditional case versus control genetic study prone to phenotyping error. This study sought to avoid these common pitfalls by identifying genetic loci associated with severity of MVD in Whippets through a genome-wide association study (GWAS). 138 Whippet dogs were characterized for MVD by echocardiographic examination and a novel disease severity score was developed and adjusted for age in each subject. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype data (170k Illumina CanineHD SnpChip) was obtained for DNA isolated from blood of each study subject. Continuous variable genome wide association was performed after correction for population stratification by efficient mixed model association expedited (EMMAX) in 130 dogs. A genome wide significant association was identified on chromosome 15 (peak locus 57,770,326; Padj = 0.049) and secondary loci of suggestive association were identified on chromosome 2 (peak locus 37,628,875; Padj = 0.079). Positional candidate genes were identified within the primary and secondary loci including follistatin-related protein 5 precursor (FSTL5) and Rho GTPase-activating protein 26 (ARHGAP26). These results support the hypothesis that severity of MVD in whippets has a genetic basis and warrants further study by either candidate gene sequencing or next-generation techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It would also be relevant to know the number of cases accrued from each institution, as well as the average furosemide dosage, number of dogs receiving spironolactone or doubled ramipril dosage, and how these potential institutional differences were accounted for during data analysis. The manuscript entitled I Efficacy of adding ramipril (VAsotop) to the combination of furosemide (Lasix) and pimobendan (VEtmedin) in dogs with mitral valve degeneration: The VALVE trial i 1 reports a study which sought to answer the question "could pimobendan be all that is needed beyond loop diuretics to manage congestive heart failure (CHF) in myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD)?" This was done by prospectively comparing the efficacy of pimobendan + ramipril + furosemide (triple treatment) to pimobendan + furosemide (double treatment) to treat new-onset CHF caused by MMVD. [Extracted from the article]

The article focuses on use of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP). This was done to understand use of biomarkers in cardiac systems for veterinary patients. The article presents opinion of several investigators involved in NT-proBNP studies. The authors present their interpretation of the existing investigative data and address potential application of this technique in veterinary clinics by different veterinarians.

Objective-To determine whether plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations can be used to identify cardiac involvement in dogs with hemangiosarcoma, exclude cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs with noncardiac hemangiosarcoma, and identify cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs with pericardial eftusion. Design-Cohort study. Animals-57 dogs (18 with confirmed [5 dogs] or suspected [13] cardiac hemangiosarcoma, 14 with confirmed hemangiosarcoma involving sites other than the heart [noncardiac hemangiosarcoma], 10 with pericardial effusion not caused by hemangiosarcoma, and 15 with noncardiac nonhemangiosarcoma neoplasms). Procedures-Plasma cTnI concentration was measured, and thoracic radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and echocardiography were performed in each dog. The cTnI concentration was compared among groups. Results-Median plasma cTnI concentration in dogs with cardiac hemangiosarcoma was significantly higher than the concentration in each of the other groups. A plasma cTnI concentration > 0.25 ng/mL could be used to identify cardiac involvement in dogs with hemangiosarcoma at any site (sensitivity, 78%; specificity, 71 %). A plasma cTnI concentration > 0.25 ng/mL could be used to identify cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs with pericardial effusion (sensitivity, 81 %; specificity, 100%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The median plasma cTnI concentration was higher in dogs with cardiac hemangiosarcoma, compared with the median concentration in dogs with hemangiosarcoma at other sites, dogs with other neoplasms, and dogs with pericardial effusion not caused by hemangiosarcoma. The plasma cTnI concentration may be used to identify cardiac involvement in dogs with hemangiosarcoma and to identify cardiac hemangiosarcoma in dogs with pericardial effusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]