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An approximately 3 yr old female Chihuahua was presented for evaluation of polyuria and polydipsia noted by the owner after adoption. Serum biochemistry and urinalysis revealed hyponatremia, hypochloremia, hypo-osmolality, and normal fractional excretion of sodium. Serum antidiuretic hormone concentration was 5.54 pg/mL and serum copeptin concentration was 135.40 pg/mL. The antidiuretic hormone value was above the reported range for healthy dogs and was considered inappropriate in light of serum osmolality. Idiopathic syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion was considered the most likely diagnosis after excluding other potential causes, such as diuretic use, renal disease, adrenal disease, and thyroid dysfunction. The dog remains clinically well 2 yr after diagnosis without specific treatment other than minimal dietary salt supplementation. This case is unique because of the absence of systemic or neurologic signs, good long-term outcome without treatment, and use of novel diagnostic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Heart failure‐associated hypochloremia can be depletional from diuretics or dilutional from water retention. Serum osmolality reflects water balance but has not been evaluated in dogs with heart disease. Hypothesis: To determine if serum osmolality is related to heart disease stage and amount of mathematical correction of serum chloride (Cl−) concentrations in healthy dogs and dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD). Animals: Seventy‐seven dogs (20 healthy, 25 Stage B MMVD, 32 Stage C/D MMVD). Methods: Serum Cl− concentrations were mathematically corrected. Osmolality was calculated (calOsm) and directly measured by freezing point depression (dmOsm) and compared by Bland‐Altman analysis. Biochemical variables and osmolality were compared among healthy, Stage B, and Stage C/D dogs. Correlations were explored between osmolality and biochemical variables. Median and range are presented. P <.05 was considered significant. Results: The calOsm was different among groups (P =.003), with Stage B (310 mOsm/kg; 306, 316) and C/D dogs (312 mOsm/kg; 308, 319) having higher calOsm than healthy dogs (305 mOsm/kg; 302, 308). Osmolality methods were moderately correlated (P <.0001, rs =.46) but with proportional bias and poor agreement. The amount of Cl− correction was negatively correlated with calOsm (P <.0001, rs = −.78) and dmOsm (P =.004, rs = −.33). Serum bicarbonate concentration was negatively correlated with Cl− (P <.0001, rs = −.67). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Dogs with Stage B and Stage C/D heart disease had higher calOsm than healthy dogs. Osmolality was inversely related to the amount of Cl− correction, which supports its use in assessing relative body water content. Poor agreement between calOsm and dmOsm prevents methodological interchange. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Estrogen modulates the renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system (RAAS) in women, but sex differences have not been fully explored in dogs. Objective: We hypothesized that the RAAS profile of intact female (IF) Doberman Pinschers (DP) would differ from spayed female (SF) and intact male (IM) DP. Animals: Eighteen healthy DP (6 IF, 6 SF, 6 IM). Methods: Absolute and indexed RAAS metabolites, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) and ACE2 activities, and genotypes (pyruvate kinase dehydrogenase 4, titin, and ACE variants) were compared among sex groups using Kruskal‐Wallis or chi‐square tests, and linear regression controlling for age. Data are expressed as median (minimum, maximum) and P <.05 was considered significant. Results: The ACE activity was higher in IF DP (656 pmol/L; 436, 784) compared to SF DP (411 pmol/L; 287, 451; P =.01) and IM DP (365 pmol/L; 276, 1200; P =.04) after controlling for age. Angiotensin II, angiotensin I, and plasma renin activity marker (PRA‐S) were higher in IF DP compared to SF DP, but not significantly (P ≤.25). After controlling for age, angiotensin 1‐7/angiotensin I was lower in IF DP compared to SF DP (P =.01). Genotypes did not differ among groups. Most DP (94%) were ACE variant positive. Conclusions and Clinical Significance: Sex and reproductive status influenced the RAAS of DP, with IF DP showing genotype‐independent higher ACE activity. These findings hold implications for sterilization practices in female dogs, and support sex and reproductive status as a source of variability in RAAS studies. Additionally, the frequency of the ACE gene variant was very high in this group of DP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Kidney injury (KI) has been documented in dogs treated with furosemide for left‐sided congestive heart failure (CHF). Hypothesis/Objectives: Determine risk factors for development of KI in furosemide‐treated dogs and determine the effect of KI on survival. Animals: Seventy‐nine client‐owned dogs receiving parenteral furosemide for CHF. Methods: Serum creatinine (sCr) and electrolyte concentrations were determined during hospitalization and at first outpatient reevaluation to detect and stage KI (increase in sCr ≥0.3 mg/dL). Furosemide dosage administered between timepoints was calculated. Multivariable modeling was performed to identify predictors of KI and percent change in serum biochemistry results over time. Results: Kidney injury was identified in 38/79 (48%) dogs and mostly occurred during hospitalization. Kidney injury was Grade I in 25 dogs, Grade II in 9 dogs, and Grade III in 4 dogs. Higher blood pressure was associated with acute KI during hospitalization (odds ratio, 1.03; 95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.01‐1.07; P =.03) whereas PO furosemide dosage was associated with KI after hospital discharge (odds ratio, 7.77; 95% CI, 2.05‐68.6; P =.02). Baseline sCr and use of a furosemide continuous rate infusion were not associated with increased risk of KI. Kidney injury was not associated with long‐term outcome. Of 13 dogs with Grade II‐III KI, azotemia was reversible in 9 dogs, and 6 dogs survived >1 year after KI. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: In this cohort of dogs receiving parenteral furosemide for CHF, KI was common, mostly nonazotemic (Grade I), and did not impact survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To compare metabolomic profiles of dogs eating grain-free (GF) versus grain-inclusive (GI) diets (1) for healthy dogs at baseline and (2) for dogs with subclinical cardiac abnormalities at 12 months after a diet change. SAMPLE Serum samples from 23 dogs eating GF diets and 79 dogs eating GI diets, of which 17 (8 eating a GF diet and 9 eating a GI diet) were reevaluated 12 months after a diet change. PROCEDURES Metabolomic profiles were developed by means of ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectroscopy of serum samples. Baseline results for the GF group were compared with those for the GI group. Dogs from both groups with subclinical cardiac abnormalities were transitioned to a GI, pulse-free, intervention diet, and samples collected 12 months later were compared between diet groups. Statistical significance for biochemical group differences was defined as P < .05 with a false discovery rate (q) < .10. RESULTS Baseline differences in lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism were found between the GF and GI diet groups. There were 46 metabolites that were higher and 82 metabolites that were lower in the GF group (n = 23), compared with the GI group (79). Comparison of the GF (n = 8) and GI (9) groups 12 months after the diet change showed only 6 metabolites that were higher and 11 metabolites that were lower in the GF group, compared with the GI group. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Metabolomic pathway differences between dogs eating GF versus GI diets highlight the important effect of diet in metabolomics analyses. The clinical importance of these differences and how they might relate to cardiac disease in dogs remains undetermined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE To characterize the patterns associated with Lorenz plots (LPs) or Poincare plots derived from the Holter recordings of dogs with various cardiac rhythms. ANIMALS 77 dogs with 24-hour Holter recordings. PROCEDURES A I-hour period from the Holter recordings from each of 20 dogs without arrhythmias and from each of 57 dogs with arrhythmias (10 each with supraventricular premature complexes, complex supraventricular ectopy, ventricular premature complexes, complex ventricular ectopy, and atrial fibrillation, and 7 with high-grade second-degree atrioventricular block) were used to generate the LPs. Patterns depicted in the LPs were described. RESULTS Arrhythmia-free Holter recordings yielded LPs with a Y-shaped pattern and variable silent zones. Recordings with single premature complexes yielded LPs with double side and triple side lobes. Complex ectopy was denoted by dots clustered in the lower left corner of the LPs. The LPs of recordings with atrial fibrillation had fan patterns consistent with a nonlinear relationship between atrial electrical impulses and atrioventricular nodal conduction. The recordings with atrioventricular block yielded LPs with island patterns consistent with variable atrioventricular nodal conduction. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Distinct LP patterns were identified for common cardiac rhythms of dogs, supportive of nonrandom mechanisms as the cause of most rhythms. Visual interpretation of an LP generated from a Holter recording may aid in determining the arrhythmia type and understanding the arrhythmia's mechanism in dogs and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To determine ECG and echocardiographic measurements in healthy anesthetized Grevy's zebras (Equus grevyl). Animals--20 healthy zebras. Procedures--Auscultation, base-apex ECG, and echocardiography were performed on anesthetized zebras. Results--Low-grade systolic murmurs were detected in the left basilar region in 4 of 20 zebras. Evaluation of ECGs from 19 zebras revealed sinus rhythm with a predominantly negative QRS complex and a mean ± SD heart rate of 67 ± 10 beats/min. Echocardiograms of sufficient image quality were obtained for 16 zebras. Interventricular septal thickness in diastole, left ventricular chamber in diastole and systole, left atrial diameter, and left ventricular mass were significantly and moderately correlated with estimated body weight (r values ranged from 0.650 to 0.884). Detectable swirling of blood in the right and sometimes the left ventricles was detected in 9 of 16 zebras, whereas physiologic regurgitation of blood was detected for the aortic valve in 3 zebras, pulmonary valve in 2 zebras, mitral valve in 2 zebras, and tricuspid valve in 1 zebra. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Results of this study provide reference information for use in the cardiac evaluation of anesthetized Grevy's zebras. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses on the study of a 14-year-old cat with 2-month history of severe illness. The study focuses on the historical illness of the cat such as profound weakness, ataxia, head tremors and suspected seizures. Various investigation had been conducted which reveal major diseases such as peripheral neuromuscular disease and central nervous system disease. Furthermore, the interpretation on the findings of the study, together with the suggestive actions are discussed.

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. If available, radiographic data were evaluated, and a vertebral heart scale score was assigned for each dog. Statistical analysis was performed with Student t and Fisher exact tests. RESULTS Compared with Yorkshire Terriers, the prevalence of MMVD was significantly higher in Miniature Schnauzers and affected dogs were significantly younger at the time of diagnosis. Miniature Schnauzers were significantly more likely to have mitral valve prolapse and syncope, compared with Yorkshire Terriers. Yorkshire Terriers were significantly more likely to have coughing and have had previous or current treatment with cardiac medications, compared with Miniature Schnauzers. There was no statistical difference between breeds with regard to abnormally high vertebral heart scale scores or radiographic evidence of congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE With regard to MMVD, features of the disease among Miniature Schnauzers and Yorkshire Terriers were similar, but there were also a few discernable differences between these 2 breeds and from historical findings for dogs with MMVD of other breeds. Clinical signs at the time of diagnosis differed between the 2 breeds, which may have reflected concurrent breed-specific conditions (sick sinus syndrome or airway disease [eg, tracheal collapse]). Future work should include prospective studies to provide additional information regarding the natural progression of MMVD in these dog breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the association between diet and dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in dogs and explores what veterinarians can do to help identify underlying causes. It outlines the DCM in cats that was associated with taurine deficiency and could be reversed by providing supplemental taurine. The move of researchers in exploring whether diet-associated DCM in dogs without taurine deficiency may be related to inclusion of a cardiotoxic ingredient in the diet is tackled.