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In this retrospective study, features of 47 cattle suffering from heart disease (HD) without clinical signs of heart failure (HF) were reviewed. The most common reasons for referral were respiratory problems (n =14), anorexia (n = 13), fever (n = 10), and lameness (n = 9). Thirty-nine animals were tachypneic. In 31 cases, cardiac auscultation revealed abnormalities. The final diagnoses were bacterial endocarditis (BE; n = 19), congenital heart disease (CHD; n = 18), pericarditis (n = 8), cardiomyopathy (n = 1), and lymphoma (n = 1). Echocardiography was performed in 39 cases. Gross pathology examination confirmed the echocardiographic diagnosis in 4 of 5 cases of pericarditis, 6 of 6 cases of BE, and 4 of 6 cases of CHD. Short-term prognosis was guarded with 19 cases (40.4%) being discharged. Premature death within 2 mo after discharge (n = 5), early culling because of poor breeding performance (n = 5), and normal productive life in the herd (n = 5) were observed in the cases that were followed. Echocardiography may be the most sensitive tool for the antemortem diagnosis of heart disease in cattle.

This retrospective study identified clinical signs, underlying cardiac conditions, blood findings, echocardiographic findings, and prognosis for 59 cattle with clinical signs of congestive heart failure. Signalment; history; clinical signs; clinicopathologic, echocardiographic, and radiographic findings; and treatment were determined by reviewing medical records. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone conversation with owners. Most patients were tachycardic (n = 50), and tachypneic (n = 55). Pericarditis of traumatic origin (n = 21), by extension from pleuritis (n = 3), or of idiopathic origin (n = 1) was diagnosed in 25 cases. Other diagnoses were congenital heart defect (n = 13), cardiomyopathy (n = 9), bacterial endocarditis (n = 7), and neoplasm (n = 5). Twelve cases (20%) were discharged. Long-term survival was good in 2 out of 3 cases treated by pericardiostomy. The prognosis is poor in cases of heart failure in cattle and deaths within 1 mo (n = 3) or between 1 to 3 mo after discharge (n = 3) were common in cases for which follow-up was available (n = 8).

Clinical and complementary examination, pathological findings, and outcome were reviewed for 25 heifers diagnosed with ventricular septal defect (VSD). Age at presentation ranged from 36 h to 21 mo. The most common reasons for consultation were chronic respiratory problems (11 cases; 44%) or assessment of heart murmur (5 cases; 20%). A pansystolic murmur on the right thoracic side was audible in 20 cases (80%). Pneumonia that interfered with adequate cardiac auscultation was found in 15 calves (60%). Echocardiography was useful in establishing the final diagnosis of VSD (sensitivity of 94%). Prognosis was poor: only 10 calves were discharged and no heifer out of the 6 cases for which follow-up information was available had a productive life in the herd. Inadequate reproductive performance was owners' most common complaint (4 of 6 heifers).

Three dogs from different locations with acute renal failure were hospitalized in autumn 1996 and 1997. Leptospira interrogans serovar pomona was detected by the microscopic agglutination test. All dogs recovered after antibiotic treatment. The importance of the development of vaccines adapted to emerging serovars in dogs should be addressed.

The author reviews the pharmacological properties of digitalis glycosides and their clinical use in the control of congestive heart failure in the dog and cat. Methods of digitalization, dosage for each drug, toxic effects and drug interactions are described.

Pericardial effusion and congestive heart failure occurred in a ten-year-old male Bouvier des Flandres dog. Signs included weakness, exercise intolerance and ascites. Echocardiography identified a heart base mass as a possible cause of the pericardial effusion. A large quantity (650 mL) of bloody fluid was removed by pericardiocentesis and was characterized at cytology as a nonseptic sanguineous exudate. There was no cytological evidence of neoplasia in the effusate. Pericardiocentesis caused dramatic clinical improvement and resolution of the signs of congestive heart failure. Surgical excision was attempted but the mass could not be resected since it invaded the entire dorsal wall of the right atrium as well as part of the aortic root. The cellular origin of the heartbase tumor could not be determined.

This case report describes the torsion of two lung lobes in a dog. The animal was first presented for a torsion of the right middle lung lobe. Following the surgical resection of that lobe, the dog suffered another torsion of the left cranial lung lobe (cranial and caudal segments).