Evaluation of the cardiac actin gene in Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the coding region of the cardiac actin gene in Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) for mutations that could be responsible for the development of the condition ANIMALS: 28 dogs (16 Doberman Pinschers with DCM and 12 mixed-breed control dogs). PROCEDURE: Ten milliliters of blood was collected from each dog for DNA extraction. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were designed to amplify canine exonic regions, using the sequences of exons 2 to 6 of the cardiac actin gene. Single-stranded conformational polymorphism analysis was performed for each exon with all samples. Autoradiographs were analyzed for banding patterns specific to affected dogs. The DNA sequencing was performed on a selected group of affected and control dogs. RESULTS: Molecular analysis of exons 2 to 6 of the cardiac actin gene did not reveal any differences in base pairs between affected dogs and control dogs selected for DNA evaluation. CONCLUSIONS: Mutations in exons 5 and 6 of the cardiac actin gene that have been reported in humans with familial DCM do not appear to be the cause of familial DCM in Doberman Pinschers. Additionally, evaluation of exons 2 to 6 for causative mutations did not reveal a cause for inherited DCM in these Doberman Pinschers. Although there is evidence that DCM in Doberman Pinschers is an inherited problem, a molecular basis for this condition remains unresolved. Evaluation of other genes coding for cytoskeletal proteins is warranted.     

Effect of pimobendan on case fatality rate in Doberman Pinschers with congestive heart failure caused by dilated cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND: Despite traditional therapy of a diuretic, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, digoxin, or a combination of these drugs, survival of dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is low. Pimobendan, an inodilator, has both inotropic and balanced peripheral vasodilatory properties. HYPOTHESIS: Pimobendan when added to conventional therapy will improve morbidity and reduce case fatality rate in Doberman Pinschers with congestive heart failure (CHF) caused by DCM. ANIMALS: Sixteen Doberman Pinschers in CHF caused by DCM. METHODS: A prospective randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study with treatment failure as the primary and quality of life (QoL) indices as secondary outcome variables. Therapy consisted of furosemide (per os [PO] as required) and benazepril hydrochloride (0.5 mg/kg PO q12h) and dogs were randomized in pairs and by sex to receive pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg PO q12h) or placebo (1 tablet PO q12h). RESULTS: Pimobendan-treated dogs had a significant improvement in time to treatment failure (pimobendan median, 130.5 days; placebo median, 14 days; P= .002; risk ratio = 0.35, P= .003, lower 5% confidence limit = 0.13, upper 95% confidence limit = 0.71). Number and rate of dogs reaching treatment failure in the placebo group precluded the analysis of QoL. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Pimobendan should be used as a first-line therapeutic in Doberman Pinschers for the treatment of CHF caused by DCM.     

Heart rate variability in Doberman Pinschers with and without echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the salient variables of the time-domain analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in clinically normal Doberman Pinschers and to compare those variables with those of Doberman Pinschers with cardiomyopathy and mild to moderate myocardial failure. ANIMALS: 46 Doberman Pinschers. PROCEDURE: HRV was analyzed in the time-domain from 24-hour Holter recordings obtained from 28 Doberman Pinschers with normal echocardiograms and 18 Doberman Pinschers with echocardiograms consistent with mild to moderate myocardial failure. RESULTS: Significant differences in HRV variables between the 2 groups of dogs were not detected. The HRV was greater during the nighttime (12 AM to 6 AM), compared with the 24-hour day and an 18-hour (6 AM to 12 AM) period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: HRV of dogs with mild to moderate myocardial failure was not different from that of clinically normal dogs, because there were no disturbances of autonomic balance, baroreceptor function, and other factors that influence HRV in the dogs with cardiomyopathy, or the sensitivity of time-domain analysis was overwhelmed by normal sinus arrhythmia. The techniques now used to study HRV have important limitations, especially in dogs, and better noninvasive tests of autonomic function are needed.     

Results of ambulatory electrocardiography in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with echocardiographic abnormalities

OBJECTIVE: To identify, by means of 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography, electrocardiographic abnormalities in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers in which results of echocardiography were abnormal. DESIGN: Clinical case series. ANIMALS: 56 (35 male, 21 female) overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with echocardiographic evidence of cardiomyopathy on initial examination that subsequently died of cardiomyopathy. PROCEDURE: Twenty-four-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) recordings obtained at the time of initial examination were reviewed. For all dogs, scan quality was > 90%. RESULTS: Initial Holter recordings of all 56 dogs contained ventricular premature contractions (VPC). Thirty-six (65%) dogs had > 1,000 VPC/24 h, 17 (31%) had > 5,000 VPC/24 h, and 11 (19%) had > 10,000 VPC/24 h. Fifty-four (96%) dogs had couplets of VPC, 37 (66%) had triplets of VPC, and 36 (64%) had episodes of nonsustained (< 30 seconds) ventricular tachycardia. Number of VPC/24 h during the initial Holter recordings was positively correlated with numbers of couplets and triplets of VPC and number of ventricular escape beats and negatively correlated with left ventricular fractional shortening. Twenty-eight dogs died suddenly prior to the putative onset of congestive heart failure. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that along with echocardiography, 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography can be used to help identify overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with cardiomyopathy.     

Epidemiologic survey of thrombocytopenia in dogs: a report on 987 cases

Thrombocytopenia was documented in 987 of 18,910 (5.2%) dogs admitted to North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, between 1983 and 1989. Classifying thrombocytopenic dogs by etiologic groups revealed the following proportionate ratios: 5% (48/987) immune-mediated thrombocytopenia; 13% (130/987) neoplasia-associated thrombocytopenia; 23% (224/987) inflammatory/infectious thrombocytopenia; and 59% (585/987) miscellaneous thrombocytopenia. Dogs with immune-mediated thrombocytopenia had significantly (P < 0.05) lower platelet counts (mean 36,760 +/- 50,288 microliter) than dogs in the other three groups, and Doberman Pinschers were overrepresented in all groups except the immune-mediated thrombocytopenic group. We conclude that thrombocytopenia is a prevalent and potentially important diagnostic finding in a variety of disease states.     

Morphologic and morphometric magnetic resonance imaging features of Doberman Pinschers with and without clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy

OBJECTIVE: To compare morphologic and morphometric features of the cervical vertebral column and spinal cord of Doberman Pinschers with and without clinical signs of cervical spondylomyelopathy (CSM; wobbler syndrome) detected via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ANIMALS: 16 clinically normal and 16 CSM-affected Doberman Pinschers. PROCEDURES: For each dog, MRI of the cervical vertebral column (in neutral and traction positions) was performed. Morphologically, MRI abnormalities were classified according to a spinal cord compression scale. Foraminal stenosis and intervertebral disk degeneration and protrusion were also recorded. Morphometric measurements of the vertebral canal and spinal cord were obtained in sagittal and transverse MRI planes. RESULTS: 4 of 16 clinically normal and 15 of 16 CSM-affected dogs had spinal cord compression. Twelve clinically normal and all CSM-affected dogs had disk degeneration. Foraminal stenosis was detected in 11 clinically normal and 14 CSM-affected dogs. Vertebral canal and spinal cord areas were consistently smaller in CSM-affected dogs, compared with clinically normal dogs. In neutral and traction positions, the intervertebral disks of CSM-affected dogs were wider than those of clinically normal dogs but the amount of disk distraction was similar between groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The incidence of intervertebral disk degeneration and foraminal stenosis in clinically normal Doberman Pinschers was high; cervical spinal cord compression may be present without concurrent clinical signs. A combination of static factors (ie, a relatively stenotic vertebral canal and wider intervertebral disks) distinguished CSM-affected dogs from clinically normal dogs and appears to be a key feature in the pathogenesis of CSM.     

Molecular evaluation of five cardiac genes in Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To sequence the exonic and splice site regions of 5 cardiac genes associated with the human form of familial dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Doberman Pinschers with DCM and to identify a causative mutation. ANIMALS: 5 unrelated Doberman Pinschers with DCM and 2 unaffected Labrador Retrievers (control dogs). PROCEDURES: Exonic and splice site regions of the 5 genes encoding the cardiac proteins troponin C, lamin A/C, cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 3, cardiac troponin T, and the beta-myosin heavy chain were sequenced. Sequences were compared for nucleotide changes between affected dogs and the published canine sequences and 2 control dogs. Base pair changes were considered to be causative for DCM if they were present in an affected dog but not in the control dogs or published sequences and if they involved a conserved amino acid and changed that amino acid to a different polarity, acid-base status, or structure. RESULTS: A causative mutation for DCM in Doberman Pinschers was not identified, although single nucleotide polymorphisms were detected in some dogs in the cysteine- and glycine-rich protein 3, beta-myosin heavy chain, and troponin T genes. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mutations in 5 of the cardiac genes associated with the development of DCM in humans did not appear to be causative for DCM in Doberman Pinschers. Continued evaluation of additional candidate genes or a focused approach with an association analysis is warranted to elucidate the molecular cause of this important cardiac disease in Doberman Pinschers.     

Plasma fatty acid concentrations in Boxers and Doberman Pinschers

OBJECTIVE: To compare plasma fatty acid concentrations and the relationships of fatty acids to arrhythmias in Boxers versus Doberman Pinschers. ANIMALS: 38 Boxers and 13 Doberman Pinschers. PROCEDURES: Boxers and Doberman Pinschers evaluated via Holter recording and for which a blood sample was available were included. Echocardiograms were performed in 49 of 51 dogs. The number of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs)/24 h was counted and fatty acids analyzed. Plasma fatty acid concentrations and VPCs/24 h, as well as correlations between the 2 variables, were compared between the 2 breeds. RESULTS: Compared with the Doberman Pinschers, Boxers had significantly higher plasma concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid but lower concentrations of arachidonic acid. Total n-6 fatty acids and total polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations were higher in Doberman Pinschers. There were significant, but weak, positive correlations between VPCs and oleic acid, total n-3 fatty acids, and total n-9 fatty acids in Boxers but not in Doberman Pinschers. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Data suggested that plasma fatty acid concentrations may differ between Boxers and Doberman Pinschers and that the relationship between fatty acid concentrations and VPCs may be different between these 2 breeds.     

Results of ambulatory electrocardiography in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with equivocal echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE: To determine results of ambulatory electrocardiography in and outcome of overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with equivocal echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 44 overtly healthy (25 male, 19 female) Doberman Pinschers. PROCEDURE: 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) recordings with > 90% scan quality obtained the same day that echocardiography was performed were reviewed. RESULTS: Holter recordings from 42 of 44 (95%) dogs contained ventricular premature complexes (VPC). Fifteen of 44 (34%) dogs had > 100 VPC, 9 (20%) had > 500 VPC, and 5 (11%) had > 1,000 VPC. Nonsustained (< 30 seconds) ventricular tachycardia was detected in 4 dogs. Eighteen of 27 (67%) dogs with > 100 VPC, any couplets or triplets of VPC, or ventricular tachycardia developed dilated cardiomyopathy within 1 year, compared with 8 of 17 (47%) dogs with < 100 VPC, no couplets or triplets of VPC, and no ventricular tachycardia. Of the 18 dogs that did not develop dilated cardiomyopathy within 1 year, 11 (61%) did so within 3 years. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that a high percentage of Doberman Pinschers with equivocal echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy will be found to have VPC during 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiography and that most will develop echocardiographic abnormalities indicative of cardiomyopathy.     

Morphometric dimensions of the caudal cervical vertebral column in clinically normal Doberman Pinschers, English Foxhounds and Doberman Pinschers with clinical signs of disk-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy

Client-owned, clinically normal Doberman Pinschers (n=20), English Foxhounds (n=17), and Doberman Pinschers with clinical signs of disk-associated cervical spondylomyelopathy (DA-CSM) (n=17) were prospectively studied. All dogs underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the cervical vertebral column. To evaluate vertebral canal stenosis, the canal occupying ratios of the spinal cord and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-column were calculated from C5 to C7. To evaluate the degree of spinal cord compression and the amount of canal compromise, the compression ratio, remaining spinal cord and CSF-column area, and vertebral canal and dorsoventral vertebral canal compromise ratios were calculated at the site of most severe compression. For each canal occupying ratio, there was a significant higher value (implicating less space available for the spinal cord in the vertebral canal) at the level of C7 for clinically affected Doberman Pinschers compared with clinically normal English Foxhounds. The remaining spinal cord area was significantly smaller in dogs with clinically relevant spinal cord compression compared to dogs with clinically irrelevant spinal cord compression. Relative stenosis of the caudal cervical vertebral canal occurred more often in Doberman Pinschers with DA-CSM compared to English Foxhounds and a critical degree of spinal cord compression should be reached to result in clinical signs.     

Prevalence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers in Various Age Groups

Background: Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in Doberman Pinschers is an autosomal dominant inherited disease. The prevalence of DCM in Doberman Pinschers of various age groups in Europe is currently unknown, but this information would be important to develop recommendations for screening programs. Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of cardiomyopathy in various age groups of Dobermans. Animals: Seven hundred and seventy‐five examinations in 412 Doberman Pinschers. Methods: Dogs were included in a prospective longitudinal cohort study. Each examination included echocardiography and 24‐hour ECG (Holter) examination. A cut‐off value of >100 ventricular premature contractions (VPCs) per 24 hours on Holter examination or abnormal echocardiography was considered diagnostic for cardiomyopathy. The cumulative prevalence included all dogs with DCM and healthy dogs >7 years of age. Results: DCM prevalence in various age groups was as follows: age group 1 (1 to <2 years) 3.3%, age group 2 (2 to <4 years) 9.9%, age group 3 (4 to <6 years) 12.5%, age group 4 (6 to <8 years) 43.6%, and age group 5 (>8 years) 44.1%. The cumulative prevalence of Doberman Pinscher cardiomyopathy was 58.2%. There was an equal sex distribution, but male dogs showed earlier echocardiographic changes than did female dogs, which had significantly more VPCs. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The prevalence of Doberman cardiomyopathy is very high in Europe. Disease manifestation and progression are different between male and female dogs. Yearly screening for DCM by Holter examination and echocardiography is recommended, starting at 2 years of age.     

Effect of desmopressin on von Willebrand factor multimers in Doberman Pinschers with type 1 von Willebrand disease

OBJECTIVE: To assess the effect of desmopressin (DDAVP) administration in Doberman Pinschers with type 1 von Willebrand disease (vWD) on plasma von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers through determination of vWF collagen binding activity (vWF:CBA; a functional vWF assay dependent on the presence of high-molecular-weight [HMWI multimers), comparison of vWF antigen concentration (vWF:Ag) to vWF:CBA, and vWF multimer size distribution. ANIMALS: 16 Doberman Pinschers with type 1 vWD and 5 clinically normal control dogs. PROCEDURE: Plasma vWF:Ag and vWF:CBA assays and vWF multimer analysis were performed before and 1 hour after administration of DDAVP (1 microg/kg, SC). RESULTS: Following DDAVP administration, dogs with type 1 vWD had an increase in mean baseline values of plasma vWF:Ag and vWF:CBA from 10% to 17% for both variables. The mean vWF Ag:CBA ratio at baseline (0.95) was similar after DDAVP administration (0.97), indicating concordant increases in plasma vWF concentration and activity. In control dogs, mean plasma vWF:Ag and vWF:CBA increased from baseline values of 64% to 113% and 58% to 114%, respectively, and the vWF Ag:CBA ratios were unchanged (1.1 vs 1.0) after DDAVP administration. Plasma vWF multimer analysis revealed proportional increases in band intensity for all multimer sizes following DDAVP administration, in comparison to baseline for the control dogs and Doberman Pinschers with vWD, consistent with vWF Ag:CBA ratios of approximately 1. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Beneficial effects of DDAVP on primary hemostasis in Doberman Pinschers with type 1 vWD cannot be explained by preferential increases in HMW vWF multimers.     

Evaluation of stability over time for measures of heart-rate variability in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether results of analysis of heart-rate variability (HRV) in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers remain stable over time. ANIMALS: 24 overtly healthy client-owned Doberman Pinschers. PROCEDURE: The HRV was analyzed in time- and frequency-domains from 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic (Holter) monitor recordings. Activity during paired tests (tests 1 and 2) was similar (17 dogs) or nearly identical (7). Holter recordings and HRV analyses of those 17 dogs were repeated at a mean +/- SD of 65 +/- 50 weeks (median, 51 weeks; range, 10 to 177 weeks), whereas it was repeated for the other 7 dogs at 3 to 9 weeks (mean, 73 +/- 2.1 weeks). RESULTS: Differences between test 1 and test 2 were not significantly different, except for 24-hour means of the normal beat-to-normal beat (NN) intervals in all 5-minute segments. Strongest correlations were for SD of all NN intervals and root mean square successive difference between adjacent NN intervals of the time-domain analyses and total power, very-low frequency power, and high-frequency power of the frequency-domain analyses. When activity during tests 1 and 2 in 7 dogs was stringently controlled, the differences were not significantly different, and correlation factors for the 24-hour HRV analyses exceeded 0.83. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Variables from sequential HRV analyses in overtly healthy Doberman Pinschers with normal echocardiograms are moderately stable when physical activity is not stringently controlled and extremely stable for at least 3 to 9 weeks when physical activity is stringently controlled.     

Toxicity in Doberman Pinchers with Ventricular Arrhythmias Treated with Amiodarone (1996–2005)

Background: Asymptomatic Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) often die suddenly owing to ventricular tachycardia that degenerates into ventricular fibrillation. A safe and effective antiarrhythmic drug treatment is needed. This will require a large, well-controlled, prospective study.
Hypothesis: Amiodarone toxicity is common in Dobermans with occult DCM and ventricular tachyarrhythmias refractory to antiarrhythmia therapy. Infrequent monitoring of hepatic function is inadequate. Frequent monitoring may be useful to determine dogs in which the dosage should be decreased or the drug withdrawn.
Methods: Medical records from the University of Georgia and Cornell University were searched for Doberman Pinschers diagnosed with preclinical DCM that received amiodarone for severe ventricular arrhythmias refractory to other antiarrhythmic agents. Echocardiographic data, Holter recording data, hepatic enzyme serum activity, and serum amiodarone concentrations were recorded. The presence of clinical signs of toxicity was recorded. Serum amiodarone concentrations were obtained in some dogs.
Results: Reversible toxicity was identified in 10 of 22 (45%) dogs.
Conclusion and Clinical Importance: Adverse effects from amiodarone were common and were, in part, dosage related. Patients should be monitored for signs of toxicity and liver enzyme activity should be measured at least monthly.     

An in vitro investigation of predisposition to sulphonamide idiosyncratic toxicity in dogs

Sulphonamide idiosyncratic toxicosis has been reported in 28 dogs. Non-septic polyarthritis and fever occurring after 8 to 21 days therapy was the most common manifestation. Of 22 dogs with this syndrome, 7 were Doberman Pinschers. In humans, inherited decreased ability to detoxify sulphonamide hydroxylamine metabolites (as reflected in an in vitro mononuclear leukocyte (MNL) toxicity assay) has been associated with susceptibility to sulphonamide idiosyncratic toxicity. We have demonstrated that microsomes obtained from the liver of a dog were capable of metabolizing sulphamethoxazole to sulphamethoxazole hydroxylamine (SMX-HA). Production of SMX-HA was an NADPH dependent process and the yield was increased by the presence of 1 mmol/L ascorbic acid. SMX-HA was toxic to isolated MNL from mixed breed dogs (MBD) and Doberman Pinschers. The toxicity of SMX-HA to MNL from Dobermans was significantly different from that to MNL from MDB. MNL from 7 out of 15 Dobermans (including a dog with a history of an idiosyncratic reaction to a sulphonamide) had an LD-50 (concentration of SMX-HA required to produce 50% cytotoxicity in MNL) < 100 mol/L, while MNL from 0 out of 10 MBD had an LD-50 < 100 mol/L. These results suggest that the basis for the observed predisposition of Dobermans to sulphonamide idiosyncratic toxicity may be a limited capacity to detoxify the hydroxylamine metabolites of sulphonamides.     

Efficacy of Benazepril Hydrochloride to Delay the Progression of Occult Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers

Background: Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) are recommended in people to treat asymptomatic (occult) dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). Efficacy of therapy in occult DCM in dogs is unknown.
Hypothesis: ACEIs, specifically benazepril hydrochloride (BH), will delay the onset of overt DCM in Doberman Pinschers.
Animals: Ninety-one Doberman Pinschers were studied, 57 dogs received BH, and 34 dogs no ACEI.
Methods: Retrospective study of the medical records of all Doberman Pinschers with occult DCM that received BH or no ACEI between April 1989 and February 2003. Two criteria of left ventricular enlargement were used for enrollment: one independent of body weight (BW) (C1) and the other indexed to BW (C2). Cox proportional hazards analyses were used to identify variables associated with the onset of overt DCM.
Results: On univariate analysis the median time to onset of overt DCM was significantly longer for the benazepril group (for C1: 425 days for BH, 95% confidence interval [CI] 264–625 days; 339 days for no ACEI, CI 172–453 days, P = .02; for C2: 454 days for BH, CI 264–628 days; 356 days for no ACEI, CI 181–547 days, P = .02). The hazard ratio (HR) (benazepril/no ACEI) was 0.57, CI 0.35–0.94, P = .03 for C1; HR = 0.56, CI 0.34–0.93, P = .02 for C2. On multivariate analysis, BH significantly delayed onset of overt DCM (HR [benazepril/no ACEI] = 0.45, CI 0.26–0.78, P < .01, for C1; HR = 0.36, CI 0.21–0.63, P < .01, for C2).
Conclusions: BH in particular and ACEIs in general might delay the progression of occult DCM. Prospective studies are warranted to test this theory.     

von Willebrand heterotopic osteochondrofibrosis in Doberman pinschers: five cases (1980-1987)

Five cases involving female Doberman Pinschers, each with a mass composed of osseous, chondrous, or fibrous tissue, or a combination thereof, formed in or around the muscles of the hip, were reviewed. In each dog, the mass severely limited the coxofemoral joint range or motion, especially when the joint was extended. Surgical debulking resulted in a favorable outcome. All dogs tested had plasma concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen below established normal limits. We believe that the low concentrations of von Willebrand factor antigen commonly found in Doberman Pinschers may predispose them to the development of this condition and its resulting pelvic limb lameness, presumably because of increased risk of microvascular bleeding. This association is presumptive because 2 dogs in our study had a history of excessive bleeding either before or after being treated for the hip condition. Trauma was associated in 2 cases. All 5 dogs, however, bled more than usual during the curative surgery. These 5 cases, plus additional reported cases, confirm this syndrome, which warrants recognition. The name von Willebrand heterotopic osteochondrofibrosis of Doberman Pinschers was selected because it identified the basic features of the syndrome.     

Blanket and flank sucking in Doberman Pinschers

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate blanket and flank sucking and any association with pica in Doberman Pinschers. DESIGN: Survey and case-control study. ANIMALS: 153 Doberman Pinschers (77 dogs with blanket or flank sucking and 76 unaffected dogs). PROCEDURES: Owners of Doberman Pinschers with blanket sucking, flank sucking, or both were surveyed regarding the age of onset, triggers, frequency, duration, interruptability, and associated medical and behavioral consequences. A putative association of blanket sucking and flank sucking with pica was examined by comparison of affected dogs with unaffected dogs. RESULTS: Apart from the difference in the object of oral activity between blanket and flank suckers, age of onset was the only variable that differed between dogs with the 2 conditions. Dogs with blanket or flank sucking had a higher prevalence of pica than the unaffected population. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Blanket and flank sucking are apparently related conditions that can occur with sufficient intensity to cause medical sequelae. These nonnutritive suckling behaviors share similarities with other canine compulsive disorders and are associated with pica. Veterinarians should advise owners that flank and blanket sucking are abnormal, potentially harmful behaviors in dogs. Treatment should be considered for severely affected dogs or when flank or blanket sucking is associated with medical problems.     

Effect of severity of myocardial failure on heart rate variability in Doberman pinschers with and without echocardiographic evidence of dilated cardiomyopathy.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether heart rate variability (HRV) is reduced in Doberman Pinschers with dilated cardiomyopathy. DESIGN: Case series. ANIMALS: 62 overtly healthy Doberman pinschers. PROCEDURE: Heart rate variability was analyzed in time and frequency domains from data obtained during 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic Holter recordings in 41 overtly healthy Doberman pinschers with normal echocardiograms and 21 overtly healthy Doberman pinschers with abnormal echocardiograms. RESULTS: Heart rate variability usually was greater during night versus day, and 2 dogs with the most severe myocardial failure had reduced HRV. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Reduced HRV was detected only in Doberman Pinschers with the most severe myocardial failure. Thus, HRV in less severely affected dogs is not reduced, or the normal sinus arrhythmia of dogs renders HRV relatively insensitive. Analysis of HRV did not provide additional information relative to the severity of left ventricular dysfunction or risk of sudden death from that which could be derived from echocardiography, analysis of Holter recordings, and signal-averaged electrocardiography.     

Complications associated with the use of iohexol for myelography of the cervical vertebral column in dogs: 66 cases (1988-1990).

Medical records of 66 dogs that had undergone myelography, using iohexol (240 mg of iodine/ml, 0.3 to 0.5 ml/kg of body weight) during a 2-year period, were reviewed. In 3 dogs, myelography was performed twice during different anesthetic procedures. Neurologic abnormalities were more pronounced the day after myelography in dogs with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy (P less than 0.01), meningitis (P less than 0.01), or extradural tumors (P less than 0.05). Neither anesthetic regimen nor duration of anesthesia significantly affected the frequency of complications. Seizures occurred after myelography in 6 dogs, and 1 dog had seizures after each of 2 myelographic procedures. The frequency of seizures was significantly greater in male Doberman Pinschers afflicted with caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy. Male dogs (P less than 0.01) and Doberman Pinschers (P less than 0.001) had higher prevalence of seizures. Caudal cervical spondylomyelopathy was associated with higher prevalence of seizures, compared with all other diagnoses (P less than 0.001). Seizures were significantly more prevalent when body weight was greater than or equal to 29 kg (P less than 0.001), when greater than or equal to 2 injections of contrast medium were administered (P less than 0.016), or when 2 injections of contrast medium were given at the cisterna magna (P less than 0.015). The 10% prevalence of seizures after myelography with iohexol in the study reported here is greater than in previous reports, but is lower than that reported after myelography using metrizamide.