Alterations of cardiac and renal biomarkers in horses naturally infected with theileria equi

Equine theileriosis due to Theileria equi is probably the most widespread and pathogenic disease of equines, which comes with major cardiac and renal complications. This study was undertaken to investigate the biomarkers of cardiac and renal functions in horses infected with T. equi and determine the association between these parameters and the level of parasitemia. Giemsa-stained blood smears from 300 horses with ages of 3–4 years old were examined for detection of T. equi on erythrocytes. Moreover, multiplex PCR was employed for confirmation of the diagnosis in the 28 positive cases. Based on the rate of red blood cell infection, the infected animals were subdivided into horses with low (n = 9), moderate (n = 13) and high (n = 6) parasitemia. The concentrations of urea, creatinine, cystatin-C, cardiac troponin I (cTn-I), homocysteine (Hcy), myocardial fractions of creatine kinase (CK-MB) and d-dimer were determined in control (healthy) horses (n = 20) and the infected animals. The results revealed that both the renal (urea, creatinine and cystatin-C) and the cardiac (cTn-I, Hcy, CK-MB and d-dimer) biomarkers increased in a parasitemia burden-dependent pattern. However, urea, creatinine, cTn-I and d-dimer levels were not significantly influenced in the horses infected with low rate (<1 %) of parasitemia (p> 0.05). Moreover, all of the biomarkers were significantly and positively associated with the parasitemia (R²> 0.5). In conclusion, T. equi infection was related to cardiac and renal complications evidenced by increase in the levels of biomarkers and evaluation of these indices may have promise for early diagnosis of the complications.     

Measurement of serum interleukin-10 in the dog

The objective was to evaluate independently the reliability of a commercially available canine serum interleukin-10 (IL-10) enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) and to investigate canine serum IL-10 concentrations in healthy dogs, in dogs with a naturally-occurring acute phase reaction and in dogs following surgical stimulus by assessing intra- and interassay imprecision, inaccuracy and detection limits. Median (and range) serum IL-10 concentrations (ng/L) in the various groups were as follows: healthy dogs (n=15), 18.9 (11.2-71.5); dogs with pyometra (n=9), 37.9 (12.4-201.8); dogs with angiostrongylosis (n=8), 20.29 (14.3-108.7) and values in dogs following surgical stimulus (n=15), 14.8 (10.7-65.8). The assay measured canine serum IL-10 reliably (intra- and interassay imprecision 4.9-8.3% and 9.9-10.9%, respectively; detection limit 10.7 ng/L with no significant inaccuracy). No significant increases in IL-10 were observed following surgical stimulus and no difference in IL-10 was observed between the diagnostic groups. IL-10 values showed a higher degree of variation in dogs with an inflammatory response, i.e. those with elevated serum C-reactive protein (CRP) concentrations, compared to healthy dogs. As anticipated, healthy dogs had low levels of both analytes, whereas dogs with an acute phase response had IL-10 levels with no clear relationship to CRP concentrations, with observed low IL-10 values even when there was a marked inflammatory response.     

Assessment of survey radiography as a method for diagnosis of congenital cardiac disease in dogs.

In order to assess the diagnostic accuracy of survey radiography for canine congenital cardiac anomalies, thoracic radiographs of 57 dogs with congenital cardiac anomalies, 31 normal dogs and 27 dogs with acquired cardiac disease were mixed, and reviewed by two independent observers, who were blinded to any patient information. The congenital anomalies were aortic stenosis (n=25), pulmonic stenosis (n=10), patent ductus arteriosus (n=9), ventricular septal defect (n=8), tricuspid dysplasia (n=3) and mitral dysplasia (n=2). Both observers were moderately accurate at identifying dogs with cardiac disease. Their ability to distinguish dogs with congenital versus acquired cardiac disease was poorer and this assessment was probably influenced by the recognition of patients that were skeletally immature, which biased observers towards a diagnosis of congenital cardiac anomaly. The diagnosis rate for specific congenital anomalies was also poor (the differential list included a correct diagnosis in only 40 and 37 per cent of cases). Radiographic signs of specific cardiac chamber enlargement or pulmonary vascular abnormalities were recognised by both observers in only 20 per cent of instances in which they might be expected. They were, however, recognised more frequently in dogs with anomalies that imposed a volume load on the heart than in dogs with anomalies that induced a pressure load on the organ. It is concluded that survey radiography is an inaccurate method for diagnosis of canine congenital cardiac anomalies because of the difficulty of recognising radiographic signs, which are not present in many cases.     

Fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin in the assessment of glycaemic control in dogs

Fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) concentrations were measured simultaneously in 222 dogs (96 healthy and 126 sick dogs). The dogs were divided into 3 groups according to the glucose concentration: hypo, hyper and euglycaemic dogs. Serum fructosamine concentrations were measured by the reduction test with nitroblue tetrazolium. A turbidimetric inhibition immunoassay and specific polyclonal antibodies were used to evaluate glycated hemoglobin concentrations. A significant correlation was found between glucose concentration and either fructosamine (r = 0.63, p < 0.0001) or glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The correlation was higher in hyperglycaemic dogs for fructosamine (r = 0.80, p < 0.0001) and in hypoglycaemic dogs for glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.91, p < 0.005). We found a significant correlation between serum fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin (r = 0.65, p < 0.0001 ) when all the dogs were studied. A significant correlation was observed between serum fructosamine and glycated hemoglobin only in hyperglycaemic dogs (r = 0.82, p < 0.0003). Thus, fructosamine and HbA1c may be considered for use in screening tests for diabetes mellitus in dogs and clinical tests for monitoring control and evaluation of the diabetic animal's response to treatment. The choice of the analytical assay depends on the characteristic and analytical opportunities of the laboratory, as well as the number of serum samples to be analysed.     

Results of ligation of patent ductus arteriosus in dogs: 201 cases (1969-1988)

Surgical treatment of 201 dogs with patent ductus arteriosus at the College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University was evaluated retrospectively to determine risk factors for development of surgical complications. During surgery, 15 dogs (7%) died because of hemorrhage associated with ductus dissection (n = 8), pulmonary edema (n = 4), ventricular fibrillation (n = 1), hemorrhage not associated with ductus dissection (n = 1), and cardiac arrest immediately after ductus ligation (n = 1). An additional 8 dogs (4%) died less than 1 month after surgery (total mortality before, during, and immediately after surgery, 11%). Nineteen dogs (9.5%) developed hemorrhage during surgery. Sixteen dogs developed complications other than hemorrhage (pulmonary edema [n = 4], cardiac arrest [n = 4], iatrogenic lung trauma [n = 3], ventricular fibrillation [n = 2], septicemia [n = 2], and recanalized ductus [n = 2]). Correlation was not found between age, sex, body weight, surgical technique (Jackson method vs standard method of dissection), or surgeon level of training and development of hemorrhage during surgery, other complications, or survival less than 5 days. Positive correlation (P less than 0.05) was found between hemorrhage and death within 5 days after surgery. Positive correlation (P less than 0.05) was also found between other complications and death within 5 days after surgery. Nineteen dogs survived surgery, but later died of unrelated causes (mean life span, 57 months); 63 of the dogs were still alive and doing well as of January 1990 (mean life span, 47 months after surgery). Contrary to previous reports, age, body weight, and surgical technique did not affect results.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Serum bile acids: reference values in healthy dogs and comparison of two kit methods

Serum bile acid (SBA) reference intervals were established by use of a radioimmunoassay method for fasting dogs to be 0.2 to 4.3 micro mol/L (n = 60) and for 2 hour postprandial samples to be 0.6 to 24.2 micro mol/L (n = 37). The SBA reference intervals estimated using an enzymatic method were 0 to 8.6 micro mol/L for fasting (n = 26) and 0 to 29.8 micro mol/L for 2 hour postprandial samples (n = 36). The correlation between the two methods including samples from healthy dogs and clinical cases is good (n = 128, r = 0.82, p < 0.0001). The radioimmunoassay method is linear to 50 micro mol/L and the enzymatic method is linear to 100 micro mol/L, thus both methods require serum dilutions to be made in many cases of primary liver disease. The enzymatic method is less expensive and more convenient for use in a clinical laboratory but requires a greater sample volume (400 micro I) than the RIA method (50 micro I). Both methods have adequate precision and accuracy to be useful as diagnostic tests of liver function in dogs.     

Use of capillary electrophoresis to quantitate carbamylated hemoglobin concentrations in dogs with renal failure

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate quantification of the amount of carbamylated hemoglobin (CarbHb), using capillary electrophoresis (CE) and a new dynamic capillary coating system to separate hemoglobin derivatives, and to assess the use of CarbHb amounts to evaluate long-term urea exposure and differential diagnoses of azotemia in dogs. ANIMALS: 8 dogs with renal failure, 2 dogs with diabetes mellitus, and 7 control dogs. PROCEDURE: Optimal analytic conditions for separation of CarbHb and other hemoglobin derivatives in blood samples obtained from dogs were determined, using a commercial analysis system developed for the detection of glycohemoglobin Hb A1c (GlycHb) in human blood samples. Relative content of hemoglobin derivatives in blood from 10 dogs with renal failure or endocrine diseases were compared with values for 7 dogs without renal or endocrine diseases. RESULTS: Satisfactory resolution of hemoglobin derivatives was obtained, which permitted identification and quantitation of the amount of CarbHb as a percentage of the total amount of hemoglobin. Normal or increased amounts of GlycHb did not interfere with CarbHb analysis. Dogs with chronic renal failure had considerably higher peak amounts of CarbHb than dogs with acute renal failure, a dog with chronic renal failure that was treated by use of hemodialysis, or dogs without renal disease. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Amounts of CarbHb in blood samples obtained from dogs can be readily quantified by use of capillary electrophoresis. Assessment of the amount of CarbHb can be used to facilitate evaluation of the cause of azotemia in dogs.     

Effects of dopamine infusion on cardiac and renal blood flows in dogs

In veterinary medicine, dopamine is currently being administered clinically by infusion for treatment of kidney disorders at low doses (< or = 3 microg/kg/min) and for assessment of hemodynamics at high doses (> or = 5 microg/kg/min). However, since high doses of dopamine cause peripheral vasoconstriction due to its effect on alpha adrenoceptors, high doses have no longer been recommended. The present study was conducted to explore possible regimens for the use of dopamine infusion in dogs. The regional (renal and cardiac) blood flow for 60 min was measured by using colored microspheres at three doses (3, 10 and 20 microg/kg/min) of dopamine infusion in healthy anesthetized mongrel dogs. The effects on kidney and peripheral hemodynamics at each dose and the resultant cardiac output, mean arterial blood pressure and total peripheral resistance were determined. Renal blood flow increased markedly at 3 microg/kg/min dopamine. Improvement in hemodynamics indicated by marked increase in cardiac blood flow, cardiac output and mean arterial blood pressure and decreased total peripheral resistance was observed at higher doses (10 and 20 microg/kg/min). At 10 microg/kg/min, in addition to the satisfactory increase in cardiac blood flow, there was also a stable satisfactory increase in renal blood flow. However, at 20 microg/kg/min, increased myocardial oxygen consumption (manifested by marked increased in cardiac output), arrythmia and irregular increase in renal blood flow were detected. This study suggests that the clinical use of dopamine infusion in dogs could be safely expanded to moderately higher doses.     

Cytologic evaluation of benign and malignant hemophagocytic disorders in canine bone marrow

Abstract: Canine hemophagocytic disorders were studied to better understand the cytologic features that differentiate benign and malignant disease. Of 286 canine clinical bone marrow reports evaluated retrospectively, 13 (4.5%) noted at least 3% hemophagocytic macrophages. Macrophages comprised between 6% and 44% of nucleated bone marrow cells. Clinical diagnoses for dogs with hemophagocytic disorders included malignant histiocytosis (n = 2), myelodysplastic syndromes (n = 4), round cell neoplasia (n = 2), immune-mediated disorders (n = 2), and idiopathic hemophagocytic syndrome (n = 3). Differentiation of benign and malignant forms of histiocytosis was problematic. Two dogs with a diagnosis of hemophagocytic syndrome had macrophages with atypical features similar to those described for malignant histiocytosis. Furthermore, only 2 of 11 dogs with presumably benign hemophagocytic disorders had exclusively mature macrophages in bone marrow. Other dogs had variable numbers of large reticular-type cells characterized by lacy chromatin, anisocytosis, anisokaryosis, and prominent and/or multiple nucleoli. On the basis of these results, cytomorphologic evaluation of bone marrow alone may not be adequate to consistently differentiate benign and malignant forms of hemophagocytic disorders.     

Evaluation of urine sulfated and nonsulfated bile acids as a diagnostic test for liver disease in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate 3 methods for measuring urine bile acids (UBA) and compare their diagnostic performance with that of the serum bile acids (SBA) test and other routine screening tests in dogs with hepatic disorders. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 15 healthy dogs, 102 dogs with hepatic disorders, and 9 dogs with clinical signs of hepatic disorders that were found to have nonhepatic disorders. PROCEDURES: Blood and urine samples were collected from sick dogs and healthy dogs for serum biochemical analyses, and determination of concentrations of SBA and UBA. Urine samples were obtained from 15 healthy dogs to establish an upper cutoff value for UBA concentrations. The UBA were measured by use of a quantitative-linked enzymatic colorimetric method. Three analytical modifications were evaluated; 1 quantified only urine sulfated bile acids (USBA), 1 only urine nonsulfated bile acids (UNSBA), and 1 quantified both (USBA plus UNSBA). The UBA values were standardized with the urine creatinine concentration. RESULTS: The UNSBA-to-creatinine ratio and USBA plus UNSBA-to-creatinine ratio tests had the best diagnostic performance of the UBA tests; each had a substantially higher specificity, slightly higher positive predictive value, slightly lower negative predictive value, and lower sensitivity than the SBA test. These UBA-to-creatinine values were positively correlated with SBA values. The USBA-to-creatinine ratio had poor sensitivity, indicating a low rate of bile acid sulfation in dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The UBA can be measured in dogs with sufficient repeatability and accuracy for clinical application. The UNSBA-to-creatinine ratio and USBA plus UNSBA-to-creatinine ratio identified dogs with hepatic disorders nearly as well as the SBA test.     

The Long-term Biological Variability of Fasting Plasma Glucose and Serum Fructosamine in Healthy Beagle Dogs

The aim of this study was to estimate the long-term (month-to-month) between-dog, within-dog and analytical components of variance for fasting plasma glucose and serum fructosamine in healthy dogs to assess the usefulness of a single measurement of these analytes in a single dog.Fasting plasma glucose and serum fructosamine were measured in blood samples collected every month for 9 months from 23 clinically healthy dogs, and the results were subjected to nested analysis of variance. The between-dog variation, the within-dog variation, and the analytical variation were 3.8%, 9.5% and 3.7%, respectively, for plasma glucose and 4.2%, 11.1% and 2.8%, respectively, for serum fructosamine.The maximum allowable analytical imprecision, analytical inaccuracy and difference between analytical methods were 4.8%, 2.6% and 3.2%, respectively, for plasma glucose and 5.6%, 3.0% and 3.7%, respectively, for serum fructosamine.The index of individuality, 2.7 for both analytes, indicated that the test results from single dogs can be compared usefully to the corresponding population-based reference intervals.The number of samples required to estimate the true individual mean value ±5% for a single dog was 16 for fasting plasma glucose and 20 for serum fructosamine.The one- and two-sided critical differences expressing the difference needed for two serial results from the same dog to be significantly different at a 5% level was 24% and 28%, respectively, for plasma glucose and 27% and 32%, respectively, for serum fructosamine.     

Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis of Canine Urinary Proteins for the Analysis and Differentiation of Tubular and Glomerular Diseases

A preliminary investigation was performed to evaluate the use of a new, noninvasive technique for the localization of canine renal lesions by electrophoresis of urinary proteins. Urine specimens from six clinically healthy, nonproteinuric dogs and 12 dogs with persistent proteinuria were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). Urine electrophoretic patterns of proteinuric dogs were classified as glomerular (n=4), tubular (n=2), or mixed (glomerular and tubular) (n=6), based on the number and molecular weight of the silver-stained protein bands. Renal tissues from biopsies or necropsies were obtained from eight of the dogs with proteinuric disease. Interpretation of seven of eight electrophoretograms agreed with the histologic interpretation of renal lesions. We concluded SDS PAGE is a potentially valuable technique for detection and localization of renal lesions in dogs with proteinuric disease.     

Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of canine urinary proteins for the analysis and differentiation of tubular and glomerular diseases

A preliminary investigation was performed to evaluate the use of a new, noninvasive technique for the localization of canine renal lesions by electrophoresis of urinary proteins. Urine specimens from six clinically healthy, nonproteinuric dogs and 12 dogs with persistent proteinuria were examined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS PAGE). Urine electrophoretic patterns of proteinuric dogs were classified as glomerular (n = 4), tubular (n = 2), or mixed (glomerular and tubular) (n = 6), based on the number and molecular weight of the silver-stained protein bands. Renal tissues from biopsies or necropsies were obtained from eight of the dogs with proteinuric disease. Interpretation of seven of eight electrophoretograms agreed with the histologic interpretation of renal lesions. We concluded SDS PAGE is a potentially valuable technique for detection and localization of renal lesions in dogs with proteinuric disease.     

Retrospective Case-Control Study of Hepatozoonosis in Dogs in Israel

Signalment, clinical signs, and physical examination and clinicopathologic findings in dogs diagnosed with Hepatozoon cam's parasitemia (n = 100) were compared with those in Hepatozoon -negative dogs (n = 180). A subset (n = 15) of Hepatozoon -positive dogs with unusually high (> 800 H canis gametocytes/μL of whole blood) parasitemia was compared with dogs that had low parasitemia (n = 85) and with Hepatozoon-negative dogs (n = 180). Hepatozoon -positive dogs significantly differed from Hepatozoon-negative dogs in body temperature, total red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and platelet count. Dogs with high H canis parasitemia significantly differed from those with low parasitemia in hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit, and total neutrophil count. Clinical findings from dogs with high H canis parasitemia included emaciation, lethargy, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, and increased serum alkaline phosphatase and creatine kinase activities. Findings at necropsy included hepatitis, pneumonia, and glomerulonephritis associated with H canis schizonts and extensive parasitism of bone marrow, spleen, and lymph nodes. Low hemoglobin concentration, low platelet count, and concurrent parvovirus infection together represented the best predictor variables for Hepatozoon positivity in dogs presenting to the hospital.     

Resection of Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis Surgical and Perioperative Management in Seven Dogs

Open heart surgery was performed during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) to surgically correct subvalvular aortic stenosis in seven dogs. After initiation of total CPB, cardiac arrest was induced by antegrade and retrograde administration of blood cardioplegia. The subvalvular fibrous stenosis was resected through a transverse aortotomy. Intraoperatively and postop-eratively, dobutamine, nitroprusside, lidocaine, blood(-products), and crystalloid solutions were used to manage hypotension and optimize cardiac index.
Aortic cross-clamp time varied from 73 to 166 minutes, and duration of CPB varied from 130 to 210 minutes, latrogenic incision into the mitral valve in two dogs was the most significant introperative complication. Postoperative complications included: hypoproteinemia (n = 7), premature ventricular depolarization (n = 6), increased systemic vascular resistance index (n = 5), increased O₂ extraction (n = 3), pulmonary edema (n = 2), and decreased cardiac index (n = 1). All seven dogs were discharged alive and in stable condition. Six dogs are alive and in stable condition after a mean follow up of 15.8 months.
This is the first detailed report of CPB in a series of clinical veterinary patients. Using the techniques described in this paper, open heart surgery of considerable duration can be performed successfully in dogs with significant myocardial hypertrophy and endomyocardial fibrosis secondary to subvalvular aortic stenosis.     

Prevalence of nephrotoxicosis associated with a short-term saline solution diuresis protocol for the administration of cisplatin to dogs with malignant tumors: 61 cases (1987-1989).

The study reported here was undertaken to determine the nephrotoxicosis associated with the administration of cisplatin, an antineoplastic agent, to dogs when administered during 6-hour saline solution diuresis. Cisplatin (70 mg/m2 of body surface, IV, every 21 days) was given to 61 dogs with malignant neoplasia with a total of 185 doses in 1 (n = 9 dogs), 2 (n = 26 dogs), 3 (n = 4 dogs), 4 (n = 9 dogs), 5 (n = 2 dogs), and 6 (n = 11 dogs) treatments. The cisplatin was given over a 20-minute period after 0.9% NaCl solution (saline solution) was administered IV for 4 hours at a rate of 18.3 ml/kg of body weight/h. After the cisplatin infusion, saline solution diuresis was continued at the same rate for 2 hours. Before each treatment with cisplatin, dogs were evaluated with at least a physical examination, CBC, determination of serum urea nitrogen concentration, and in most cases, determination of serum creatinine concentration and urine specific gravity. Four of the 61 dogs (6.6%) developed clinically evident renal disease after 2 (1 dog), 3 (2 dogs), and 4 (1 dog) doses of cisplatin were administered. Three of the 4 dogs had preexisting disease of the urinary tract prior to the start of treatment. The survival time in dogs that developed renal disease (median, 145 days; range, 15 to 150 days) was similar to that of all dogs in this study (median, 154 days; range, 30 to 500 days), with 13 dogs still alive at the conclusion of the study.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

SONOGRAPHIC RENAL FINDINGS IN 20 DOGS WITH LEPTOSPIROSIS

Abdominal ultrasound examinations of 20 dogs with confirmed leptospirosis were reviewed retrospectively for renal abnormalities. Three dogs had a normal ultrasound examination. The remaining 17 dogs had sonographic abnormalities of the kidneys. These abnormalities, seen either alone or in combination, included renalmegaly (n=10), pyelectasia (n=9), increased cortical echogenicity (n=15), perinephric effusion (n=5), and a medullary band of increased echogenicity (n=6). At our institution, the medullary band of increased echogencity has only been seen in dogs with leptospirosis and may therefore be a specific sonographic sign for this disease.     

Study on biological variation of haemostatic parameters in clinically healthy dogs

Thromboelastography (TEG) may be a valuable supplement to the coagulation assays activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT), thrombin time (TT), fibrinogen, antithrombin (AT) and D-Dimer currently used in most clinical pathology laboratories. Allowable imprecision and bias reference limits for analytical tests can be calculated based on measurements of biological variation. No studies to date have examined the effect of biological variation on these haemostasis parameters in the same group of dogs. Plasma samples were collected after a set protocol once weekly for five consecutive weeks from eight healthy dogs (four males and four females) and stored at -80 degrees C until analysis. Randomized duplicate coagulation tests and TEG analyses were performed on all plasma samples within one run. The data were analyzed for outliers and subsequently subjected to nested analysis of variance to obtain the coefficient of analytical, intra-individual and inter-individual variation. From these objective analytical performance standards for imprecision, critical difference, total error and the index of individuality were calculated to assess the utility of conventional population-based reference ranges. All the clotting times (aPTT, PT and TT), fibrinogen, AT and D-Dimer showed a degree of individuality, which may make the use of population-based reference ranges alone an insensitive interpretation criterion, whereas a population-based reference interval seems to be sensitive for interpreting all TEG parameters. Analytical performance standards for imprecision were only met for one of the coagulation assays, whereas all TEG parameters except the alpha angle, alpha achieved this analytical goal.     

Epidemiological and morphological studies of double-chambered right ventricle in dogs

The double-chambered right ventricle (DCRV) is a rare congenital cardiac disease in dogs, and its detailed epidemiological and morphological features are not clearly understood. By investigating the profile, clinical signs, and characteristics of examination findings of eleven dogs with DCRV by means of a retrospective study, we attempted to clarify the epidemiology and morphology of the condition. The study group consisted of nine males and two females. Breeds included Pug (n=3), Miniature Dachshund (n=1), French Bull-dog (n=1), Shiba (n=1), and Retrievers (n=5). The attachment site of the anomalous muscular bundle was continuous with the cardiac apex in nine dogs, and it was attached to the right ventricle free wall in the other two dogs. In dogs with DCRV, at least one of the following conditions was present concurrently: congenital or acquired tricuspid valve regurgitation (TR), ventricular septal defect, and atrial septal defect. Also, the pressure difference between the two chambers increased over time, and progressive right-sided heart failure was observed. In summary, DCRV occurs in small breeds of dog as well as in large breeds of dog and it may be more prevalent in males. The existence of two types of DCRV in dogs was established. Dog with DCRVs will have a high incidence of concurrent cardiac abnormalities. Concurrent TR may be either congenital or acquired. DCRV is a congenital disorder, but the clinical condition progresses as the dog develops.     

Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias in 106 Cats: Associated Structural Cardiac Disorders

Background: Ventricular tachyarrhythmias occur in association with cardiac and extracardiac disorders in many species of animals, but information identifying concurrent disorders in cats with such arrhythmias is scarce. Methods: We investigated coexisting diseases by retrospectively evaluating medical records of cats with ventricular tachyarrhythmias seen during a 51‐month period at 1 institution. For comparative purposes, we evaluated records of dogs with similar arrhythmias during the same time period. All cats and dogs had premature ventricular complexes, accelerated idioventricular rhythm, ventricular tachycardia, or some combination of these arrhythmias, and all had undergone echocardiography during the same visit that led to the diagnosis of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Results and Conclusions: Most (102/106; 96%) cats had at least 1 echocardiographically apparent abnormality concurrent with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Ventricular tachyarrhythmias in cats were most commonly associated with myocardial disease (eg, left ventricular concentric hypertrophy [n = 66], restrictive or unclassified cardiomyopathy [n = 17], and dilated cardiomyopathy [n = 6]). When comparing dogs and cats that had ventricular tachyarrhythmias and were diagnosed on the same clinical service of the same institution, an echocardiographically apparent cardiac lesion was seen more often in cats (102/106, 96%) than in dogs (95/138, 69%) (P < .001).