Clinical and Echocardiographic Findings in an Aged Population of Cavalier King Charles Spaniels.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common cardiac disease in dogs. It varies from dogs without clinical signs to those developing left-sided congestive heart failure, leading to death. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCSs) are particularly susceptible to MMVD. We hypothesised that within the elderly CKCS population, there is a sub-cohort of MMVD-affected dogs that do not have cardiac remodelling. The objectives of the present study were (i) to determine the prevalence and the degree of cardiac remodelling associated with MMVD; and (ii) assess the effect of age, gender, and body weight on echocardiographic status in a population of aged CKCSs. A total of 126 CKCSs ≥ 8 years old were prospectively included. They all had a physical and echocardiographic examination. A systolic murmur was detected in 89% of dogs; the presence of clinical signs was reported in 19% of them; and echocardiographic evidence of MMVD was described in 100%. Despite the high prevalence, 44.4% of the dogs were clear of echocardiographic signs of cardiac remodelling. Age was significantly associated with the presence and severity of cardiac remodelling and mitral valve prolapse. Our results showed that a proportion of elderly CKCS with confirmed MMVD did not undergo advanced stages of this pathology.

Use of 2-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography to assess left ventricular systolic function in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Early identification of systolic dysfunction in dogs with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) potentially could improve the outcome and decrease mortality. OBJECTIVE: To compare 2-dimensional speckle tracking (2D-STE) with 2-dimensional (2D) and M-mode echocardiography in the evaluation of systolic function in SIRS dogs. ANIMALS: Seventeen SIRS and 17 healthy dogs. METHODS: Prospective observational case-control study. Each dog underwent physical examination, conventional echocardiography, 2D-STE, and C-reactive protein measurement. RESULTS: Dogs with SIRS had lower 2D-STE ejection fraction (X4D-EF; 44 ± 8 versus 53 ± 8; P = .003), endocardial global longitudinal strain (ENDO-G-Long-St; -14.6 ± 3.2 versus -18.5 ± 4.1; P = .003), and normalized left ventricular diameter in diastole (1.38 ± 0.25 versus 1.54 ± 0.17; P = .04) and systole (0.85 ± 0.18 versus 0.97 ± 0.11; P = .03) as compared to healthy dogs. Simpson method of disks (SMOD) right parasternal EF (55 ± 9 versus 60 ± 6; P = .07) and end systolic volume index (ESVI; 23 ± 10 versus 21 ± 6; P = .61), SMOD left apical EF (59 ± 9 versus 59 ± 6; P = .87) and ESVI (20 ± 8 versus 22 ± 6; P = .25), fractional shortening (FS; 34 ± 5 versus 33 ± 4; P = .39), M-mode EF (64 ± 7 versus 62 ± 5; P = .35), and ESVI (23 ± 11 versus 30 ± 9; P = .06) were not significantly different between SIRS and control group, respectively. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Speckle tracking X4D-EF and ENDO-G-Long-St are more sensitive than 2D and M-Mode FS, EF, and ESVI in detecting systolic impairment in dogs with SIRS.

Evaluation of a novel echocardiographic view for the assessment of the pulmonary artery in dogs.

OBJECTIVES: 1) To describe a novel echocardiographic view (left cranial oblique) for the assessment of the pulmonary artery in dogs 2) To compare this novel view with other standard views. ANIMALS: Prospective inclusion of 48 echocardiograms performed on client-owned dogs. METHODS: Two standard views and the novel view were compared for quality of 2D images and spectral Doppler traces and also for pulmonary annulus diameter and spectral Doppler velocities. Association between view, heart rate and body weight and quality, annulus diameter, pulsed-wave and continuous-wave velocities were analyzed using regression analysis. Agreement between views was assessed by Bland-Altman analysis. Pulsed-wave and continuous-wave velocities were compared using the sign test for medians. RESULTS: Forty-eight studies were undertaken of which thirty-nine were analyzed. The quality of 2D images was associated with view and heart rate. No significant difference was found in quality of spectral Doppler traces between views. Annulus diameter showed significant association with view, heart rate and weight. This measured about 0.26 cm less on one particular view. Spectral Doppler velocities showed no association with view, heart rate or weight. Continuous-wave velocities were significantly higher than pulsed-wave velocities in every view. CONCLUSIONS: The novel left cranial oblique view can be used as an additional tool for the echocardiographic evaluation of the pulmonary artery. The pulmonary annulus diameter was consistently smaller measured from the one standard view compared to both the novel and other standard views. Comparable quality and velocities were obtained for spectral Doppler. Continuous-wave and pulsed-wave modes were not interchangeable.