Prevalence of physiological heart murmurs in a population of 95 healthy young adult dogs.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of physiological heart murmurs in healthy young adult dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Healthy dogs aged between 1 and 5 years were enrolled prospectively. All participating dogs underwent physical examination, urinalysis, blood testing and blood pressure measurement. Cardiac auscultations were performed by three independent examiners. Dogs with heart murmurs underwent echocardiography, to exclude cardiovascular abnormalities. RESULTS: Of 109 dogs evaluated, 95 completed the study. Heart murmurs were detected in 22 dogs. Interobserver agreement for murmur detection was moderate to fair (weighted kappa 0 · 29-0 · 56). On the basis of two different sets of echocardiographic criteria, physiological heart murmurs were diagnosed in 6 and 11 dogs, respectively, giving a prevalence of 6-12%. All physiological heart murmurs were systolic and low-grade (I-III/VI). Most were louder towards the left heart base and some radiated up to the thoracic inlet. The epidemiological features of dogs with physiological heart murmurs did not differ significantly from those of dogs without murmurs (P > 0 · 10). CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that physiological heart murmurs may not be limited to growing dogs or specific breeds, as they were commonly encountered in this population of healthy young adult dogs.

[Vascular diseases masking malignant tumors of soft tissues]. / Procesos vasculares enmascarando tumores malignos de partes blandas.

Two case reports with Myxoid and Pleomorphic varieties of Malign Fibrohistiocytoma are presented. In both cases, the first consult took place in an Angiology and Vascular Surgery Service, because their clinical symptoms were similar in the first case to such produced by the arteriovenous fistulas and in the second case, symptoms remaid to an hematoma secondary to a varicose vein rupture. Such rare and malign tumors often are diagnosed as vascular diseases, and they may be discovered in the usual clinical practice, so its important an accurate recognition as well as an adequate treatment.