Evaluation of aging on muscle blood flow in conscious healthy dogs by duplex Doppler ultrasonography.

According to a study conducted on a population of 9,248 subjects, cardiac diseases are the second most prevalent cause of death in the dog. During the last decades, a common scenario has been the increase on life expectancy of dogs. The exact relationship between the negative modifications of cardiovascular function and the development of specific cardiovascular diseases is difficult to ascertain, and also, the effect of age per se on vascular impedance is important. It may result in limited cardiovascular reserve under conditions of increase demand in senescent animals. To evaluate the effect of age on the peripheral vasculature specifically, the objective of this study was to compare parameters of the regional blood flow as well as compliance and resistance indexes in the femoral arterial system of younger and older conscious healthy dogs by duplex Doppler ultrasonography. The data were collected from 16 mixed-breed dogs divided into two groups: young and old healthy dogs. In all dogs Doppler spectra blood flow patterns of the femoral artery were triphasic. Significant differences were not found between the parameters measured for young and old groups. Despite this, the average value of femoral flow volume in the older group was approximately 50% lower than the younger group. This finding could play an important role in limiting exercise response with age. In order to validate these speculations, further studies should be performed in aged dogs.

Excreção de oocistos de Cryptosporidium parvum em cães saudáveis das cidades de Lavras e Viçosa, Estado de Minas Gerais, Brasil / Cryptosporidium parvum oocyst excretion in healthy dogs from the cities of Lavras and Viçosa, Minas Gerais State, Brazil

Com o objetivo de determinar a freqüência de excreção de Cryptosporidium parvum foram coletadas 269 amostras de fezes de cães saudáveis, de áreas urbanas e rurais, dos municípios de Lavras e Viçosa, Estado de Minas Gerais. A detecção de oocistos foi realizada por um kit de ELISA direto (Alexon - Trend, USA). Do total de amostras analisadas, cinco (1.85 por cento) foram positivas para a excreção de C. parvum. Não houve diferença entre a freqüência de excreção para cães da área urbana e rural.

Cardiomiopatia dilatada em cäo: relato de caso / Canine dilated cardiomyopathy: case report

Um canino macho, sem raça definida, com três anos, pesando 36kg, foi atendido no Hospital Veterinário da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, apresentando tosse noturna, intolerância ao exercício, cansaço freqüente, emagrecimento e episódios de síncope. O exame clínico revelou mucosas discretamente cianóticas, tempo de perfusäo capilar aumentado, presença de sopro sistólico no ápice cardíaco esquerdo e sinais de insuficiência cardíaca congestiva. Foram realizados exames radiográficos, eletrocardiográficos e ecocardiográficos, sendo diagnosticada cardiomiopatia dilatada canina.