Heart Disease In Dogs Research Articles

Speckle tracking echocardiography for evaluation of myocardial functions before and after mitral valvuloplasty in dogs.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs. Mitral valvuloplasty (MVP) addresses regurgitation, but the pre- and postoperative changes in myocardial function remain uncertain. This study evaluated myocardial motion before and after MVP using two-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (2D-STE). Eight client-owned dogs undergoing MVP for MMVD. Myocardial deformation was assessed by 2D-STE before surgery and at 1- and 3-months post-surgery. Measurements included left ventricular global longitudinal strain (GLS), global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS), cardiac twist, and right ventricular free wall GLS (RVFW-GLS). Postoperative decreases were observed in left ventricular internal dimensions, left atrial size, and early diastolic myocardial velocity, with an increase in peak late diastolic velocity. LV-GLS decreased at 1 month (-14.4%) and 3 months (-16.3%) compared to preoperative values (-24.4%) (p = 0.0078, p = 0.015). GCS decreased at 1 month (-12.9%) and 3 months (-14.8%) compared to preoperative values (-21.7%) (p = 0.0078). GRS decreased at 1 month (27.7%) and 3 months (32.0%) compared to preoperative values (67.7%) (p = 0.0078). No significant changes were observed in RVFW-GLS. Peak systolic twist increased at 3 months (9.1° vs. 4.9°, p = 0.039). Peak systolic apical rotation showed an upward trend at 3 months (p = 0.109). Left ventricular twist was mildly affected by LVIDd, LVIDDN, and sphericity index (R 2 = 0.187, p = 0.034; R 2 = 0.33, p = 0.0029; R 2 = 0.22, p = 0.019). Postoperative myocardial motion approached reference values, indicating significant improvement, particularly in left ventricular twisting motion. These findings highlight the positive impact of surgery on cardiac function in dogs with MMVD.

Transcatheter Edge-to-Edge Repair of the Mitral Valve in Four Dogs: Preliminary Results Regarding Efficacy and Safety.

Mitral valve disease is a common heart disease in dogs. The aim of this study was to describe the cases of dogs that underwent mitral valve repair via a V-clamp device and to provide long-term follow-up data on cardiac function after mitral valve repair. Four dogs with mitral valve regurgitation who experienced coughing and dyspnea underwent surgical mitral valve repair between December 2023 and March 2024. The patients were evaluated via transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography. Echocardiography revealed mitral valve leaflet regurgitation. Mitral valve repair was performed under general anesthesia using a V-clamp device introduced through an introducer wire guide. Echocardiography was conducted at baseline and during the six-month follow-up. Blood analysis results after surgical repair were normal. Follow-up echocardiography revealed no complications related to the procedure, with all dogs demonstrating improved respiratory signs and quality of life after repair. No adverse reactions were reported after surgery. A V-clamp device was used to repair mitral valve regurgitation in four dogs. Mitral valve repair via a V-clamp device is another treatment option for mitral valve disease in dogs.

Characterization of Canine Patients with Heart Disease based on Age at the Pet`a Vet Veterinary Clinic in Guatemala City, Guatemala

In this study, the clinical records of canine patients seen at the Pet`a Vet veterinary clinic in Guatemala between 2018 and 2020 were analyzed with the aim of investigating heart disease in dogs in the region. From a total of 1215 records reviewed, 825 cases of heart disease were identified, with chronic mitral valve disease being the most frequent. A higher incidence was observed in males and in Schnauzer breed dogs. In addition, the majority of diagnosed patients were found to be 9 years of age or older. These results provide valuable information on the epidemiology of canine heart disease in Guatemala, which may be useful to improve its diagnosis and clinical management.

Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease in Large Breed Dogs: Survival Characteristics and Prognostic Variables.

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs and its occurrence in small-and medium-sized dogs has been extensively investigated. MMVD has been described in large breed dogs as well, but substantial knowledge gaps remain. The aim of this study was to provide characteristics, survival times, and prognostic variables in large breed dogs with MMVD. Medical records of dogs diagnosed with MMVD, between 2012 and 2021, were retrospectively reviewed and 202 dogs were analyzed. Median survival time (MST) for all-cause mortality was 800 days for stage B1 dogs, 274 days for stage B2 dogs, and 184 days for stage C dogs. The MST for cardiac-related death for B1 dogs could not be calculated (because survival was greater than 50% at the last timepoint) and for stage B2 and C dogs the MST were 484 and 252 days, respectively. These findings suggest that the frequency of cardiac-related death is low in large breed dogs with stage B1 MMVD. In addition, increased left atrial and ventricular size, evidence of systolic dysfunction, a thrilling murmur, and increased early trans-mitral peak velocity are predictors of cardiac-related death. Data also suggest that the risk of a negative outcome increases profoundly when large breed dogs advance from ACVIM stage B1 into stage B2 or C.

Pimobendan controlled release guar gum printlets: Tailoring drug doses for personalised veterinary medicines

Treating chronic heart diseases in dogs is challenging due to variations in mass within and between species. Pimobendan (PBD), a veterinary drug only, is prescribed in specific cases of chronic heart disease in dogs and is available on the market in only a few different doses. Furthermore, the therapy itself is challenging due to the large size of the chewable tablets and the requirement for twice-daily administration. The development of customised and on-demand PBD medicines by three-dimensional (3D) printing has been proposed to circumvent these disadvantages. In this study, we designed controlled-release flavoured printlets containing PBD. We evaluated the use of two natural polymers, guar or xanthan gums, as the main component of the printing inks. Guar gum showed the better rheological behavior and printability by semisolid extrusion. The printlets were produced in three different shapes and sizes to allow dose customisation. Guar gum printlets showed a PBD controlled release profile, regardless of their shape or size. Therefore, we have demonstrated a novel approach for controlling PBD drug release and tailoring the dose by employing a natural polymer to produce 3D-printed tablets. This study represents a significant step towards the development of 3D-printed guar gum controlled-release formulations for veterinary applications.

Identifying and treating heart disease in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels

Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common acquired heart disease in dogs. The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is predisposed to myxomatous mitral valve disease and overrepresented in epidemiological studies. They are high risk for an early onset of the disease, and it is more likely to progress. The exact cause is unknown, which makes early diagnosis and treatment crucial. A consensus statement has been produced by the American College of Veterinary Medicine which has classified myxomatous mitral valve disease into four different stages and provides guidance on diagnosis and treatment. While treatment is now recommended at the preclinical phase of myxomatous mitral valve disease, time to cardiac death from the onset of heart failure remains at approximately 11–12 months. However, myxomatous mitral valve disease is a variable disease, and not all dogs will progress to heart failure.

Impact of a combination of pimobendan, furosemide, and enalapril on heart rate variability in naturally occurring, symptomatic, myxomatous mitral valve degeneration dogs

BackgroundPimobendan, diuretics, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) are widely used for the management of chronic valvular heart disease in dogs; however, the effects of that combination on heart rate variability (HRV) are unknown. The purpose of this study was to assess the HRV of symptomatic myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) dogs in response to therapy with a combination of pimobendan, diuretics, and ACEi.ResultsMMVD stage C (n = 17) dogs were enrolled and a 1-hour Holter recording together with echocardiography, blood pressure measurement, and blood chemistry profiles were obtained before and 1, 3, and 6 months after oral treatment with pimobendan (0.25 mg/kg), enalapril (0.5 mg/kg), and furosemide (2 mg/kg) twice daily. The results revealed that MMVD stage C dogs at the baseline had lower values of time-domain indices, low frequency (LF), high frequency (HF), and total power, as well as higher value of LF/HF. Triple therapy significantly increases these parameters in MMVD stage C dogs (P < 0.05). A positive moderate correlation was observed between time domain parameters and a left ventricular internal diastole diameter normalized to body weight (P < 0.05).ConclusionsIt can be concluded that MMVD stage C dogs possess low HRV due to either the withdrawal of parasympathetic tone or enhanced sympathetic activation, and a combination therapy was shown to enhance cardiac autonomic modulation inferred from the increased heart rate variability. Therefore, a combination therapy may be useful for restoring normal autonomic nervous system activity in dogs with MMVD stage C.

Evaluation of antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve degeneration stage B1.

Myxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is the most common naturally occurring heart disease in dogs. There is a lack of data on antioxidant status and oxidative damage in dogs with MMVD stage B1 according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM B1). The aim of this study was to investigate antioxidant status (plasma vitamin E, lipid-standardized vitamin E (LS-VitE), antioxidant capacity of lipid-(ACL) and water-soluble antioxidants, whole blood glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase), and lipid peroxidation [malondialdehyde (MDA)] in dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1. Serum cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were measured to calculate LS-VitE. Fourteen dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1 and 12 control dogs were included in the study. Dogs with MMVD had significantly higher vitamin E, ACL, MDA, and cholesterol concentrations and significantly higher LS-VitE values than control dogs. No significant correlations between MDA and antioxidant parameters were determined in either group. In conclusion, oxidative damage to lipids is already present and the antioxidant status is altered but not depleted in dogs with MMVD ACVIM B1. The antioxidant response to increased oxidative damage consists mainly of the activation of fat-soluble antioxidants. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy and targets of early antioxidant supplementation to prevent or ameliorate oxidative stress and mitigate disease progression in dogs with early-stage MMVD.

The effect of pimobendan and enalapril use on blood serum trace element levels in dogs with myxomatous mitral valve disease

Background and objectiveMyxamatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is a common acquired heart disease in dogs that can lead to progressive and long-term congestive heart failure (CHF). Pimobendan and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) are commonly used in MMVD treatment. Trace elements are essential for maintaining cardiovascular functions. Synergistic or antagonistic interactions between some trace elements and substances are widely known. In our study, it was aimed to evaluate the effects of treatment duration, age, weight and gender on serum trace element levels in dogs with MMVD by using pimobendan and enalapril as monotherapy. Material-Methods13 dogs with MMVD were treated with pimobendan (0.25–0.3 mg/kg, q12h, PO Vetmedin®) and 21 dogs with MMVD were treated with enalapril (0.25–0.5 mg/kg, q12h, PO Enapril®) for at least 30 days. The serum trace element levels (Cu, Zn, Fe, Co, Mg, Mn, Se, Cr) of all patients were measured with Inductively coupled plasma-Optical emission spectroscopy device. Relevances were evaluated related to treatment duration, age, weight and gender in each treatment group. ResultsAdjusted R2 values of the model, which included treatment, treatment duration, treatment x duration interaction, age, weight and gender as predictors, were negative except for Se. Furthermore, the model explained only 10.4% of the variation in Se. The effect of age was significant in the model of Se (β = 0.462; P = 0.028). Treatment duration also tended to be significant in the prediction of Se concentration (β = -0.364; P = 0.086). ConclusionWe consider that treatment (enalapril vs. pimobendan), treatment duration, treatment x duration interaction, weight and gender were not good predictors of trace elements. In our study, age contributed significantly only to the Se level.

Prevalence of mitral valve regurgitation in 102 asymptomatic Chinese Crested dogs

IntroductionMitral regurgitation (MR) is one of the main features of myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD), which is the most common heart disease in dogs. Myxomatous mitral valve disease affects many small breed dogs, and some breeds such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Dachshunds, Yorkshire terriers, and Miniature Schnauzers have been studied more in detail. Breed-specific information regarding MMVD is valuable for providing appropriate advice on management and breeding. Data, based on insurance statistics in Sweden, show that Chinese Crested dogs (CCD) are twice as likely to visit the veterinarian for a heart-related problem than other breeds. AnimalsOne-hundred two privately owned, healthy CCD were recruited via the Swedish CCD club. Materials and methodsThis was a prospective observational study, in which clinical examinations, blood pressure measurements, and echocardiographic and Doppler examinations were performed in all dogs. Pulsed wave tissue Doppler imaging was performed in 87 dogs. ResultsMitral regurgitation was present in 39 (38%) dogs, whereas a systolic murmur was present in 35 (34%) dogs. Mitral valve prolapse was present in 32 (31%) dogs. Tricuspid regurgitation was found in 29 (28%) dogs. Dogs in the MR group were older (median 9.5 years), and males were overrepresented compared with the non-MR group. Differences were also found between groups regarding left atrial size and transmitral E wave velocity. ConclusionsThe prevalence of MR in CCD is similar to reports in other small breeds. Whether the MR detected in these dogs is a sign of MMVD is unknown.

Can cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 (CILP1) use as a novel biomarker for canine myxomatous mitral valve degeneration levels or not?

BackgroundMyxomatous mitral valve degeneration (MMVD) is the most common degenerative heart disease in dogs and is associated with irreversible changes in the valve tissue. Although traditional cardiac biomarkers are efficient for diagnosing MMVD, there are limitations, therefore, it is important to find novel biomarkers. Cartilage intermediate layer protein 1 (CILP1), an extracellular matrix-derived protein, acts as a transforming growth factor-β antagonist and is involved in myocardial fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate serum CILP1 levels in canines with MMVD. Dogs with MMVD were staged according to the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine consensus guidelines. Data analysis was performed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman’s correlation, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.ResultsCILP1 levels were elevated in dogs with MMVD (n = 27) compared to healthy controls (n = 8). Furthermore, results showed that CILP1 levels were significantly higher in stage C group dogs compared to healthy controls. The ROC curve of CILP1 and NT-proBNP were good predictors of MMVD, although no similarity was observed between the two. Left ventricular end-diastolic diameter normalized to the body weight (LVIDdn) and left atrial to aorta dimension (LA/Ao) showed a strong association with CILP1 levels; however, no correlation was observed between CILP1 levels and vertebral heart size (VHS) and vertebral left atrial score (VLAS). The optimal cut-off value was selected from the ROC curve and dogs were classified according to the cut-off value (1.068 ng/mL, sensitivity 51.9%, specificity 100%). Results showed a significant association of CILP1 with cardiac remodeling indicators, such as VHS, VLAS, LA/Ao, and LVIDdn.ConclusionsCILP1 can be an indicator of cardiac remodeling in canines with MMVD and therefore, can be used as an MMVD biomarker.

RADIOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT OF VERTEBRAL HEART SCALE IN KOREAN WILD RACCOON DOGS (NYCTEREUTES PROCYONOIDES KOREENSIS).

Raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides koreensis), which belong to the Canidae family, are the second most injured wildlife animals rescued by the Gangwon Wildlife Medical Rescue Center. Various imaging evaluation methods including echocardiography have been developed, but thoracic radiography remains essential for the diagnosis and management of heart disease in dogs. In particular, vertebral heart scale (VHS) measurement is usually used to evaluate the dimensions of the heart silhouette on thoracic radiographs and can measure cardiomegaly more objectively. The VHS of 50 raccoon dogs without cardiac diseases were measured using thoracic radiography in right lateral (RL) and ventrodorsal (VD) recumbent positions. The VHS in the RL view of 50 raccoon dogs was 9.03 ± 0.52 vertebrae (v), which was slightly smaller than the VHS measured in the VD view of 46 raccoon dogs (9.79 ± 0.84 v). In addition, the thoracic morphology of raccoon dogs was determined to be intermediate (thoracic depth-to-width ratio, 0.75-1.25), and thoracic morphology, gender, and weight were not significantly correlated with VHS. The VHS of raccoon dogs in this study will help veterinarians diagnose potential cardiac diseases in raccoon dogs.

Risk Factors for Heart Disease in Pet Dogs Attended At a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Malaysia

The distribution and risk factors of canine heart disease in Malaysia are still not widely studied. This retrospective study examined the distribution of common canine heart diseases and the role of gender, age group, and breed size as risk factors of the dogs in a teaching hospital in Malaysia. Medical records of all dogs presented between 2013 and 2020 with a heart disease diagnosed were reviewed and analyzed. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was carried out to identify the risk factors for canine heart diseases in general and based on specific disease. In a duration of 7 years, a total of 9255 dog cases were presented and 7.9% (n=734, 95% CI: 0.07-0.09) of the dogs were diagnosed with heart disease. Majority of heart disease cases were valvular disease (n=528, 95% CI: 0.05-0.06), followed by heartworm disease (n=113. 95% CI: 0.01-0.01), dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n=90, 95% CI: 0.01-0.01). Senior (OR 3.54, 95% CI: 2.32-5.37) and small breed (OR 6.74, 95% CI: 4.51-10.1) dogs had higher risk for valvular disease, while large breed (OR 7.18, 95% CI: 4.00-13.01) dogs were at risk for heartworm disease. Male (OR 1.83, 95% CI:1.11-3.04) and large breed dogs (OR 3.12, 95% CI: 1.80-5.39) had greater risk for DCM, respectively. Gender, age group and breed size play important role in predicting the likelihood of heart diseases in dogs and are best to be applied in the context of specific heart diseases. Information obtained would assist clinicians with their clinical diagnosis of the heart disease.

Evaluation of endothelial cell-specific molecule-1 as a biomarker of glycocalyx damage in canine myxomatous mitral valve disease

BackgroundEndothelial cell-specific molecule-1 (ESM-1) has emerged as a potential biomarker for cardiovascular disease in humans. Myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD) is the most common heart disease in dogs, and we hypothesized that MMVD causes chronic inflammation that increases susceptibility to endothelial glycocalyx (eGCX) damage. In this study, we measured the concentration of ESM-1 in a group of dogs with MMVD and evaluated factors affecting eGCX damage.ResultsSixty-four dogs (control, n = 6; MMVD, n = 58) were enrolled in this study. There was no significant difference in serum ESM-1 concentrations among the MMVD stages. The serum ESM-1 concentration was significantly higher in the death group than in the alive group in MMVD dogs. (p = 0.006). In five dogs with MMVD, serum ESM-1 concentrations tended to decrease when the cardiac drug (pimobendan, furosemide, and digoxin) dose was increased.ConclusionsIn cases where MMVD progressed to decompensated heart failure with clinical symptoms and resulted in death, the concentration of serum ESM-1 increased significantly. Therefore, ESM-1 could be utilized as a new potential negative prognostic factor in patients with MMVD.

Congested Heart Failure in Small Breeds Dogs

Mitral valve disease, commonly known as MVD, is the most common heart disease in dogs, accounting for nearly 75% of all dogs affected. The characteristic of this predominant disease includes collagen degradation, elastic fiber fragmentation and proteoglycan accumulation, leading to deterioration of the mitral valve and ultimately, congestive heart failure (CHF). Treatment to reverse or even delay the damaging effects of MVD has not yet been discovered due to a lack of awareness of the underlying processes. Furthermore, this disease in dogs has many similarities with the human MVD and may potentially serve as a translational model for studying MVD further. Therefore, it is imperative to identify the causes and underlying mechanisms associated with canine MVD in order to treat these patients more efficiently at the earliest detectable stage. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small, 21‐25 nucleotides in length, non‐coding RNAs that can down‐regulate the expression of protein coding genes by binding to the 3’UTR sites in their messenger RNAs (mRNA), causing either degradation or gene silencing. Prior studies have shown that one miRNA may regulate multiple mRNAs, subsequently effecting the downstream levels of gene expression. Furthermore, if miRNAs prove to be a useful biomarker of heart disease, not only may they serve as detectors of early disease onset, but they may also be useful as therapeutic agents. Given this recent data, we propose to test the hypothesis that circulating miRNAs may be useful biomarkers for detection of CHF, secondary to MVD. Liquid biopsies (blood samples) were collected in EDTA tubes from 7 healthy dogs with no prior history of heart disease and 7 dogs being treated for CHF secondary to MVD. Total serum RNA was isolated using miRNeasy Serum/Plasma Kit (Qiagen). Isolated RNA was then reverse transcribed using miScript II RT Kit (Qiagen) and lastly, miRNA was quantified using miScript SYBR Green PCR Kit, along with miScript miRNA PCR Arrays (Qiagen).

Retrospective Evaluation of Cardiopulmonary Diseases in Cats and Dogs: 570 Cases

Retrospective evaluation of the cardiopulmonary data is the main point in prevention and treatment of the diseases. In this study, it was aimed to retrospectively evaluate the data of 570 client-owned patients (321 dogs and 249 cats) referred to cardiology unit. The clinical findings, electrocardiographic data, echocardiography and blood analyses were evaluated. Acquired heart disease in 214 patients (37.54%), congenital heart disease in 38 patients (6.6%), and diseases affecting the lower and/or upper respiratory tract in 98 patients (17.19%) were found. Dilated cardiomyopathy was the most common acquired heart disease, and patent ductus arteriosus was the most common congenital heart disease in dogs. In cats, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy was the most common acquired heart disease, while tricuspid valve dysplasia was the most common congenital heart disease. It was concluded that clinical findings, physical examination and diagnostic applications should be evaluated together in the diagnosis of cardiopulmonary diseases.

Evaluation of plasma N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels in healthy North American Salukis with normal echocardiographic measurements

Measurement of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels has been shown to have clinical significance for diagnosis and management of heart disease in dogs. Evaluation of current reference limits for specific breeds is necessary to ensure the test can accurately distinguish between healthy and diseased animals. The objective of this study is to evaluate the adequacy of currently established NT-proBNP reference limits for clinical use in healthy Salukis. Cardiac health of 33 clinically healthy Salukis was evaluated via echocardiography using available breed standards. Plasma concentrations of NT-proBNP were measured using a commercially available assay. A one-sided 97.5% upper reference limit for the NT-proBNP concentrations was calculated using non-parametric percentile method. The 97.5% upper reference limit was 769 pmol/L (90% CI, 547-1214 pmol/L) for the study dogs. This upper reference limit was within the currently established non-breed specific NT-proBNP upper reference limit of 900 pmol/L. No relationship between sex, age, or body weight on plasma levels of NT-proBNP was noted. Results of this study supports the use of currently available non-breed specific NT-proBNP cut-off values for clinical evaluation of healthy Salukis.

​Atrial Septal Defect (Secundum Type) in Dogs- A Study for 15 Years

Background: Congenital anomalies in dogs are the defects present at birth and often lead to perinatal death if it involves any vital organ or system like cardiovascular system. Some dogs may remain asymptomatic or may have non cardiac manifestations and hence, undetected until later in life, so the percentage of dogs with congenital heart diseases that survive to adulthood can be rather high. Atrial septal defect (ASD) is an unusual congenital heart disease in dogs that is characterized by communication between the two atria due to a defect in the interatrial septum. Methods: A thorough clinical examination followed by physical examination, thoracic radiography and 2d-echocardiography was performed to determine the septal defect. Doppler evaluation of ASD dogs was carried out to confirm the blood flow direction through the septal defect, which was managed medically. Result: In the present study, ASD (secundum type) was diagnosed in 7 dogs (7.5%) aged between 2y-6y. Boxer, German shepherd, Cocker spaniel, Daschund and Pomeranian were the breeds affected. Soft systolic murmur on left heart base and pulmonic valve area, low intensity heart sounds, distended jugular vein, jugular pulse and ascites were the significant findings on physical examination. Though few dogs (21%) were asymptomatic, exercise intolerance, dyspnoea, general weakness, cough and syncope were the presenting signs among other cases. Enlarged right heart, pleural effusion and pulmonary overcirculation were radiographic findings. 2d-echocardiographic evaluation determined the presence of the defect as a loss of echogenicity at the interatrial septum and presence of interatrial communication of varied size, enlargement of main pulmonary artery and thick atrio-ventricular valves but with normal left atrium:aorta base ratio, increased fractional shortening, systolic function and paradoxal septal motion. The colour flow Doppler study demonstrated a continuous flow with left-to-right shunt.

Key considerations in the approach to congenital heart disease in dogs and cats.

Congenital heart disease is an important subset of all cardiovascular disease in dogs and cats that is present at birth and most often detected in young animals but can be diagnosed in adulthood. The range of abnormalities that can occur during development of the heart is vast incorporating simple and complex defects, varying degrees of severity and clinical presentations that include heart failure and cyanosis. While some defects do not result in morbidity in an individual animal, others cause severe clinical signs and death at a young age. Advances in imaging and expanding treatment options offer increasingly more possibilities in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease which is the focus of this review. The objective is to provide a broad overview of current practice and highlight key aspects to guide practitioners in their approach to congenital heart disease diagnosis and knowledge of available treatment options.

Biomechanical-Structural Correlation of Chordae tendineae in Animal Models: A Pilot Study.

Simple SummaryThe Chordae tendineae are part of the atrioventricular apparatus. They are mainly responsible for the mechanical functions of heart valves. Degenerative mitral valve disease is the most common heart disease in dogs and is responsible for about 75% of cases of heart failure. One of the complications of this disease is Chordae tendineae rupture. It is clinically relevant to better understand the biomechanical and structural properties of CT in order to begin further studies about biomarkers suggesting an episode of CT rupture. Such an episode leads to acute pulmonary oedema and worsens the clinical status of the patient. Information about the biomechanical and structural properties of healthy CT and CT affected by the degenerative process are essential in understanding how CT behave in an in vivo environment.The mitral valve apparatus is a complex structure consisting of the mitral ring, valve leaflets, papillary muscles and Chordae tendineae (CT). The latter are mainly responsible for the mechanical functions of the valve. Our study included investigations of the biomechanical and structural properties of CT collected from canine and porcine hearts, as there are no studies about these properties of canine CT. We performed a static uniaxial tensile test on CT samples and a histopathological analysis in order to examine their microstructure. The results were analyzed to clarify whether the changes in mechanical persistence of Chordae tendineae are combined with the alterations in their structure. This study offers clinical insight for future research, allowing for an understanding of the process of Chordae tendineae rupture that happens during degenerative mitral valve disease—the most common heart disease in dogs.