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Although atherosclerosis most commonly affects the systemic and coronary arteries of parrots, sclerotic changes within the pulmonary vasculature should be considered as a possible cause of pulmonary hypertension and as a differential diagnosis for right-sided congestive heart failure in psittacine species.

CASE DESCRIPTION - A 6-year-old castrated male Llewelyn Setter was evaluated because of an acute onset of myalgia and respiratory distress. CLINICAL FINDINGS - Physical examination revealed a stiff stilted gait, swollen muscles that appeared to cause signs of pain, panting, and ptyalism. The dog had a decrease in palpebral reflexes bilaterally and a decrease in myotatic reflexes in all 4 limbs. The panniculus reflex was considered normal, and all other cranial nerve reflexes were intact. Serum biochemical analysis revealed markedly high cardiac troponin-I concentration and creatine kinase and aspartate aminotransferase activities. Urinalysis revealed myoglobinuria. Results for thoracic and abdominal radiography, blood pressure measurement, and an ECG were within anticipated limits. Echocardiographic findings were consistent with secondary systolic myocardial failure. Arterial blood gas analysis confirmed hypoxemia and hypoventilation. The dog had negative results when tested for infectious diseases. Examination of skeletal muscle biopsy specimens identified necrotizing myopathy. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME - Treatment included ventilatory support; IV administration of an electrolyte solution supplemented with potassium chloride; administration of dantrolene; vasopressor administration; parenteral administration of nutrients; use of multimodal analgesics; administration of clindamycin, furosemide, mannitol, and enrofloxacin; and dietary supplementation with L-carnitine and coenzyme Q(10). Other medical interventions were not required, and the dog made a rapid and complete recovery. CLINICAL RELEVANCE - Necrotizing myopathy resulting in rhabdomyolysis and myoglobinuria can lead to life-threatening physical and biochemical abnormalities. Making a correct diagnosis is essential, and patients require intensive supportive care. The prognosis can be excellent for recovery, provided there is no secondary organ dysfunction.

Objective: Compare cardiac index (CI) and oxygen delivery index (DO 2 I) in conscious, critically ill dogs to control dogs; evaluate the association of CI and DO 2 I with outcome. (Po0.001). There was no difference in CI (P 5 0.49) or DO 2 I (P 5 0.51) for dogs that survived to discharge versus those that did not. There was no difference in mean CI (P 5 0.97) or DO 2 I (P 5 0.50) of survivors versus non-survivors for 28-day survival. Survivors had lower blood glucose (P 5 0.03) and serum lactate concentrations (P 5 0.04) than non-survivors. Conclusions: CI and DO 2 I in conscious dogs with SIRS were lower than control dogs, which differs from theories that dogs with SIRS are in a high cardiac output state. CI and DO 2 I were not significantly different between survivors and non-survivors. Similar to previous studies, lactate and glucose concentrations of survivors were lower than non-survivors.

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