Echocardiographic study of healthy Indian Spitz dogs with normal reference ranges for the breed

Abstract

Aim: The present study was aimed to determine the normal reference values of M-mode echocardiographic measurements in healthy Indian Spitz dogs and evaluate the influence of gender and body weight on these measurements. Materials and Methods: M-mode echocardiography was performed in twenty-four clinically healthy conscious Indian Spitz dogs, aged 3-5 years and weighing 7-18 kg. Measurements were made from the right parasternal long axis left ventricular outflow tract view of the heart. The parameters recorded were: Left ventricular internal dimension, interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness during diastole and systole, left atrial diameter, aortic root diameter, left ventricular systolic functional parameters, and indices and mitral valve parameters. Results: M-mode echocardiographic measurements in healthy Indian Spitz dogs were standardized. Gender had no influence on echocardiographic measurements except mitral valve excursion amplitude and time interval between onset and end of mitral valve closure, which were significantly (p<0.05) higher in females than males. Left ventricular internal dimension at end-diastole, left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole, left ventricular posterior wall dimension at end-systole, end-diastolic volume, end-systolic volume, stroke volume, cardiac output, left ventricular ejection time, and mitral valve excursion amplitude correlated significantly (p<0.05) with body weight in Indian Spitz dogs. Conclusion: Data obtained in the present study can be used as breed-specific reference values for cardiac disease diagnosis as well as for future studies in Indian Spitz dogs.

M-mode echocardiographic reference values in Pantja goats

“…LA and AO diameter and LA/AO in Pantja goats ( Table-1 ) was unaffected by gender. Similar findings were reported in Spitz, Labrador retriever and non-descript dogs [ 16 ]. Significantly (p<0.01) higher DE amplitude in male Pantja goats ( Table-1 ) was in accordance with findings in Spitz dogs [ 20 ].…”

“…Nonsignificant influence of gender on various echocardiographic parameters (LVDd, LVDs, IVSd, IVSs, LVPWd, LVPWs, EDV, ESV, SV, FS, EF, IVS%, LVPW%, LAs, AOd, LAPWd, LAPWs, LA/AO, DE amplitude and EPSS) in Pantja goats ( Table-1 ) was in accordance with findings reported in Spitz, Labrador retriever and non-descript dogs [ 16 ]. On contrary, significant differences in several echocardiographic parameters were observed between male and female Philippine native sheep [ 19 ].…”

“…The reason for this could be higher average BW of males compared to females used in above studies. Non-significant effect of gender on values of EF slope, AC interval, and EPSS was in accordance with findings in Spitz, Labrador retriever and non-descript dogs [ 16 ]. Males had slightly higher EPSS which might be due to greater left ventricular dimensions in male Pantja goats compared to females.…”

“…DE amplitude, EF slope, and AC interval in Pantja goats was 11.72±0.76 mm (6.7-17.6 mm), 122.44±4.49 mm/s (70-140 mm/s) and 92.55±4.15 ms (64-146 ms), respectively. Decreased value of DE amplitude is suggestive of advanced cardiomyopathy [ 16 ] while alteration in the normal value of E-F slope denotes altered flow across the MVs [ 17 ]. AC interval represented the time interval between maximum opening of MV cusps during atrial systole and their coaptation at the end of atrial systole.…”

“…A weak negative correlation of FS and EF with BW in Pantja goats was in accordance with previous findings in sheep [ 21 ]. Variation in the observation of these parameters can be explained by the fact that FS and EF are influenced by many parameters which include preload, afterload and contractility, all of which may act independently or in combination to affect this parameter [ 16 ]. Non-significant decrease in FS and EF values with increase in BW ( Table-2 ) could also be due to the reduction of the fractional contraction which occurs as a result of BW increase in animals [ 16 ].…”