Thumbnail Image

Thesis

Browse

20201
Reset filters
Author: BHARGAVI, MATLI × End date: 2020 × Thesis Type: Ph.D ×
Reset filters

Search Results

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    ThesisItemOpen Access
    CLINICO-THERAPEUTIC STUDIES ON DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN DOGS
    (SRI VENKATESWARA VETERINARY UNIVERSITY TIRUPATI - 517502. (A.P.) INDIA, 2020-02) BHARGAVI, MATLI; VAIKUNTA RAO, V (MAJOR); LAKSHMI RANI, N; SRINIVASA RAO, G; SUBRAMANYAM, K.V.
    The aim of the present study was to identify the survival and prognostic findings in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy, to quantify the cardiac dysfunction in dilated cardiomyopathy with M- mode and doppler echocardiographic examination and to study the efficacy of therapy adopted in dogs with dilated cardiomyopathy. Among 262 dogs presented with clinical signs of cardiac disease, dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was diagnosed in 26dogs.The present study revealed high occurrence of DCM in Labrador Retriever (76.92 per cent) followed by German Shepherd (11.54 per cent), Cocker Spaniel (3.85 per cent), Doberman Pinscher (3.85 per cent) and Rottweiler (3.85 per cent). Dogs in the age group of 4-8 years (61.54 per cent) had high occurrence of DCM followed by above 8 years (34.61 per cent) and below 4 years (3.85 per cent). Occurrence was more common in males (76.92 per cent) than females (23.08 per cent). The prominent clinical signs noticed in dogs with DCM were exercise intolerance, inappetence, lethargy, cough, weight loss, abdominal distension, laboured breathing, pedal edema and syncope. The physical examination findings in dogs with DCM included tachycardia, dyspnoea, ascites, pale mucous membranes, systolic murmur, crackles and gallop rhythm. Haematological studies in DCM dogs revealed decreased haemoglobin, packed cell volume and total erythrocyte count, while leukogram showed significant neutrophilic leukocytosis. Serum biochemical profile showed elevated levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), decreased levels of serum potassium and normal levels of serum alanine aminotransferase, serum creatinine and serum sodium in dogs with DCM. Qualitative estimation of cardiac troponin-I (cTnI) was found to be negative in all the dogs with DCM. NT-proBNP levels showed significant elevation in dogs with DCM. The prominent electrocardiographic findings noticed in dogs with DCM were low voltage QRS complexes, tall R wave, atrial premature complexes, ventricular premature complexes, sinus tachycardia, prolonged QRS complexes, ventricular tachycardia, atrial fibrillation and second degree atrioventricular block. The vertebral heart score and cardiothoracic ratio were significantly increased in dogs with DCM. The predominant thoracic radiographic findings in DCM dogs were cardiomegaly, pulmonary edema, left atrial enlargement, pleural effusion and pericardial effusion. Two dimensional echocardiography in dogs with DCM showed significant elevation of left atrium dimensions and LA/Ao; whereas aorta dimensions were significantly decreased. M-mode echocardiography revealed significant increase in LVIDd, LVIDs, EDV, ESV and EPSS in dogs with DCM, when compared with apparently healthy dogs. There was significant reduction in the values of LVPWd, LVPWs, IVSd and IVSs in DCM dogs, highly significant decrease in left ventricular contractility indices (FS and EF) were observed in dogs with DCM, when compared to apparently healthy dogs. Pulsed wave Doppler and continuous wave Doppler echocardiographic findings revealed mitral valve regurgitation in ten dogs with DCM. Color flow Doppler echocardiography depicted turbulent blood flow indicating mitral valve regurgitation in ten dogs with DCM. Tissue Doppler imaging in DCM dogs showed decreased systolic velocity, early diastolic velocity, late diastolic velocity and significant increase of Em:Am with normal isovolumic relaxation time and isovolumic contraction time. The unfavourable prognostic indicators identified in dogs with DCM were: signalment of dogs aged above 8 years; clinical signs of weight loss, open mouth breathing, orthopnoea, syncope; tachycardia and ascites on physical examination; high serum creatinine on serum biochemical profile; atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia on electrocardiogram; pulmonary edema and pleural effusion on thoracic radiography; fractional shortening below 10 percent and ejection fraction below 25 percent on M-mode echocardiography and restrictive transmitral flow pattern on pulsed wave Doppler echocardiography. Dogs with DCM were randomly allotted to two different treatment groups (Group-I and Group-II) and kept under treatment for a period of ninty (90) days. Group- I dogs were treated with pimobendan, enalapril, furosemide and cardiostrength. Group- II dogs were treated with pimobendan, hawthorn extract, enalapril, furosemide and cardiostrength. A noticeable improvement in clinical signs, electrocardiographic findings, thoracic radiographic findings, left ventricular dimensions and left ventricular contractility indices was observed in the two treatment groups after ninty days of treatment when compared to the pre-treatment values. There was no significant difference noticed in the left ventricular dimensions and the left ventricular contractility indices in between the treatment groups. However, the combination of hawthorn with the conventional treatment reduced the dose rate of the conventional drugs to half of their original dose and prolonged survival time was recorded when compared to the dogs treated with conventional therapy alone.