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Subject: Veterinary and Animal Sciences × Author: Dhanya, V Pai × Author: KAU × End date: 2010 × Start date: 2009 ×
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    ThesisItemOpen Access
    Clinical evaluation and management of dilated cardiomyopathy in dogs
    (College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Mannuthy, 2009) Dhanya, V Pai; KAU; Usha, Narayanan Pillai
    Eight dogs presented with clinical signs suggestive of cardiac problems and later confirmed for DCM were utilised for the detailed treatment studies. Signalment, history, electrocardiography, radiography, echocardiography, haematology, serum biochemistry and response to treatment of enalapril @ 0.5 mg/kg bid, valsartan @ 2 mg/kg bid and lasilactone @ 2mg/kg bid orally were studied. Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) was more commonly observed in middle aged dogs. The breed wise distribution of DCM indicated that Labrador Retriever was more prone to dilated cardiomyopathy (37.5 %) followed by Boxer (25 %), German shepherd (12.5 %), Spitz (12.5 %) and non - descript (12.5 %). Major clinical signs included cough (37.5 %), ascites (75 %), anorexia (75 %), polydypsia (50 %), syncope (25 %) and oedema of hind limbs (25 %). Exercise intolerance and dyspnoea were present in all cases. Mean temperature, pulse and respiration rates were within the normal range. Clinical examination revealed irregular pulse (37.5 %), weak femoral pulse (75 %) and pale mucous membrane (25 %) on the day of admission. Ascites and pulse deficit were present in 50 % and 75 % of the cases respectively. Thoracic auscultation revealed tachycardia (25 %) and pulmonary crackles (75 %). Mean heart rate was within the normal range. Sinus tachycardia (25 %), atrial fibrillation (12.5 %) and VPC (25 %) were the most common arrhythmias encountered in ECG. Ventricular pre-excitation was present in 12.5 % of the cases. All the ECG measurements were within the normal range except for a slight increase in the P wave duration indicating left atrial enlargement. Hence ECG could be used for initial diagnosis of cardiac problem. On radiographic examination major observations were generalised cardiomegaly, tracheal elevation, pulmonary congestion and pericardial effusion. Vertebral heart score showed significant increase in mean cardiac length, mean cardiac width, mean vertebral heart sizes and mean vertebral size of caudal vena cavae when compared to normal dogs. Echocardiographic four chamber view revealed left ventricular dilatation all cases. Pericardial effusion was present in 12.5 % of the cases. M–mode measurements showed reduced myocardial contractility in all cases. Fractional shortening (FS) had a mean value of 19.80 ± 1.71 %. Ejection fraction had a mean value of 43.43 ± 4.16 %. Haematobiochemical studies revealed mild anaemia with leukocytosis and neutrophilia. Anaemia might be caused by haemodilution effect due to fluid retension secondary to the activation of renin – angiotensin – aldosterone system. There was elevation of CPK value on day 1 when compared to the healthy controls which might be due to the cardiac muscle damage occurring in DCM. Treatment response was studied in six cases that survived for atleast 30 days. Clinical improvement was present in 62.5 % of the cases. Atrial fibrillation was absent on day 30 of treatment. Cough and skin rashes were the common side effects. Mean values of RBC and haemoglobin on day 30 showed a significant reduction indicating development of anemia due to direct effect of angiotensin on erythropoesis. Significant reduction in CPK on day 30 when compared to day 1 might be indicative of improvement in the coronary circulation following treatment.