Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Heart ultrasound and ECG results in Irish Wolfhounds on high
By Coppinger, Lily M et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2024·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Echocardiographic and electrocardiographic findings in Irish Wolfhounds eating high-pulse or low-pulse diets.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 97 Irish Wolfhounds was studied to see if their diet affected their heart health. The dogs were split into two groups based on whether they ate high-pulse diets (with ingredients like peas and lentils) or low-pulse diets. While there were no major differences in heart size or function, the dogs on high-pulse diets had a higher rate of abnormal heartbeats called ventricular premature complexes (VPCs). This suggests that high-pulse diets might be linked to early heart issues in these dogs, so owners should discuss diet choices with their veterinarian.
People also search for: Irish Wolfhound heart problems · high-pulse diet effects on dogs · dog diet and heart health
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Apparently healthy dogs of various breeds eating nontraditional, high-pulse diets can have larger left ventricular diameter, lower systolic function, and more ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) compared with dogs eating traditional, low-pulse diets. It is unknown whether Irish Wolfhounds eating high-pulse diets have similar cardiac abnormalities. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To compare electrocardiographic and echocardiographic findings between Irish Wolfhounds eating high- or low-pulse diets. ANIMALS: Ninety-seven Irish Wolfhounds. METHODS: Retrospective study of Irish Wolfhounds that had echocardiography performed at dog shows between October 2018 and May 2021. Demographic information, echocardiographic measurements, cardiac rhythm (1-minute lead II rhythm strip), and main diet were recorded retrospectively. Diets were classified as high-pulse or low-pulse based on the presence and location of pulses (peas, lentils, chickpeas, or dry beans) on the ingredient list. RESULTS: Thirty-five of 97 Irish Wolfhounds (36%) were eating high-pulse diets and 62 of 97 (64%) were eating low-pulse diets. There were no significant differences between diet groups in echocardiographic measurements. A significantly higher percentage of dogs in the high-pulse diet group (6/35 [17%]) had VPCs compared with those in the low-pulse diet group (1/62 [2%]; effect size = 0.15 [95% confidence interval: 0.004-0.31]; P = .005). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In this retrospective study of apparently healthy Irish Wolfhounds, high-pulse diets were associated with a higher prevalence of VPCs which could represent early cardiac abnormalities.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38609078/