Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Right heart size and shape in small dogs with mitral valve leaks
By Carlsson, C et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary internal medicine·2009·University Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Size and shape of right heart chambers in mitral valve regurgitation in small-breed dogs.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of small-breed dogs with mitral valve regurgitation (a heart condition) was studied to see how their right heart chambers were affected. Among the 54 dogs, 41 had varying degrees of this condition, with some experiencing congestive heart failure (CHF). The researchers found that in dogs with CHF, the right heart chambers became enlarged and flattened, while those with mild to moderate regurgitation without CHF did not show significant enlargement. This suggests that monitoring the size and shape of the right heart can help understand heart issues in dogs with mitral valve problems.
People also search for: small dog heart problems · mitral valve regurgitation symptoms · congestive heart failure in dogs · right heart enlargement in dogs
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The contribution of right heart (RH) chamber enlargement to general heart enlargement seen on thoracic radiographs in mitral regurgitation (MR) is not known. OBJECTIVES: To determine the size and shape of the RH chambers in normal dogs and dogs with varying degrees of MR. ANIMALS: Fifty-four privately owned dogs: 13 normal, 41 with varying degrees of MR including 25 with congestive heart failure (CHF). METHODS: Archived first pass radionuclide angiocardiograms were used to produce static images of the RH and left heart (LH) chambers. Indexes of size and shape of the RH and LH chambers were related to severity of MR determined by heart rate-normalized pulmonary transit time (nPTT), vertebral heart scale (VHS), and clinical status. RH shape was measured by a circularity index of RH short axis/long axis. RESULTS: A 2nd degree polynomial fit best described the ratios; RH/LH dimension to nPTT (R(2)= 0.62) and to VHS (R(2)= 0.43), RH/LH area to nPTT (R(2)= 0.64) and to VHS (R(2)= 0.58), all P < .001. RH circularity was decreased in CHF, P < .001. In CHF, the RH chambers of 16 dogs were both flattened and enlarged, whereas 9 had convex septal borders. CONCLUSIONS: RH chambers are not significantly dilated in dogs with mild to moderate MR without CHF. In CHF, RH chambers enlarge and also may be compressed by the LH chambers. Pulmonary hypertension probably is present in some dogs with CHF. Increased sternal contact is not a useful sign of right-sided heart dilatation in MR.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19674279/