Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
How echocardiography helps diagnose dilated heart disease in Irish
By Vollmar, A C·Published in Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association·1999·Small Animal Veterinary Hospital of Wissen, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of echocardiography in the diagnosis of dilated cardiomyopathy in Irish wolfhounds.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of Irish wolfhounds with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a serious heart condition, showed specific changes in their heart structure when examined with ultrasound (echocardiography). The study found that dogs with DCM had larger heart chambers and other notable measurements compared to healthy dogs. Many of the affected wolfhounds also had a condition called atrial fibrillation, which can lead to further heart issues. Understanding these signs can help veterinarians diagnose and manage heart problems in Irish wolfhounds more effectively.
People also search for: Irish wolfhound heart problems · dilated cardiomyopathy symptoms in dogs · echocardiography for dog heart disease
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to compare the echocardiographic features of Irish wolfhounds with clinically inapparent dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) (n = 33) to dogs with advanced DCM (n = 33) and to normal dogs (n = 262). Significant differences were detected between the three groups. In dogs with DCM, the most sensitive diagnostic measurements were: end-systolic volume index (ESVI), E-point to septal separation (EPSS), fractional shortening (FS), and left ventricular internal dimensions (LVIDd and LVIDs). Left atrial diameter was increased markedly in dogs with DCM and 83.3% of affected Irish wolfhounds had concurrent atrial fibrillation. Compared with early DCM, in advanced DCM there was a significant increase in end-diastolic right ventricular diameter, often combined with extensive pleural effusion, the leading sign of congestive heart failure in Irish wolfhounds.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10416770/