Characterization of cardiac diseases in dogs prevalent in Indian Conditions

Cardiac diseases defined as structural, functional, mechanical and electrical abnormality of heart. Characterization of different cardiac diseases in dogs prevalent in North Indian conditions is least studied.

Out of total 2582 registered dogs, 41 were suspected for cardiac diseases based on clinical signs. Further confirmation and characterization was done by electrocardiography, radiography, echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers. Statistical analysis was done through SPSS 23.

Present study inferred, Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as the most prevalent cardiac affection. Left ventricular dilation, interventricular septum thinning, increased E point septal separation and left atrial enlargement were characteristic echocardiographic indices in DCM. Echocardiographic indices in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy were increased interventricular septum, left ventricular posterior wall and reduced left ventricular lumen. Labrador retriever found to be most predisposed breed for DCM while Rottweiler reported to be most affected with pericardial effusion. Cardiac Troponin-I (cTnI) was statistically (p<0.05) increased in all cardiac categories with cut off value above 92 ng/l indicating cardiac affection, while Lactate dehydrogenase serve as screening biochemical marker with significant increase in all the cardiac cases ranging from 291 IU/l to 586.4 IU/l.