The use of some diagnostic techniques for evaluation of the cardiac size in normal dogs

Abstract

The present study was performed on 67 apparently healthy based on selection of dogs with no clinical significance of cardiac or pulmonary diseases. The dogs were of different both sexes (35 males and 32 females), different weights and average age (1-6 years). Dog breeds included in this study were German shepherd (22), Rottweiler (11), Mongrel (10), Griffon (8), Golden retriever (8) and Pitbull (8) dogs. Determination of heart size is important in evaluating patients with heart disease. Various diagnostic tools are used to evaluate cardiac size including thoracic radiography, echocardiography and electrocardiography. Clinical examination resulted in the exclusion of twelve dogs (14%) (six German shepherd dogs, four griffon dogs, one Pit bull dog and one Rottweiler dog) out of eighty two examined dogs. These dogs exhibited abnormal clinical signs, parameters and heart murmurs.