Cardiovascular disease

Question 1

Flow of blood through the heart

Answer 1

Left Atrium→ left ventricle→ aorta→ body→ vena cava (cranial, caudal) → right atrium→ right ventricle→ pulmonary artery, → lungs—> pulmonary vein→ left atrium

Question 2

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) Seen in

Answer 2

Middle age male dogs
Big dogs
Especially dobermans and great danes

Question 3

DCM makes what changes to the heart

Answer 3

Weak, flabby heart
Weakened heart muscle
Stretched
Less effective pumping
Decreased out-flow→ decreased perfusion
Back up→ pulmonary hypertension

Question 4

Presenting complaints with DCM

Answer 4

Breed
Weak, shaking, lethargic, exercise intolerance, syncope
Cough; other breathing issues
Sudden collapse
Treat as an emergency

Question 5

Response if suspected DCM

Answer 5

TPR
Listen to heart and lung sounds
Check mucus membranes
Oxygen if needed
Get vet!
Place IV catheter if stable enough and not too stressful to do so

Question 6

Treatment goals for DCM

Answer 6

Increased tissue perfusion
Decrease heart rate
Correct pulmonary hypertension
Never stop meds!!
Furosemide
Ace-inhibitors (enalapril, benazepril)
PIMOBENDAN = VETMEDIN
Low salt diet
Controlled exercise

Question 7

Mitral valve disease is and most common in

Answer 7

Degenerative
#1 cardiovascular disease in dogs
Little dogs
White fluffy dogs
Old little dogs
Chihuahuas
can be made worse by dental disease

Question 8

Pathology of mitral valve disease

Answer 8

Damaged valve doesn’t close properly
Leaking valve= turbulence= murmur
Heart has to work harder to maintain stroke volume
Because there is backflow of blood
Can lead to HCM

Question 9

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is most common in

Answer 9

“little old dogs”
Secondary to mitral valve disease
#1 cardiac disease in cats
Primary disease- main coons and ragdolls
Secondary to hyperthyroidism

Question 10

Pathology with HCM

Answer 10

Ventricular volume is reduced so heart can’t push out as much blood with each contraction
Decreased perfusion
Blood backs up into pulmonary system
Pulmonary hypertension→ pulmonary edema, pleural effusion

Question 11

Presenting complaint with HCM

Answer 11

These are emergencies
Exercise intolerance, coughing, weakness, shaking, syncope, collapse
Open mouth breathing in cats, increased resp effort
Cyanosis, very pale mm

Question 12

Treatment goals for HCM

Answer 12

Slow down heart
Decrease pulmonary blood pressure- both with medication and by decreasing stressful events
Do not stop medications!!!
Low salt diet for clinical heart disease

Question 13

Heartworm signalment

Answer 13

Dogs > cats> ferrets
Travel history

Question 14

Heartworm pathology

Answer 14

Obstruct pulmonary artery
Heartworm emboli blocks blood flow in smaller blood vessels
Right sided heart failure
Heartworm prevention does exist

Question 15

Saddle thrombus is

Answer 15

Thromboembolic disease in cats

Question 16

Clinical presentation of saddle thrombus

Answer 16

Depends on where thromboembolism goes
Can be anywhere
Most common is branch of iliac artery
Causes hind end weakness or paralysis, very painful- EMERGENCY

Question 17

Treatment for saddle thrombus

Answer 17

Most likely euthanasia because of how painful it is