Cardiovascular diseases

Question 1

Which of the following conditions xan be associated with sudden death in large breed dogs?

1. Patent ductus arteriosus
2. Mitral valve disease
3. Dilated cardiomyopathy
4. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

1. Vascular abnormality + congenital
2. Breed - CKCS - screened by cardiologist + on the health scheme, also known as Vascular Endocardiosis + more common in S > M dogs than cats
3. Seen in Dobermanns - may not present w/any Csigns until they die, genetic, has long pre-clinical phase > compensatory phase > causes fatal cardiac arrthymias > sudden death
4. Seen most commonly in cats

Answer 1

Dilated cardiomyopathy

Question 2

Select the diagnostic technique that would provide a definitive diagnosis of structural heart disease

1. History + breed
2. Ultrasonography
3. Thoracic radiography
4. Cardiac pro-enzyme assay

Answer 2

Ultrasonography

1 -
2 - Can visualise activity + thickness of the valves, size of heart wall, width of chambers within the heart
3 - Tells if heart is an abnormal shape or if enlarged but won’t tell if valves are working/moving or chamber’s thickness has increased or decreased
4 -

Question 3

Which condition is commonly associated with Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy?

1. Taurine deficiency
2. Chronic renal failure
3. Feline immunodeficiency virus
4. Hyperthyroidism

Answer 3

Hyperthyroidism

1 - Related to dilated cardiomyopathy
2-
3 -
4 - Most common endocrine condition in cats, overeactive thyroid gland, presence closely implicated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in cats

• Cats can get this complication
• Loses sensation + circulation in their hindlimbs = > Aortic thromboemolisim
• Blood clot dislodges > moves > lodges in aorta where it biforcates to form in femoral artery > cold paws > loss of sensation in periphereal hind-limbs

Question 4

Seen in CKCS…

Most common acquired heeart disease in dogs…

The aeitology of Mitral valve disease is…
1. A degenerative condition of unknown cause with a presumed genetic component
2. Inflammatory condition that leads to fluid production secondary to underly cause such as infection or tumour
3. A congenital defect that occurs due to failure of normal foetal vascular development
4. A congenital defect that leads to mixing of oxygenated and deoxygenatd blood in the cardiac chambers

Answer 4

A degenerative condition of unknown cause with a presumed genetic component

• Acquired disease = develops during course of animal’s life
  1 -
  2 - Pericarditis
  3 - Patent ductus arteroisus
  4 - Indicates a hole in the septum, as oxygenated + deoxygenated blood doesn’t mix! + Atrial septal defect or large septal defect

Question 5

True or False.

Valvular disease isn’t the mixing of oxygenated + deoxygenated blood, it’s the regurgitation of blood, that affects the cardiac output

Answer 5

True!

Question 6

Explain why a patient with cardiac disease may present with a cough?

Answer 6

Due to pulmonary oedema!

Question 7

How do patients with cardiac disease get pulmonary odema?

Answer 7

Due to elevated hydrostatic pressure (heart cannot pump blood in correct direction) in the pulmonary capillaries, it backs-up into the veins, through to the lungs