Reference values of echocardiographic indices with advancement of age in normal mongrel dogs

Present study was done on four apparently healthy mongrel pups. Echocardiography was done from first day of life to 10 months of age at regular intervals of 15 days. Dimensional echocardiographic indices i.e. aortic root dimension (Ao_m), left ventricular internal dimension at end-systole and end-diastole, left ventricular posterior wall thickness at end-systole and end-diastole, interventricular septal thickness at end-systole and end-diastole were measured. Functional echocardiographic indices i.e. fractional shortening, ejection fraction, left ventricle posterior wall and interventricular septum systolic thickening were calculated. Dimensional echocardiographic indices increased with advancement of age but functional echocardiographic indices were independent of age. Functional echocardiographic indices are better parameters to study morphological and functional cardiac homogeneity.