Indian Journal of Veterinary Surgery

In this study, radiographic, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic features of Labrador retrievers having occult dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) were compared with normal Labrador retrievers. Sixteen clinically healthy Labrador retrievers (aged 4.69±1.82 yr, weighing 27.81±5.28 kg) without historical, clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic signs of heart disease and nine Labrador retrievers (aged 5.39±1.73 yr, weighing 31.33±3.08 kg) with occult DCM were included in the study. Significant (P<0.05) differences in the vertebral heart score and M-mode echocardiographic parameters, and non-significant (P>0.05) differences in electrocardiographic and Doppler echocardiographic parameters were observed between the two groups. In Labrador retrievers with occult DCM, the most sensitive diagnostic measures were: end-systolic volume index (ESVI), E-point to septal separation (EPSS), fractional shortening (FS), left atrial diameter, left atrial to aortic ratio (LA: AO) and left ventricular internal dimensions (LVIDd and LVIDs).