Echocardiographic evaluation and medical management of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in a spitz

3 Introduction cytosis (15.8 x10 /cumm). Electrocardiography revealed sinus rhythm and survey radiography (Fig 1a & b) Chronic valvular disease is the most important showed cardiomegaly with VHS of 12.5. Echocardiocause of heart disease in dogs. Acquired valvular graphy with colour Doppler showed mosaic pattern in insufficiency was usually secondary to degenerative the right and left atriums suggesting tricuspid and valvular disease [1]. Although dogs can compensate for mitral regurgitation (Fig.2a). Echocardiographic valvular insufficiency with time, decompensation and parameters recorded included IVSd (0.7 cm), LVIDd congestive heart failure may develop. Doppler exami(3.4 cm), LVPW ( 0.7 cm), IVSs (1.0 cm), LVIDs ( 1.6 nation plays a critical role in the assessment of dogs cm), LVPW (0.8 cm), EDV (48 ml), ESV ( 6.7 ml), SV affected by valvular disease, providing information on (42 ml), IVS/ LVPW (0.94), EF ( 86.1 %), FS (54.4 %), ventricular size and function [2]. Enalapril is considered 2 SI (16.5mL/m ), and LA/ AO (1.5 ) (Fig 2b). The dog to be firstline adjunct to diuretic therapy when was diagnosed to be having mitral and tricuspid managing animals with heart failure [3]. This article regurgitation with normal systolic function. The dog describes clinico pathological changes and successful was administered with enalapril (0.5 mg/kg body management of mitral and tricuspid regurgitation in a weight bid PO) and frusemide (2mg/kg bodyweight bid dog with enalapril and frusemide. PO). Following treatment, the dog on second day Case history and observation showed improvement in clinical condition with reduction in ascites, cough and exercise intolerance. A fifteen years old male spitz weighing about 8.2 There was improvement in the appetite and the animal kg was brought to Madras Veterinary College Teaching th Hospital with history of cough, distension of abdomen became active and alert by 6 day of treatment. The and anorexia. The dog was dull, depressed, dehydrated owner was advised to give salt restricted diet and not to with dry and pale pink mucous membrane, with normal give exercise to the dog. The oral medication was o temperature (38.6 C), tachycardia, polypnoea, strong continued and the dog was periodically evaluated. pulse and ascites. Auscultation revealed exaggerated After three months, the dog was brought to the lung sound and cardiac murmur (Grade V). hospital with complaint of not sleeping, coughs, and Haematological examination showed elevated was dull, depressed, tired, and recumbent for most of haematocrit (46%), normal haemoglobin (10mg/dl), the time. Blood pressure was 120mmHg, cardiac 6 murmur; exaggerated lung sound and odema of hind normal RBC count (6.2x10 /cumm) and mild leuko-