DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATION OF DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY IN LABRADOR RETRIEVERS

The objective of the present study is to record the incidence, clinical presentation, electrocardiographic, radiographic, laboratory, two dimensional echocardiography, M-mode echocardiography, pulsed wave doppler and color flow doppler in Labrador retrievers with Dilated Cardiomyopathy. It included 30 healthy dogs and 53 confirmed cases of DCM out of which 30 cases were randomly selected for the study. Prevalence of dilated cardiomyopathy in Labrador Retrievers was found to be 6 per cent in the present study. On radiography, cardiomegaly and pulmonary edema were the major findings observed. In echocardiography, increased left ventricular end diastolic dimension and systolic dimension, reduced fraction shortening, increased E-point sepal separation, increased LA/AO ratio, decreased ejection fraction, increased end diastolic volume and end systolic volume were noticed. On pulsed wave doppler echocardiography reduced PA, AO, LVOT, RVOT velocities were recorded. Mild to moderate regurgitation was observed in Mitral and Tricuspid valve by color flow doppler echocardiography. From the present study it was concluded that radiography acts as an important aid in diagnosing pulmonary edema and in echocardiography two dimensional derived volumes and ejection fraction were found to be more reliable in Dilated Cardiomyopathy of Labrador retrievers. M-mode derived chamber dimensions, E-point septal separation and Fractional shortening remains as a gold standard for diagnosing Dilated Cardiomyopathy in Labrador Retrievers. Pulsed wave doppler and color flow doppler were useful in assessing velocity and flow pattern across valves.