Investigation of Dilated Cardiomyopathy Tendency by Echocardiography in Kangal Dogs

Abstract

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is defined as a cardiac disease characterized by dilatation of the cardiac chamber, decreased myocardial contractility, and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. In this study, we aimed to determine whether there is a tendency to age-related dilated cardiomyopathy in Kangal Dogs, a breed of Anatolia, echocardiographically. The experimental groups of the study consisted of a total of 20 dogs, 10 of which were 1-3 years old, young group (Group I) and the other 10 were 4-7 years old, middle-aged group (Group II), who had no clinical problems at rest. By echocardiographic examination, the end-diastolic thickness of interventricular septum, the end-systolic thickness of interventricular septum, left atrial diastolic diameter, aortic root diastolic inner diameter, the ratio of left atrium diameter to aortic diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic inner diameter, left ventricular end-systolic inner diameter end-systolic thickness of the posterior wall, the end-diastolic thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricle, heart rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, left ventricular contraction force, stroke volume, cardiac output, end-diastolic volume and end-systolic volume parameters were measured. The data collected from the two groups were analysed using independent samples T-test. In conclusion, considering that the age of the Kangal dogs constituting the middle-aged group (G II) of the study was within the age limits specified in the studies (6-7 years), a myocardial defect indicating echocardiographic DCM was not detected. Thus, it was concluded that there is no tendency for DCM among the age groups included in the study. However, it can be said that echocardiographic evaluation of more coiled dogs in the given age group may give a more reliable result considering that the rate of DCM is 6% in different breed dogs.