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. 2023 Jul 27;13(15):2436.
doi: 10.3390/ani13152436.

Cardiological Reference Intervals in Adult American Staffordshire Terrier Dogs

Oktawia Szpinda  1 , Marta Parzeniecka-Jaworska  1 , Michał Czopowicz  2 , Izabella Jońska  3 , Joanna Bonecka  3 , Michał Jank  4
Affiliations

Cardiological Reference Intervals in Adult American Staffordshire Terrier Dogs

Oktawia Szpinda et al. Animals (Basel). .

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine reference intervals (RI) for echocardiography, electrocardiography (ECG), vertebral heart score (VHS) measurement, and arterial systolic blood pressure (SBP) in American Staffordshire Terrier dogs. The study population included 29 clinically healthy AST dogs of different ages, genders, and body weights. SBP measurement, ECG, thoracic radiography, and echocardiography were performed on each dog. Compared to RIs available for the general population of dogs, the duration of the P wave and QRS complex was longer and VHS was higher. Moreover, the left ventricular dimension in diastole and systole, left atrial dimension, and end point to septal separation values were higher, while the interventricular septum in diastole and systole and aortic root diameter were lower compared to general similar average body weight. The AST breed has a different heart shape, which in this breed is more rounded compared to other dog breeds, especially the deep chest. The specific body structure and the shape of the heart had an impact on the results of the cardiological examination.

Keywords: VHS; echocardiography; electrocardiography; reference values; vertebral heart score.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The moderate negative correlation between the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) velocity and the age of dogs.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The moderate positive correlation between the body weight of dogs and the left ventricular dimension in diastole (LVDd) (A) or the interventricular septum in diastole (IVSd) (B).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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