Dietary considerations for the cardiac patient

Cardiovascular Drugs in Avian, Small Mammal, and Reptile Medicine

Cardiovascular disease, including congestive heart failure, pericardial disease, and atherosclerosis, is becoming increasingly better recognized in companion birds, small mammals, and reptiles. A wide range of medications is available to treat these conditions, including diuretics, vasodilators, positive and negative inotropes, antiarrhythmic agents, and pentoxifylline. This review systematically discusses each of these drug classes and their potential applications in exotic species. Although treatment approaches remain largely empirical and extrapolated from small animal and human medicine, the management strategies presented here have the potential to both maintain quality of life and extend survival time for the exotic cardiac patient.

Canine pancreatic-specific lipase concentrations in dogs with heart failure and chronic mitral valvular insufficiency

BACKGROUND

Chronic mitral valvular insufficiency (CMVI) in dogs is very common and might cause clinical signs of congestion and poor tissue perfusion.

HYPOTHESIS

Poor tissue perfusion from CMVI causes pancreatitis in dogs, as indicated by serum pancreatic lipase concentrations.

ANIMALS

Sixty-two client-owned dogs consisting of 40 dogs with different stages of heart failure from CMVI and 22 age-matched healthy dogs, based on full cardiac exam and routine laboratory tests.

METHODS

Prospective, controlled, observational study. Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) concentrations were determined by quantitative cPLI test in healthy and CMVI groups.

RESULTS

Serum cPLI concentrations were 54.0 μg/L (IQR: 38.0-78.8 μg/L) in control, 55.0 μg/L (IQR: 38.3-88.8 μg/L) in ISACHC I, 115.0 μg/L (IQR: 45.0-179.0 μg/L) in ISACHC II and 223.0 μg/L (IQR: 119.5-817.5 μg/L) in ISACHC III. Close correlation to serum cPLI concentration was found in the left atrial to aorta (LA/Ao) ratio (r = 0.597; P = .000) and the severity of heart failure (r = 0.530; P = .000).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

This study found CMVI is associated with pancreatic injury in congestive heart failure caused by CMVI. Therefore, periodic monitoring on cPLI could be useful in monitoring dogs in heart failure.