When the Cardiologist is Out: Case-Based Approach to Cardiac Disease for the Generalist
    
	Jane Lewis Seaks Distinguished Professor of Companion Animal Medicine, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, NC, USA 
	
    
	Amy
 Signalment
 10 year old, spayed female
 Cocker spaniel-cross
 Past pertinent history
 Vax current, on HW preventative
 Murmur for 1 year
 CXR: Cardiomegaly
 Presenting history
 Cough, Tachypnea, P. Anorexia
 HR = 180, RR > 100 per minute
 No GI, PU/PD
 rDVM: Furosemide prior to referral
 Physical examination
 T = 38.5, P = 160/wk, R = 64, 7.5kg
 CRT = 1.5–2 sec, MM = pink
 5/6 L apical, plateau-shaped murmur & S3 gallop
 No Adventitial lung sounds
 Problems
 Partial anorexia
 Cough, tachypnea
 Cardiomegaly (historical)
 Murmur & S3 gallop
 Differential diagnoses?
 Plan?
 Diagnostic?
 Therapeutic?
 Client education? 
Swayze
 Signalment
 8 year-old male, Doberman pinscher 
 History
 Wobbler - surgical candidate
 Cardiovascular - asymptomatic
 Cardiac consult requested due to breed
 Physical exam (12/20/96)
 TPR = 101.5/120/30; BW: 35 kg
 MM = pink, CRT < 2 sec
 Pulses = good and regular
 S3 gallop
 Posterior ataxia, CP deficits
 ECG - NSR
 Echo - SF = 13%, thin-walled LV
 CV problem list: 
 Compensated DCM
 Myocardial failure?
 Remodeling?
 Heart rate/arrhythmia?
 Heart failure?
 Hypo-, hypertension?
 Loading (pre-, after-)?
 Electrolytes?
 Oxygenation?
 Neurohumoral activation (RAAS, SNS)?
 Plan
 Therapeutic options - What would you do?
 Furosemide
 Spironolactone
 Sodium restriction
 Digoxin
 Dobutamine
 Ca channel blocker (Amlodipine, Diltiazem)
 Beta blocker (Carvedilol, Atenolol)
 Nitroglycerin
 Hydralazine
 Enalapril
 Carnitine, taurine 
 Fish oils 
 CoQ10
 Oxygen
 Euthanasia 
Gabby
 Signalment
 West Highland White Terrier
 12 year old, spayed female
 History - past
 Good vaccination and HW preventative history (recent negative test)
 Non-productive cough r/t steroids, antibiotics
 1 period of syncope (8–10 months ago)
 Cough returned; n/r to steroids, antibiotics
 Another syncopal episode, f/b 2 more with exercise
 History - current
 Arrhythmia) and crackles audible
 CXR: cardiomegaly & bronchointerstitial dz
 Diagnosed with L-CHF
 Treated with Lasix (25 mg BID) and theophylline (100 mg BID)
 Referred to NCSU
 Physical exam/MDB
 TPRWt = 38.7°C, 80 bpm, 40 rpm, 7.8kg
 NSA, + Arrhythmia (dropped beats), loud S2 
 Coarse crackles audible + expiratory effort
 CBC: mild, mature neutrophilia; thrombocytosis
 Chemistry: WNL
 UA: NA
 Problem list?
 Cough 
 Syncope
 Cardiomegaly
 Arrhythmia
 Loud S2
 Differential DIagnoses?
 Plan?
 Diagnostic
 Therapeutic
 Client education
Tiger
 Signalment 
 6 year old, neutered male, Domestic short-hair, 4.5kg
 Presenting complaint 
 Routine visit
 Examination and vaccination
 On no heartworm preventative
 Physical exam
 TPR = 36/220/32
 4/6 right sternal border, pansystolic murmur
 Normal respiration
 Problem list 
 Murmur
 Tachycardia
 Differential diagnoses
 Plan?
 Diagnostic
 Therapeutic
 Client Education