Small Animal Radiology and Ultrasound: A Diagnostic Atlas and Text

156 Small Animal Radiolo g y and Ultrasono graphy
Fig. 2-132 A 9-year-old male
Doberman Pinscher with a 2-week
history of tachycardia and coughing.
The cardiac silhouette is enlarged
markedly. A, On the lateral radiograph,
the caudal cardiac margin
appears straight. There is elevation
of the trachea. B, On the ventrodorsal
radiograph, the left cardiac margin
is rounded and the cardiac apex
is round. There is an alveolar pattern
infiltrate in the left caudal lobe and
interstitial pattern infiltrates
throughout all lobes. Several pleural
fissure lines are identified (arrows).
The radiographic findings are
indicative of generalized cardiomegaly
with evidence of pulmonary
edema. Diagnosis: Dilated
cardiomyopathy with left heart
failure.
A
B
in the 10% to 15% range (Fig. 2-133). 392,393 Doppler studies may be helpful in assessing
valvular integrity.
An area of great interest is the use of echocardiography to identify individuals with subclinical
disease. In one study of Doberman Pinscher dogs, a left ventricular internal diameter
(in end diastole) of greater than 46 mm was present in 13 of 15 dogs that died of DCM