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Select a topic: |
Samoyed State of Heart |
Tricuspid Valve Dysplasia and Subaortic Stenosis |
OFA Congenital Cardiac Registry |
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Purpose |
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What is considered a phenotypically normal dog? For the purposes of the OFA cardiac registry, a phenotypically normal dog is currently defined to be: |
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Examination and Classification
Each dog is to be examined and classified by a veterinarian with expertise in the recognition of canine congenital heart disease in accordance with OFA procedures outlined in the Application and General Instructions. Certification Provisional Certification
Submit all evaluations
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS~ Methods of Examination Clinical ExaminationThe clinical cardiac examination should be conducted in a systematic manner. The arterial and venous pulses, mucous membranes, and precordium should be evaluated. Heart rate should be obtained. The clinical examination should be performed by an individual with advanced training in cardiac diagnosis. Board certification by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, Specialty of Cardiology is considered by the American Veterinary Medical Association as the benchmark of clinical proficiency for veterinarians in clinical cardiology, and examination by a Diplomate of this specialty board is recommended. Other veterinarians may be able to perform these examinations, provided they have received advanced training in the subspecialty of congenital heart disease. [TOP] Cardiac Auscultation - should be performed in a quiet, distraction-free environment. The animal should be standing and restrained, but sedative drugs should be avoided. Panting must be controlled, and if necessary, the dog should be given time to rest and acclimate to the environment. The clinician should be able to identify the cardiac valve areas for auscultation. The examiner should gradually move the stethoscope across all valve areas and also should auscultate over the subaortic area, ascending aorta, pulmonary artery, and the left craniodorsal cardiac base. Following examination of the left precordium, the right precordium should be examined. [TOP] |
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Description of Cardiac Murmurs -
A full description of the cardiac murmur should be made and recorded in the medical record. |
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Table 1. Grading of heart murmurs |
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Grade I |
a very soft murmur only detected after very careful auscultation |
Grade 2 |
a soft murmur that is readily evident |
Grade 3 |
a moderately intense murmur not associated with a palpable precordial thrill (vibration) |
Grade 4 |
loud murmur; a palpable precordial thrill is not present or is intermittent |
Grade 5 |
a loud cardiac murmur associated with a palpable precordial thrill; the murmur is not audible when the stethoscope is lifted from the thoracic wall |
Grade 6 |
a loud cardiac murmur associated with a palpable precordial thrill and audible even when the stethoscope is lifted from the thoracic wall |
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Effects of heart rate, heart rhythm, and exercise | |||||||||
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Definitive diagnosis of CHD usually involves one or more of the following methods: | |||||||||
Other methods of cardiac evaluation- including electrocardiography and thoracic radiography, are useful in evaluating individuals with CHD, but are not sufficiently sensitive nor specific to reliably identify or exclude the presence of CHD.
Each of the methods of evaluation indicated above may be associated with false positive and false negative diagnoses. It must be recognized that some cases of CHD fall below the threshold of diagnosis. hi other cases, a definitive diagnosis may not be possible with currently available technology and knowledge. These limitations can be minimized by considering the following general guidelines:
Examination of dogs for CHD is aimed at the identification and classification of phenotypic abnormalities. Heritable aspects of CHD cannot be addressed unless suitable genetic studies have been conducted. For more information visit OFA's official website. Contact OFA directly for specific information on the OFA registries: Dr. R.A. Weitkamp ~ President I'd like to thank the Orthopedic Foundation For Animals for their permission to reproduce this information from the brochure on the Congenital Cardiac Registry. [TOP]
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Last updated: Saturday, February 06, 2010 | |||||||||
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