Diagnostic aspects of certain cardiac disorders in canines

Abstract

There is growing recognition in canine cardiac disorders, which causes significant morbidity and mortality. Diagnosis of heart failure involves careful history taking, physical examination, thoracic radiography, echocardiography, electrocardiography, and blood pressure measurement add to the diagnostic database but often are not required to achieve a working diagnosis and to formulate an initial treatment plan. However, there is continued controversy surrounding the diagnostic criteria for heart failure/ cardiac disorders. As a result, clinical therapeutic trials have been slow to develop. This article focuses on diagnostics aspects of certain canine cardiac disorders.