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Eleven clinical cases of snake bite in dogs, referred at the hospital with in 2.5 to 6 hrs of envenomation, were subjected to cardiac evaluation. The snake bites were characterized by fang's mark associated with skin discolouration surrounding fang marks in all cases. Cardiac auscultation was almost normal in three dogs while othes showed variations in heart rate. The electrocardiographic examination revealed sinus rhythm with normal heart rate, multifocal continuous atrial tachycardia, sinus bradycardia, sinus tachycardia, ventricular premature complexes, ventricular flutter and ventricular tachycardia in 3, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1 and 2 envenomed dogs, respectively. The levels of cTn-I varied from< 0.1 to 5.8 ng/ml. The study revealed varying level of cardio-toxicity (based on cTn-I levels) in seven (63.63%) dogs naturally bitten by viper snakes. The dogs were treated with polyvalent anti-snake venom, tetanus toxoid, dexamethasone, fluid, enrofloxacin and vitamin K. Despite treatment four dogs, with multiple bite marks, severe arrhythmia (multifocal continuous atrial tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular flutter) with high level of cTn-I could not survive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in canines. With the improvement in diagnostic technology, diagnosis of heart failure has become a routine in referral clinics. Sixteen dogs diagnosed with congestive left heart failure, employing history, clinical signs, radiography and electrocardiography were studied for level of cardiac troponin-I and vitamin D3; and treatment response to pimobendan. Beside orthopoenia, panting and coughing, oedema in dorso-caudal area of the lungs was predominant feature of congestive left heart failure. Higher level of cardiac troponin-I in these dogs indicated cardiac muscle insult and lower level of vitamin D3 might have been the risk factor in the development of congestive heart failure. Survival time of dogs, undergone therapy using pimobendan, varied from 4 days to 6 months and seemed related to level of cardiac troponin-I. The present study revealed increased level of cardiac troponin-I and decreased level of vitamin D3 in dogs with congestive left heart failure. Pimobendan alongwith enalapril, furosemide, diazepam and vitamin D could sustain the comfortable life up to 6 month in 13 dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forty five dogs with epistaxis were reviewed retrospectively. Of these, 01,04,10 and 30 dogs were due to aspergiliosis, bromadiolone poisoning, trauma and ehrlichiosis respectively. Epistaxis was both unilateral (7/45) and bilateral (38/45) It was severe and acute in cases of bromadiolone poisoning (rodenticide) and ehrlichiosis. Emergency treatment with ice application on nasal area and head; topical and intravenous application of haemocoagulase; fluids and Diazepam was effective in arresting epistaxis in 100% (10/10) and 86.66% (26/30) cases of trauma and ehrlichiosis respectively within 24 hours, though marked improvement was evident within 2-6 hours. Oral Ketoconazole and nasal application of Clotrimazole gave temporary relief in epistaxis associated with nasal aspergillosis. Response to treatment (Phytomandione fluid and Diazepam) in bromadiolone poisoning (rat kill poison), was only 50 percent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty dogs with unexplained illness and weakness, negative for blood protozoan and/or rickettsial parasites were found suffering from atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter. Normal sinus 'P' wave was replaced by coarse or fine 'f" waves or comparatively large oscillations. There was no evidence of atrial or ventricular enlargement in any dog. Treatment was initiated with quinidine @ 6.0 mg/kg PO BID for 72 hours and dogs showing response were continued on quinidine @ 6.0 mg/kg PO BID for 6-8 months. Cases which failed to show conversion to normal sinus rhythm on quinidine in 72 hour were treated by digoxin @ 0.006 mg/kg PO BID for 2 to 4 days and unresponsive dogs were switched to verapamil @ 2mg/kg PO TID. The therapy continued for 6-8 months. Out of 30 dogs, 8 could not survive for more than 60-80 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The present investigation was conducted to study the prevalence of microfilaremia in dogs in Gujarat. Materials and Methods: A total of 418 adult dogs aged between 2 and 14 years with signs of weakness and nonspecified complaints, presented at TVCC, Deesa (North Gujarat), Nandini Veterinary Hospital, Surat (South Gujarat), and Private Clinics, Ahmedabad (Central Gujarat), were included in the present investigation for studying the prevalence of microfilaremia from July 2016 to May 2017. Results: A total of 418 dogs were screened, of which 33 were found positive for circulating microfilariae with the prevalence rate of 7.89% in the population. Among microfilaremic dogs, the finding of microfilariae of Dipetalonema (Acanthocheilonema) reconditum was more common (23 cases; 69.69%) than Dirofilaria immitis (10 cases; 30.30%) making their prevalence in the population of 418 dogs as 5.50% and 2.39%, respectively. Breed-wise distribution of microfilaremic dogs revealed that 12 (36.36%), 8 (24.24%), 5 (15.15%), 4 (12.12%), 2 (6.06%), 1 (3.03%), and 1 (3.03%) cases were observed in Pomeranian, non-descript, German Shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane, Lhasa Apso, and Pug dogs, respectively. Of 10 cases of D. immitis, 5, 2, 2, and 1 were observed in Pomeranian, Labrador, non-descript, and Great Dane dogs, respectively. Cases of Dipetalonema reconditum were highest in Pomeranian (7), followed by non-descript (6), German Shepherd (5), Labrador (2), Great Dane (1), Lhasa Apso (1), and Pug (1). Age-wise distribution recorded significantly (p=0.01) higher number of cases in adult dogs (4-14 years) for D. immitis (30.30%) and D. reconditum (39.39%). Sex-wise distribution of microfilaremic dogs showed that male (22/33, 66.66%) was more predisposed to microfilaremia rather than females (11/33, 33.34%). It is apparent from the study that the number of dogs with microfilaremia due to D. reconditum was significantly (p=0.01) higher than that of D. immitis. Conclusion: The present study revealed that microfilaremia due to D. immitis and D. reconditum is prevalent in the state of Gujarat. The infection with D. immitis was associated with severe lung and cardiac pathological manifestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]