CLINICAL GUIDE for ECHOCARDIOGRAM EXAMINATION for Scottish Deerhounds
Below are the normal ranges for Scottish Deerhounds that you should share with your veterinarian and specialist.
These values were established by Dr. Philip Fox, from the cardiac clinic he did at the Vermont National Specialty in 2004. It is the only data extant for our breed, and it was never published by Dr. Fox (however Betty Stephenson did publish them in The Claymore).
Also, please do not think that “Scan in a Van” and the other mobile technologies one sees at dog shows are a substitute for an evaluation by a veterinary cardiologist. Those are for screening purposes only, and it’s definitely “Buyer Beware”–the variability of echo equipment and the skill of the person performing the echo need to be taken into consideration.
The following is a general clinical guide for echocardiographic examination based upon normal Scottish Deerhounds (avg wt, 45kg) :
Left atrium (mm) should be no larger than 50-55 mm Aorta (mm) should be no wider than 30-33 mm
LA:Ao ratio should be <1.5:1
Left ventricle end diastolic dimension should be no greater than 55-60 mm
Left ventricle end systolic dimension should be no greater than 40-45 mm
LV Wall end- diastolic thickness should be > 8-9mm
LV Shortening fraction should generally be > 20 %, and more comonly, >25% Heart Rhythm should be sinus or sinus arrhythmia
Note: The echocardiogram is one part of the data base that includes medical history , physical examination, ECG, and chest radiograph. Optimal diagnosis is based upon consideration of these variables.
These should be used as GENERAL guidelines and a particular normal dog, particularly a large or small animal, could fall outside of this range.