Background: Veterinary literature lacks data about cardiovascular–renal disorders (CvRD) and cardiorenal-anemia syndrome (CRAS) in dogs. Hypothesis: A direct correlation exists between ACVIM class and IRIS stage; chronic kidney disease (CKD) complicates chronic mitral valve disease (CMVD) more often than does anemia in dogs. Animals: One hundred and fifty-eight client-owned dogs with CMVD. Methods: Signalment, physical examination findings, electrocardiography, thoracic radiographs, echocardiography, and blood analysis were retrospectively evaluated to assess the prevalence of CKD and anemia in dogs with CMVD and to investigate the relationships among ACVIM class, IRIS stage, and survival. Results: The prevalence of CKD and anemia in dogs with CMVD was significantly higher than in the general population of dogs. Dogs being treated for heart failure had a significantly higher prevalence of CKD than did dogs that had not received treatment. A statistically significant direct correlation was found between ACVIM class and IRIS stage. Severe heart disease, severe renal disease or both, furosemide administration, and advanced age at diagnosis of heart disease were associated with shorter survival time. Survival time of dogs affected by CvRD was statistically shorter than survival time of dogs affected by CMVD alone. Conclusion and Clinical Relevance: Chronic mitral valve disease is associated with increased prevalence of CKD and anemia in dogs. Treatment for medical management of heart failure may play a role in inducing CKD. Class of heart disease and IRIS stage were directly correlated. Cardiovascular–renal disorders decrease survival time compared to the only presence of CMVD alone, whereas anemia does not play a central role in worsening heart function.

Objectives: Feline cardiomyopathies (CMs) represent a heterogeneous group of myocardial diseases. The most common CM is hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), followed by restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM). Studies comparing survival and outcome for different types of CM are scant. Furthermore, little is known about the cardiovascular consequences of systemic diseases on survival. The aim of this retrospective study was to compare survival and prognostic factors in cats affected by HCM, RCM or secondary CM referred to our institution over a 10 year period. Methods: The study included 94 cats with complete case records and echocardiographic examination. Fifty cats presented HCM, 14 RCM and 30 secondary CM. Results: A statistically significant difference in survival time was identified for cats with HCM (median survival time of 865 days), RCM (273 days) and secondary CM (<50% cardiac death rate). In the overall population and in the primary CM group (HCM + RCM), risk factors in the multivariate analysis, regardless of the CM considered, were the presence of clinical signs, an increased left atrial to aortic root (LA/Ao) ratio and a hypercoagulable state. Conclusions and relevance: Primary CMs in cats share some common features (ie, LA dimension and hypercoagulable state) linked to feline cardiovascular physiology, which influence survival greatly in end-stage CM. The presence of clinical signs has to be regarded as a marker of disease severity, regardless of the underlying CM. Secondary CMs are more benign conditions, but if the primary disease is not properly managed, the prognosis might also be poor in this group of patients.

Background: Angiography and fluoroscopy are the standard methods to guide transcatheter occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA). The use of iodinated contrast agents and radiation exposure pose risks of animals and staff. Objectives: To assess feasibility of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) for device size selection and procedure monitoring for PDA occlusion with a duct occluder (DO) without the use of angiography. Animals: Eighty client-owned dogs with left-to-right PDA. Methods: Prospective study. Dogs with left-to-right PDA undergoing transcatheter occlusion were included. Procedures were performed without angiography and device size selection was based on TEE measurements. Procedures were monitored with simultaneous TEE and fluoroscopy and both methods were compared. Visualization of the ductus and dimensions obtained by TEE and transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) were compared. Results: Complete PDA occlusion was achieved in 79/80 cases. TEE was consistently superior to TTE for PDA visualization and the latter showed higher values for ductal dimensions when compared to the former. TEE provided adequate procedure monitoring in 73 cases (91%). Fluoroscopy exposure time (2.77 ± 1.2 minutes (mean, SD)) was lower than previously reported for the same procedure. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: TEE is a useful and efficient tool for device size selection and can be used for procedure monitoring in most cases. Fluoroscopy exposure time can be reduced and the use of contrast agents can be avoided. However, fluoroscopy is required in a minority of cases when TEE monitoring is not feasible or incomplete and should be available for this procedure.