Clinical signs
Out of the total geriatric dogs that were presented, 695 small sized dogs of various breed and gender were selected that presented with similar history and manifestations
viz., exercise intolerance, poor physical activity, reduced playfulness, respiratory distress and cough. Detailed examination further revealed dyspnoea, particularly even at rest, open mouth breathing with dilated nares and exopthalmus and protruding tongue (cyanotic in few occasions) and lethargy. Cough was reported to be nocturnal, predominantly during late night to early morning, where the dog suddenly wakes up with cough and goes breathless for few seconds before becoming normal, in some cases induced by physical activity. About 30 percent of presented dogs were also reported as insomniac, were completely standing to sitting on hind legs for short periods, without sleep for more than 24-36hrs. After going through the complete diagnostic protocol, 427 out of 695 geriatric dogs (61.43%) were confirmed for myxomatous valvular disease.
Decreased blood flow, decreased arterial compliance, decreased responsiveness to beta-adrenergic stimulation and increased ventricular stiffness are common age-related changes in the canine cardiovascular system of geriatric dogs (
Haidet, 1992 and 1993). Among the various cardiac diseases affecting geriatric dogs, myxomatous mitral valve disease (MVD) is the most common and an important cause of heart failure in dogs (
Borgarelli and Buchanan, 2012). Myxomatous mitral valve disease, also termed as chronic valve disease, degenerative valve disease and endocardiosis is a chronic myxomatous degeneration of mitral valve primarily resulting in incomplete coaptation of the leaflets and valvular regurgitation, which accounts for 75–80% of cardiac diseases in dogs
(Haggstrom et al., 2005; Borgarelli et al., 2008). With the advancement of age in small breed dogs, the prevalence of MMVD increases gradually and may show the evidence of valve lesions of varied intensity by the time they reach geriatric (
Buchanan, 1977 and
Borgarelli et al., 2008). Valvular endocardiosis is a chronic degenerative disease affecting most commonly the mitral valve and the compensatory response gradually leads to peripheral arterial vasoconstriction and increased preload that ends up in a clinical entity. The most common clinical signs associated are nocturnal cough, exercise intolerance, dyspnoea and syncope associated with left main stem bronchus compression and pulmonary edema. A series of progressive pathophysiological events may lead to an increase in end-diastolic volume, thereby increase myocardial stress, thinning of the myocardium and rounded left ventricle apex contribute to the development of the clinical manifestation of the disease (
Domanjko, 2015). The clinical manifestations recorded in the present study are in accordance with
Turgut et al., (2017) and
Saunders (2012). Coughing which is predominant in these cases might be a result of pressure on the left mainstem bronchus caused by left atrial enlargement (
Bright and Mears 1997), rather than a result of pulmonary edema (
Carr, 2004). Lethargy and reduced physical activity could be due to diminished oxygen delivery to the tissues associated with reduced cardiac output (
Freeman 2012). Hypostastic congestion of lungs and pulmonary edema lead to dyspnoea at rest (
Ristic, 2004).
Physical examination and radio graphy
Physical examination of valvular disease geriatric dogs revealed murmur of varied intensity
i.e., from grade II to IV pansystolic murmur, when auscultated at the mitral valve area on left side of the thorax. Dilatation of left atrium or left atrial/auricle bulge, elevation of trachea and pulmonary congestion with a mean vertebral heart score (VHS) 12.2, were the significant radiographic abnormalities of valvular disease geriatric patients (Fig 1). The systolic murmur on auscultation is a hallmark of the valvular disease, where the intensity varies with severity of disease and can be a significant among aged dogs. Presence of S3 sound with an increased intensity of S1 and decreased of S2 sound on left cardiac area are significant physical findings of MMVD (
Hägström et al., 1995). Radiographic assessment of cardiac size is another important guide to diagnose cardiac disease which also be used to monitor the severity of disease (
Hamlin, 1999 and
Thrall, 2007), though it is difficult to make accurate subjective assessment whether the cardiac silhouette is enlarged or misshapen (
Boswood, 2010). However, thoracic radiography is considered the clinical ‘‘gold standard’’ method for the diagnosis of heart failure
(Balbarini et al., 1991). Radiographically estimated vertebral heart score of more than 12 along with plasma NT pro-BNP (>1500 pmol/L) are the significant aspects of threatened heart failure among chronic mitral valve diseased dogs (
Bonagura and Schober 2009).
Echocardiography
2-dimensional echocardiographic findings of degenerative mitral valve disease geriatric dogs include, hyperechoeic mitral valve leaflets, kinking and prolapse of anterior or posterior or bileaflets above the annular plane, mitral flail and billowing. Some were showing opening of valves in a summated fashion, losing its classic M shape or delayed end diastolic closure pattern giving a “shelf” between the maximal atrial contraction phase and the point of cooptation. Diastolic high frequency oscillations of the anterior mitral valve leaflet, reduced (e-f) slope and thickened valve leaflets, resulting in multiple echoes from each leaflet. Further, echocardiography also revealed the left atrium and ventricle enlargement, hyperkinesis or hyperactivity of interventricular septum, the severity of regurgitation and mitral valve degeneration and rupture of chordae tendineae and pulmonary hypertension (Fig 2-11). Significant findings also include, dilatation of left atrium (2.10±1.28 cm) that was measured by left atrium and aorta ratio and dilated left ventricular end diastolic (56.58±2.87 mm) and end systolic diameter (41.50±1.86 mm) with increased fractional shortening (48.80±2.40 mm), as shown in the Table 1.
Though, clinical and physical examination, thoracic radiography, electrocardiography, echocardiography and cardiac biomarkers are available diagnostic tools
(Nakayama et al., 2001), non invasive techniques like radiography and echocardiography are the most common diagnostic procedures used in confirming the heart disease in dogs (
Detweiler et al.,1961). Echocardiography is the more sensitive means that confirms the prolapsed valve, enlarged chamber, severity of regurgitation and valve degeneration. Echocardiographic and radiographic changes also help to identify the animals at increased risk of heart failure or death from vavular disease
(Hezzell et al., 2012). Among the various echocardiographic features, mitral valve prolapse is a common finding in dogs with myxomatous valve degeneration
(Sargent et al., 2015). Degradation of the collagen weave between cardiomyocytes lead to progressive degeneration of mitral valve, dilatation of atrio-ventricular annulus resulting in the regurgitation of mitral valve (
Domanjko, 2015). As the disease progresses, there is proliferation of various layers like, endothelium and spongiosa with increased fibroblast resulting in thickened spongiosa with mesenchymal tissue appearance, thus referred as myxomatous (
Kittleson, 2005). It also causes thickening of sub-endothelial layer
(Hadian et al., 2010). These changes collectively leads to the prevention of effective coaptation, resulting in valvular regurgitation, increased cardiac work that ends up with ventricular dysfunction associated with eccentric hypertrophy of both atrium and ventricle.
Left atrium to aorta ratio (LA/Ao) and left ventricle end diastolic diameter are the significant echocardiographic measures that independently predict the risk of heart failure in these cases
(Reynolds et al., 2012). Dilatation of left ventricular end diameter at diastole, with normal left ventricular end diameter at systole initially, but dilatation in the chronic degenerative mitral valve disease in later stages are usually seen in MMVD dogs, resulting in an increased fractional shortening (over 50%) which comes to normal with advanced disease process
(Reynolds et al., 2012). Systolic function is difficult to assess in MMVD due to the enhanced sympathetic tone (
Bonagura and Schober 2009). Though, mitral valve prolapse, is considered as one of the important predisposition factors for MMVD, other stress factors like physical and physiological stress also contribute to the disease. The thickening of the valve leaflets is also associated with stress induced endothelial dysfunction (
Pedersen et al.,1999). Decreased levels of serum serotonin concentrations is one of the recent developments in the diagnosis of degenerative mitral valve disease
(Ljungvall et al., 2013). 
