S. Driehuys et al., MYOCARDIAL-INFARCTION IN DOGS AND CATS - 37 CASES (1985-1994), Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 213(10), 1998, pp. 1444
Objective-To determine the incidence of acute and subacute myocardial
infarction on postmortem examination, identify associated diseases, an
d evaluate clinical or diagnostic indicators of myocardial infarction
in dogs and cats. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-32 dogs and 5 ca
ts, Procedure-Records from the necropsy service from December 1985 thr
ough August 1994 were searched for dogs and cats in which acute or sub
acute myocardial infarction was diagnosed on postmortem examination. C
linical records were reviewed for signalment, initial owner complaint,
medical history, results of physical examination, electrocardiography
, radiography, echocardiography, CBC, serum chemistry analysis, urinal
ysis, and coagulation profile as well as clinical course, outcome, nec
ropsy findings, and results of histologic evaluation. Results-Initial
owner complaints and physical examination findings were consistent wit
h associated diseases. Electrocardiographic abnormalities in dogs incl
uded ventricular tachycardia (16%), atrial fibrillation (9%), and prem
ature ventricular contractions (6.5%). Premature ventricular contracti
ons were noticed in 2 cats. Echocardiography revealed dilated, poorly
contractile hearts (n = 3) and thickened mitral valves (2) in dogs, an
d ventricular hypertrophy (3) in cats. Ninety-seven percent of dogs ha
d infarction of the left ventricle as well as other other portions of
the heart. Infarctions in cats were found in all parts of the myocardi
um including the right ventricle (n = 3), left ventricle (3), and inte
rventricular septum (1). Clinical Implications-Myocardial infarction i
s rare in dogs and cats. It is associated with a number of common dise
ases and may contribute to morbidity and mortality in those dogs and c
ats that are critically ill.