Evaluation of Vertebral Heart Score and Cardiac Sphericity in Apparently Normal Dogs

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the relationship between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity and to evaluate gender variation in both dimensions in apparently normal Nigeria indigenous dogs. Twelve (six males and six females) apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs were selected from dogs in Zaria, Nigeria. Radiographic evaluations involved left lateral views of the thoracic region of the dogs. The vertebral heart size was measured as the sum of the long-axis and short-axis at its greatest diameter then compared with the vertebra bones starting at T4. Cardiac sphericity was obtained by computing the ratio of the long-axis to the short-axis. The mean ± SD for vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs were 9.3 ± 0.44 and 0.77 ± 0.06 respectively. Pearson coefficient revealed a significant (p = 0.001) and very strong correlation (p = 0.81) between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in Nigerian indigenous dogs. There were no gender variations in both dimensions. This study revealed the existence of a strong relationship between vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in dogs in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs, and both dimensions demonstrated no gender variation. Vertebral heart score and cardiac sphericity index in apparently normal Nigerian indigenous dogs are expressed as ideal cardiac dimensions which are suggested to be useful quantitative and objective parameters in the diagnosis of cardiac disorders in dogs.