A Veterinary Medical Database search from 1982 to 1995 identified 1,383 dogs with tumors of the heart from a total population of 729,265 dogs (0.19% incidence). Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) was the most common cardiac tumor identified. In the subset of dogs with specific histologic diagnoses, the number with HSA was almost 10-fold that of the 2nd most common tumor, aortic body tumor. Primary heart tumors were more common than cardiac metastases. When biologic behavior was noted, most heart tumors were classified as malignant. Cardiac tumors (excluding lymphoma) occurred most often in dogs between the ages of 7 and 15 years. In very old dogs (>15 years), the frequency of cardiac tumors was the same or lower than that of the youngest age group. Tumors occurred with similar frequency in males and females, but the relative risk for spayed females was >4 times that for intact females. For HSA, spayed females had >5 times greater relative risk than did intact females. The risk for castrated males was slightly greater than that for intact males, which had 2.4 times the relative risk of intact females. Thus, neutering appeared to increase the risk of cardiac tumor in both sexes. Intact females were least likely to develop a cardiac tumor, whereas spayed females were most likely to develop a tumor. Twelve breeds had greater than average risk of developing a cardiac tumor, whereas 17 had lower risk.

A Veterinary Medical Database search from 1982 to 1995 identified 1,383 dogs with tumors of the heart from a total population of 729,265 dogs (0.19% incidence). Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) was the most common cardiac tumor identified. In the subset of dogs with specific histologic diagnoses, the number with HSA was almost 10-fold that of the 2nd most common tumor, aortic body tumor. Primary heart tumors were more common than cardiac metastases. When biologic behavior was noted, most heart tumors were classified as malignant. Cardiac tumors (excluding lymphoma) occurred most often in dogs between the ages of 7 and 15 years. In very old dogs (>15 years), the frequency of cardiac tumors was the same or lower than that of the youngest age group. Tumors occurred with similar frequency in males and females, but the relative risk for spayed females was >4 times that for intact females. For HSA, spayed females had >5 times greater relative risk than did intact females. The risk for castrated males was slightly greater than that for intact males, which had 2.4 times the relative risk of intact females. Thus, neutering appeared to increase the risk of cardiac tumor in both sexes. Intact females were least likely to develop a cardiac tumor, whereas spayed females were most likely to develop a tumor. Twelve breeds had greater than average risk of developing a cardiac tumor, whereas 17 had lower risk.

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Yohimbine was studied to examine its effectiveness in preventing central nervous system(CNS) depression and bradycardia induced by amitraz (N'-(2,4-dimethylphenyl)-N-[(2,4-dimethylphenyl-imino)-methyl]-N-methyl- methanimide). In control open-field activity experiments, the dogs showed high numbers of grid-line crossings in the first 5 min (exploratory phase), and subsequently low numbers of grid-line crossings (nonexploratory phase). An iv injection of amitraz (1 mg/kg) abolished both the exploratory and nonexploratory phases and caused bradycardia. Yohimbine alone caused a trend to increase the open-field activity in the nonexploratory phase. In addition, yohimbine prevented the bradycardia and suppression of open-field activity induced by amitraz. The results suggest that yohimbine has a potential to be used as an antidote for amitraz overdose.