Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the effects of anesthetic drugs on heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) in dogs. Materials and Methods: Twelve healthy client-owned dogs of various breeds, including five females and seven males were used for elective surgery in this study. The dogs were pre-medicated with four protocols; (1) alfaxalone [at 3 mg/kg body weight (bwt)], (2) zolazepam + tiletamine (Zoletil) (at 5 mg/kg bwt), (3) diazepam (at 0.3 mg/kg bwt) + ketamine (at 5 mg/kg bwt), and (4) diazepam (at 0.3 mg/kg bwt) + propofol (at 5 mg/kg bwt). The HR and HRV of 12 dogs were recorded 20 min before and after the administration of the anesthetic drugs. Doppler was used to obtain systolic, diastolic, and mean blood pressures. Results: After anesthetic drug administration, the dogs pre-medicated and inducted with alfaxalone had the lowest HR values as compared with those of other protocols. The HRV low frequency and high frequency power ratio decreased in the dogs pre-medicated and intubated with alfaxalone. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that alfaxalone preserves the cardiovascular function; and hence, is considered as safe to use for the surgical applicability in dogs.

The potential cardio-protective property of germinated brown rice (GBR) has been revealed by ameliorating risk factors related to cardiovascular diseases. This study hypothesized that the combination of GBR and cardioplegic solution could protect the cardiomyocytes exposed to simulated ischemic reperfusion injury in vitro study and preserve cardiac function during cardiopulmonary bypass surgery in animal models. Methods: Primary porcine cardiomyocytes were isolated and experimented cell viability against simulated ischemic reperfusion injury. In a cardiac surgical animal model, six pigs were randomly assigned to receive the two types of cardioplegic solution: i) St. Thomas cardioplegic solution (20 cc/kg); and ii) St. Thomas cardioplegic solution plus GBR (1 mg/ kg). During open-heart surgery, the aorta was cross-clamped for 20 minutes, followed by reperfusion for 1 hour. Cardiopulmonary bypass parameters were recorded until the end of the procedure. Furthermore, hemodynamic parameters and arterial blood gas characteristics of animals among groups were monitored at different time points, including baseline before cardiopulmonary bypass (T1), during cardiopulmonary bypass (T2), during aortic clamp on (T3), and aortic clamp off (T4). Results: Primarily, GBR cotreatment with cardioplegic solution essentially resulted in the improvement of cell viability in primary porcine cardiomyocytes against simulated ischemic reperfusion induction. The findings from cardiac surgery demonstrated that mean arterial pressure and heart rate are constantly stable in cardioplegic solution combined with the GBR group, while the trend of potassium and lactase concentration was decreased in the animals receiving GBR group. Consistently, all parameters from arterial blood gas showed better outcomes in animals receiving GBR; however, there were no statistically significant differences between groups, except hepatic enzymes. Conclusion: Therefore, GBR might exert cardio-protective effects against ischemic reperfusion injury in the porcine cardiac surgery model due to anti-inflammatory response. These protective actions of GBR may explain the benefits gained from applying GBR products as a possible therapeutic supplement on cardiac diseases.

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D irofilaria immitis is the most frequent parasite species affecting the lungs and heart in companion animals (Otranto and Deplazes, 2019; Genchi et al., 2011). Microfilariae that living in the heart and pulmonary arteries can be detected in the bloodstream of the infected animals (Dillon et al., 2007). Heartworm may cause respiratory and clinical signs such as cough, dyspnea, vomiting, and weight loss. Respiratory signs are often due to severe pulmonary thromboembolism and inflammatory response of the pulmonary parenchyma and vessels. Microfilaria infection can be observed through morphological identification of circulating microfilaria or specific serological test. Antigen testing is the routine diagnostic method in dogs. However, the laboratory diagnosis of heartworm disease case report Abstract | Heartworm disease is one of the most common mosquito-borne diseases in companion animals. Adulticide treatment is recommended for Dirofilaria infection in dogs. However, surgical removal of adult heartworms may be another treatment option for heartworm disease in dogs and cats when the adult heartworms are identified in the right side of the heart such as right atrium, right ventricle , and pulmonary artery. We report the case of one dog and one cat, where a mini-vascular snare was successfully used to remove the adult heartworms from the right ventricle. The dog and the cat had no history of heartworm prevention. The dog presented with a history of coughing, dyspnea, and right hind limb edema, and the cat presented with intermittent cough and vomiting. The patients were evaluated by parasitological investigation and echocardiography. Echocardiography demonstrated the adult heartworms in the right ventricle of the infected dog and cat. The patients underwent the surgical heartworm removal by passing a 4 mm mini-vascular snare through a catheter. The snare wire was guided by fluoroscopy to gently retract the heartworm toward the catheter. Blood analysis after surgical intervention revealed normal limits, including hepatic function. Echocardiography during the follow-up visits did not show complications associated with the intervention procedure, and the cat and dog showed improvements in respiratory signs after the surgical intervention. This study reported the use of a mini-vascular snare to remove adult heartworms in dogs and cats. The snare device offers another treatment option for heartworm disease in companion animals. This technique can immediately remove the adult heartworms and can be used as another treatment option to reduce the complications of the adulticide drugs in dogs. This study suggests that surgical intervention using a mini vascular snare device is not only a safe but efficient therapeutic method for heartworm removal in dogs and cats.

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