Selected echocardiographic parameters and right sided pressures of the mule

Abstract

SummaryAlthough there are references to mules having an innate ability to withstand higher work loads than horses, there are relatively few physiological studies that substantiate these statements. The purpose of thii study was to establish baseline information on cardiac dimensions and right sided pressures of the normal mule using echocardiography and cardiac catheterisation.

Cardiac Disease Related to Primary Hyperthyroidism in a 20-Year-Old Mule

“…A 10 h resting electrocardiogram (Televet II, Heusenstamm, Germany) showed a persistent, mild tachycardia (median = 53 bpm; range = 18–166 bpm) as well as occasional atrial premature complexes (15/10 h) and infrequent ventricular premature complexes (2/10 h, Figure 1 ) in addition to a period of 2nd degree atrio-ventricular block, associated with sedation. An unsedated echocardiogram (GE Vivid E95 with 4VC probe) showed concentric hypertrophy of the left ventricle (increased relative and mean wall thickness with decreased left ventricular internal diameter), subjective right ventricular hypertrophy and increased left ventricular and left atrial systolic function ( Table 2 , Figure 2 ,) [ 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 22 ]. There was no evidence of valvular regurgitation, and the systolic murmur appeared to be the result of turbulent flow in the left ventricular outflow tract and aortic root during systole, although only suboptimal alignment with the flow was achieved to show mild flow acceleration on continuous wave Doppler imaging ( Table 2 , Figure 2 ).…”

“…Bolded measurements were considered abnormal for a 325 kg mule when compared to those reported for other equid species. References denoted by a * are mule-specific references [19,20]. All other provided values are extrapolated from equine references for a 500 kg horse [21,22].…”