Echocardiographic findings of mitral regurgitation in maltese dogs

To evaluate mitral regurgitation (MR) in Maltese dogs which have a high prevalence ratio of MR, an ausculation, thoracic radiograph, electrocardiography and echocardiography were taken in 18 Maltese dogs with chronic MR as the MR (+) group (n=13 ; 7 males and 6 females) and without MR as the MR (-) group (n=5 ; 3 males and 2 females). Age and body weight of the MR (+) group and MR (-) group were 11.2±1.6 and 10.0±1.6 years and 3.4±0.7 and 3.6±1.3kg, respectively. Our results suggested that mitral valve thickness and prolapse, left atrial diameter, left ventricular end-diastolic diameter, left ventricular end-systolic diameter and left ventricular end-systolic posterior wall thickness were useful in evaluating the heart function of Maltese with chronic MR.