Abstract
Sodium restricted diet was fed to 12 dogs with mild or moderate chronic valvular disease for 12 weeks. The plasma concentrations of sodium, aldosterone (Aldo), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) were measured, and thoracic radiographic and echocardiographic examinations were performed at baseline and 4, 8 and 12 weeks after the initiation of feeding. As the results, Aldo showed trend to increase when compared to the value at the baseline, but this change was not statistically significant. Similarly, changes in plasma sodium, ANP and NT-proBNP concentrations, and the diagnostic imaging were insignificant. Based on these findings, the present study confirmed that cardiac morphology did not change and neuroendocrine system was not activated when the sodium restricted diet was initiated in dogs with chronic valvular disease. Although the diet might increase Aldo level, this change would not affect cardiac morphology and function.
