Canine Normal Left Ventricular Functions by Echo-cardiogram and the Change of Blood Pressure by Aging

Abstract

To obtain basic data for estimating influence factors, especially aging factor, on cardiac functions, the echo-cardiographic studies and blood pressure measurements were conducted for 96 healthy dogs which were visiting to the hospital. The results obtained are as follows ;
1) In FS and EF which are systolic factors the peak values were shown between four and seven years old.
2) In the E and A waves which are diastolic factors, the peak velocity of E wave decreased with aging, whereas the A wave-peak velocity tended to increase by aging. These results might be the same as in humans and it seemed that aging effects on the heart were developed by the same mechanisms as in humans.
3) Blood pressure tended to increase with aging, which was also the same as in humans. These findings become usefulness in the diagnosis of hypertension of the dog in the future.