Cardiac Panel

Left Atrial Enlargement (Canine Only)

This refers to an enlargement of the left atrium. This enlargement is often a sign of underlying heart disease and may be caused by mitral valve disease, dilated cardiomyopathy or congenital heart defects. Symptoms may include coughing, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, tachypnea or syncope.

The left atrium is considered normal,

• If no dilation is noted at the caudodorsal border of the heart

• If enlargement is more right sided - right sided enlargement usually leads to changes on the cranial border of the heart versus the caudodorsal border

The left atrium is considered abnormal

• If there is a dilation along caudodorsal border of the cardiac silhouette at 12 to 2 o’clock and straightening of the caudal border of the heart with loss of the caudal cardiac waist.

• If there is dorsal displacement of the trachea at the carina

• If there is dorsal displacement and compression of left main stem bronchus