The use of vertebral heart scale and vertebral left atrial dimension in radiographic examination of the heart in dogs brought to our clinic

ABSTRACT This study aimed to determine a reference range for Vertabral left atrial dimension (VLAS) and Vertabral Heart Scale (VHS) values in thoracic radiographs obtained from healthy dogs. This study included 40 healthy dogs of different breeds, sexes, and ages brought to Aksaray University Animal Hospital with various complaints. Detailed anamnesis was taken and clinical, radiographic, and echocardiographic evaluations of the cardiovascular system were performed. Animals with any cardiovascular disease detected during these examinations were excluded from the study. The radiographic examination included right lateral and ventrodorsal or dorsoventral thoracic radiographs in at least two directions. Vertebral Heart Scale (VHS) and Vertebral Left Atrial Size (VLAS) measurements were made on the obtained radiographs. The left atrium (LA), aorta (Ao), and LA/Ao ratio measurements were made and recorded in echocardiographic examination. The mean VHS was 9.86±0.78, the mean VLAS was 1.32± 0.15, and the mean LA/Ao was 1.17± 0.11. When VHS, VLAS, and LA/Ao ratio were evaluated statistically, no significant difference was found between the age, sex, and body weight variables of the dogs, and no significant difference was found in statistical analysis between VHS and VLAS.