Veterinary Pharmacy APPE Rotation

Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Student Topic Discussions

Cardiology
1. What is heart failure? How do we classify or stage heart failure in canine patients?
2. Briefly summarize the prevalence, risk factors, and pathophysiology for heart failure caused by Canine
Valvular Heart Disease (CVHD) versus Canine Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) versus Feline Hypertrophic
Cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Prevalence Risk Factors Pathophysiology

CVHD
DCM
HCM

3. Case: Spencer is a 7 year old MC Cavalier King Charles Spaniel (7.3 kg) who was diagnosed with heart
failure by his rDVM 6 months ago. He presents to PVTH ECC today due to increased coughing, and a
respiratory rate consistently in the 40s. His owner feels like he is having trouble breathing. His current
medications include furosemide 15mg PO BID and enalapril 3.75mg PO BID.
a. What is the most likely cause of his symptoms?
b. How would you stage Spencer’s heart failure?
c. What are your recommendations for changes to his maintenance therapy?
4. What is occult versus overt DCM? How does treatment for these two stages of disease differ?
5. Case: Diesel is a 6 year old Doberman Pinscher who was recently diagnosed with DCM after an episode of
syncope that occurred while he was playing. The results of a 24 hour Holter monitor revealed multiple
VPCs and a short run of ventricular tachycardia.
a. What are your treatment recommendations for Diesel?
b. Diesel’s owner is concerned about DCM in his 2 other dogs. They are Diesel’s younger half-
brothers (from the same mother). What would you tell him?
6. Would you recommend spironolactone for a feline patient with CHF secondary to HCM?
7. What pharmacologic treatment options are available for asymptomatic versus symptomatic feline HCM?
8. What is the role of pimobendan in feline HCM?
9. What is the pathophysiology of Feline Arterial Thromboembolism associated with HCM? What are the
available preventative/treatment options?

Adapted from NCSU APPE Rotation