Physical and echocardiographic aspects were studied in dogs with chronic mitral valvular disease. The length and thickness of the mitral valve leaflets were echocardiographically measured. Eighty-one dogs of small-medium breeds (mean of 6.24kg± 3.19), older than six years (11.12± 2.51 years) were used. Twenty were clinically normal dogs (control group) and 61 presented myxomatous degeneration of the mitral valve. The diseased dogs were categorized into three classes of congestive heart failure (I, II, and III groups) according to the information on clinical manifestations. On the echocardiographic exam, the measurements of the mitral valve leaflets were evaluated and no diferences between dogs of groups I and II were found, though they were abnormal if compared with control group animals. Group III dogs presented measurements higher than those of animals of groups I and II, as well as leaflets very thick and round-shaped nodules were observed.
dog; echocardiographic exam; mitral valve; heart
