Vertebral heart size and cardiosternal contact evaluation in thoracic roentgenographs of the Nigerian indigenous dog

The aim of this cross-sectional prospective radiologic study was to determine reproducible biometric ratios for cardiac assessment in the indigenous dog. Thirty healthy male and female dogs were used for the study. Sixty right and left lateral thoracic projections of the dogs were acquired. Parameters in each radiograph were objectively evaluated, namely: cardiac long and short axes in right and left lateral views. Indices generated were the vertebral heart size and the cardiosternal contact (also known as intercostal heart size). The mean values of vertebral heart size (VHS) and intercostal heart size (IHS) were: 9.82±0.08/9.70±0.10 and 3.40±0.05/3.37±0.05 for the right and left lateral radiographs, respectively. Vertebral heart size correlated strongly, positively and significantly with cardiac long and short axes while IHS showed a high, positive and significant relationship with short axis but a moderately, positively significant association with long axis. The indices determined in the study are easy to use and allow for objective investigation of the canine heart. The results of this research are clinically relevant in the diagnosis and management of cardiac anomalies.Keywords: Diagnosis, Nigerian dogs, radiology, thoracic measurements