Echocardiography for the Detection of Cardiomyopathy in K9 Dog (Belgian Malinois) at Direktorat Polisi Satwa

Abstract

K9 dogs are critical to law enforcement but are susceptible to cardiomyopathies, including dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), particularly in large breeds like Belgian Malinois. This study evaluated 30 actively working Belgian Malinois dogs from the Direktorat Polisi Satwa Korsabhara Baharkam Polri to determine the prevalence of cardiomyopathies. Routine health check-ups included physical examinations and echocardiographic assessments. Dogs were grouped into young adult, adult, and senior categories. Echocardiographic measurements, including left ventricular (LV) wall dimensions, interventricular septal (IVS) thickness, left atrial to aorta root (LA:Ao) ratio, left ventricular volumes (LVS), stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), fractional shortening (FS%), and ejection fraction (EF%), were obtained using right parasternal short-axis views. No cases of DCM were clearly identified. Age-related changes, such as reduced left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd), were noted in senior dogs, indicating early ventricular remodeling. Despite these variations, systolic function, cardiac output, and proportional left atrial adaptation were preserved across all age groups, demonstrating the cardiovascular efficiency of actively working Belgian Malinois dogs. Incorporating E-point septal separation (EPSS) in future studies may enhance the early detection and screening of DCM in working K9 dogs.

Anjing K9 memiliki peran penting dalam penegakan hukum, tetapi mereka berisiko tinggi mengalami kardiomiopati, termasuk dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), terutama pada ras besar seperti Belgian Malinois. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengevaluasi prevalensi kardiomiopati pada 30 anjing Belgian Malinois aktif dari Direktorat Polisi Satwa Korsabhara Baharkam Polri. Pemeriksaan kesehatan rutin mencakup pemeriksaan fisik serta pemeriksaan ekokardiografi. Anjing dikelompokkan berdasarkan usia: muda, dewasa, dan senior. Pengukuran ekokardiografi meliputi dimensi dinding ventrikel kiri, ketebalan septum interventrikular, rasio atrium kiri terhadap aorta (LA:Ao), volume ventrikel kiri, stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), fractional shortening (FS%), dan ejection fraction (EF%). Tidak ada prevalensi DCM yang terdeteksi di Derektorat Polisi Satwa. Perubahan terkait usia, seperti penurunan diameter internal ventrikel kiri saat diastol (LVIDd), tercatat pada anjing senior, yang mengindikasikan remodeling ventrikel awal. Meskipun terdapat variasi tersebut, fungsi sistolik, output jantung, dan adaptasi atrium kiri yang proporsional tetap terjaga di semua kelompok usia, menunjukkan efisiensi kardiovaskular pada anjing Belgian Malinois yang aktif bekerja. Penerapan E-point septal separation (EPSS) dalam penelitian mendatang dapat meningkatkan deteksi dini dan skrining DCM pada anjing K9 yang bekerja.