Overview of Equine Cardiac Disease

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Key points

  • A knowledge of normal and pathologic physiology is a key to understanding equine cardiac diseases and therapy of heart failure in this species.

  • Equine heart diseases can be categorized anatomically as diseases of the pericardium, myocardium, valves and endocardium, and the great vessels.

  • Heart rhythm disturbances are an important functional type of heart disease and can lead to exercise intolerance or serious clinical signs, such as syncope or sudden death.

  • Congestive heart failure is a

Anatomic and pathologic considerations

Anatomic features of the pericardial space, the myocardium and cardiac chambers, the heart valves, and the specialized impulse-forming and conduction system underpin a clinician’s understanding of equine heart disease. Some of the major anatomic features of the heart, and related cardiac pathologies, are the focus of this section. Arrhythmias are discussed in Katharyn J Mitchell's article, “Equine Electrocardiography,” and in Gunther van Loon's article, "Cardiac Arrhythmias in Horses," in this

Clinical pathophysiology

An appreciation of both normal and pathologic cardiovascular physiology is fundamental to an understanding of cardiac disease in the horse. Some key aspects have been noted and others are considered within the context of pathologic physiology.

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Disclosure Statement: The author has no relationship with a commercial company that has a direct financial interest in this subject matter or the materials discussed in article nor with a company making a competing product.

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