The impact of anxiety on canine heart function: a study using echocardiographic techniques.

ABSTRACT: Canine anxiety is increasingly recognized in veterinary practice, yet its cardiovascular effects remain poorly defined. This study evaluated 36 anxious dogs and 20 healthy controls using the validated Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and standardized echocardiography. Significant associations were identified between anxiety subtypes and cardiac parameters: general anxiety correlated with increased fractional shortening (FS%; r = 0.663, p = 0.001), phonophobia with larger left ventricular internal dimension in diastole (LVIDd; r = 0.681, p < 0.001), and aggression with a higher left atrial-to-aortic root ratio (LA/Ao; r = 0.475, p = 0.008). Rhythm irregularities were suspected in nearly half of anxious dogs, though classification was limited without ECG confi

SUBMITTER: Soghyani D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12522505 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature