Jagdish Prasad Varshney

• Dr.
• Consultant at Nandini veterinary Hospital

"The book Electrocardiogram Made Easy: A Fully Illustrated Handbook has been designed keeping in view the requirements of the novice veterinary graduates and practitioners inclined to do cardiac evaluation of their patients. A chapter on self-exercise has been intended as a study aid to provide reader with an additional opening to assess his own un...

"The present book “Heart failure in Animals: Current Concepts” is an endeavour to provide comprehensive information about structure and functions of the heart, current concepts in etiopathogenesis of heart failure, updated diagnostic modalities appropriate to heart failure, therapeutic interventions, new pharmacological agents and dietary consi...

Electrocardiography is a noninvasive technique employed to record the electrocardiogram (electrical activity of the heart plotted against the time) of the humans and animals. History of electrocardiography dates back to 1616 when Harvey discovered blood circulation, and later in 1887 Waller recorded the electrical activity of human heart for the fi...

Heart failure is the final outcome of heart diseases and is characterized by cardiac pump failure. Heart failure can be due to cardiomyopathy, valve insufficiency, severe arrhythmia, or AV blocks. Clinical manifestations in heart failure are related to systolic dysfunction (forward failure) and/or diastolic dysfunction (backward failure). Timely co...

Evaluation of the heart is an integral part of detailed clinical examination. In many exotic pets or in avian species, heart examination has not been given due attention as routine auscultation is not rewarding in chelonians due to hard shell, due to very fast heart rate in avian species or lack of basic information. In this chapter an attempt has...

In urban areas cats are also being kept as pet animal, and their number is increasing in outpatient department (OPD) of pet clinics. Though prevalence of cardiac diseases in cats in India is not known, studies done abroad have indicated that cardiac diseases in cats are not uncommon. The diagnosis of cardiac diseases in cats is not an easy task bec...

Correct interpretation of an electrocardiogram requires a systematic reading. Properly filled ECG strip facilitates its interpretation. Heart rate is easily calculated by counting the complexes in three second period (i.e. in 15 large squares or in 75 small squares on horizontal axis of ECG). Change in R-R interval and complexes unassociated with P...

Sodium, potassium, and calcium are important ions which play a crucial role in the depolarization and repolarization of the cardiac muscle cells. It is logical if their concentration is not appropriate, contraction of the heart is affected. Similarly many physical (hypothermia or hyperthermia) and chemical agents (arsenic, lead, bufotoxins, theobro...

There are four important valves in the heart, namely, the mitral valve, tricuspid valve, aortic valve, and pulmonary valve. Insufficiency of the valves leads to back flow of the blood from the left ventricle to left atrium (during ventricular systole), right ventricle to right atrium (during ventricular systole), aorta to left ventricle (during ven...

Electrocardiography in ruminants is not as common as in canines and felines because of low prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Traumatic reticulopericarditis and arrhythmias are commonly seen in cattle and buffaloes. In other ruminants arrhythmias are commonly observed. Most of them are asymptomatic and require no medical attention. Nevertheless...

Cardiomyopathy is very common in dogs. It is classified as dilated, hypertrophic, and restrictive cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is more common in males of large breeds. Atypical form of cardiomyopathy has been described in Boxer, Doberman and Cocker Spaniels. Exact etiology of cardiomyopathy is still debated. Diagnosis of cardiomyopathy re...

Beside cardiac chamber enlargement, abnormalities in current flow pattern (conduction pathway) are equally important. Delay in intraventricular conduction leads to bundle branch and fascicular blocks. Electrocardiogram is the only diagnostic technique which is of great assistance in detecting these blocks. Importance of these blocks increases when...

Electrocardiogram is a graph of the electrical activities of the heart as a consequence of depolarization and repolarization of cardiac cells during each heartbeat. The seat of the current generation in the heart is SA node. The current from SA node is passed to the atrium and the AV node to the bundle of His to the bundle branches to the Purkinje...

As it has been described in earlier chapters, the electrocardiogram is the graphic representation of the electrical events occurring in the heart during depolarization and repolarization. The functioning of the heart is effected not only by the diseases of the heart itself but also by the diseases of other organs leading to alterations in the elect...

Pericardial effusion, a disease of pericardium, is characterized by increased amount of fluid in the pericardial sac. It is of idiopathic or neoplastic origin. Symptoms of pericardial effusion are related with cardiac compensation leading to right heart failure. The presence of three clinical signs such as muffled heart sound, jugular venous disten...

Cardiac diseases are common in canine population. Cardiac functions are compromised not only in primary cardiac diseases but also in diseases of other organs affecting the heart secondarily. So it is imperative to evaluate the heart in ailing dogs. Undoubtedly electrocardiography provides an important information about rate, rhythm, conduction dist...

When the values of waves (P, QRS, T), segments (P-R segment, S-T segment), and intervals (P-R interval, Q-T interval, R-R interval) do not conform to normal values for the species of the animal under examination, it is said to be an abnormal electrocardiogram. Tall P wave (>0.4 mV), broad P wave (>0.04 s), tall R wave (>2.5 mV in dogs of small bree...

Many heart diseases are associated with enlargement of atrium and/or ventricles. It is possible to detect enlargement not only of atrium and/or ventricles but also of their side involved (right or left) using electrocardiogram in canines. Enlargement of right or left atrium is reflected by tall P wave (0.4 mV) or broad P wave (>0.04 s), respectivel...

Arrhythmias denote disturbances in cardiac rate, rhythm, and/or both and are very common in canines. Cardiac arrhythmias have been classified into various categories based on their basic abnormalities, heart rate, heart rhythm, and physio-anatomical basis or with regard to therapy. Impulses that generate outside the SA node are associated with arrh...

Detection of abnormalities in an electrocardiogram requires a knowledge of basic electrocardiographic norms for the particular species of the animal under examination. Criterion for electrocardiographic norms for healthy animals of different species is different. Like other tests such as hemogram or biochemical values, electrocardiogram is also not...

Cardiac functioning is affected not only by cardiac diseases (arrhythmias, conduction disturbances, ectopic focus, septal defects, vulvular defects, chamber size changes, pericardial effusions) but also by hemodynamic changes (dehydration, anemia), respiratory distress (hypoxia), ionic imbalances, inflammatory diseases of other organs, hormonal imb...

This book provides essential information on methodologies for recording electrocardiograms in various animal species, including dogs, cats, cattle, buffaloes, sheep, goats, mithun, chelonians, snakes, avians, equines, rabbits, and the Indian gray mongoose. It also reviews the electrocardiographic physiology, generation of electrocardiograms, and no...

Heart failure is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in canines. W ith the improvement in diagnostic technology, diagnosis of heart failure has become a routine in referral clinics. Sixteen dogs diagnosed with congestive left heart failure, employing history, clinical signs, radiography and electrocardiography were studied for level of ca...

The present study was undertaken to investigate the prevalence of babesiosis and clinical variants amongst sick dogs presented to Referral Veterinary Polyclinic of the Institute in North India. During the period of six years (2000-2001 to 2005-2006) recorded a total of 1074 dogs out of 12066 were found cytologically positive for Babesia infection,...

Fibrous osteodystrophy (FO), a metabolic bone disorder, has been reported in different animal species with variable susceptibility. Albeit, it is commonly reported in horses, the clinical disease is also recorded globally in goats. Diagnosis of fibrous osteodystrophy is mainly based on various clinical examination methods including biochemical alte...

Aim: The present investigation was conducted to study the prevalence of microfilaremia in dogs in Gujarat. Materials and Methods: A total of 418 adult dogs aged between 2 and 14 years with signs of weakness and non-specified complaints, presented at TVCC, Deesa (North Gujarat), Nandini Veterinary Hospital, Surat (South Gujarat), and Private Clinic...

Canine babesiosis, a tick-borne haemoprotozoan disease, characterized by both intravascular and extravascular haemolysis leading to regenerative anaemia, anaemic hypoxia, and metabolic acidosis. ECG changes have never been studied in canine babesiosis caused by B. gibsoni which is more pathogenic and prevalent in India. However, ECG changes occurre...

The present clinical study aimed at investigating the effect of pneumonia on electrocardiographic indices in goats. The electrocardiogram of the pneumonic goats revealed sinus tachycardia characterized by an increased heart rate, decreased P-R interval, slightly increased P amplitude, almost normal ‘P’ duration, normal QRS, slightly increased S amp...

A rare case of liposarcoma in a Cocker spaniel dog is presented in this paper. Laparoscopic examination of the liver showed pale enlarged liver with multiple circumscribed raised nodules bulging from surface of left lateral, right lateral and quadrate lobes. The nodules were round to ovoid in shape and were soft in consistency.

The present investigation was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a homeopathic complex remedy (consisting of Andrographis panniculata 1X, Chelidonium majus 1X, Myrica ceri 1X and Chinonanthus virginicia 1X in equal proportions (0.04% V/V in syrup base) in ten dogs (six mucocele and four cholecystitis) with ultrasonographic evidence of cholecyst...

A fatal case of concurrent infection of Trypanosoma evansi and Dirofilaria immitis is reported in a non-descript bitch. The clinical picture was complex associated with anaemia, neutrophilic leucocytosis, liver insult (hepatomegaly, increased ALT and SAP levels) and cardiac arrhythmia. Despite treatment the bitch collapsed on the 7th day post initi...

Clindamycin and diminazine aceturate were evaluated in the management of clinical babesiosis in dogs. The diagnosis of babesiosis was based on cytological evidence of Babesia gibsoni in the freshly prepared peripheral blood smears. Dogs of group A were treated with clindamycin @ 25 mg/kg b.wt. bid intramuscularly or orally for 14 days while the dog...

Babesiosis is a common tick borne disease of dogs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world caused by different species of Babesia. The present study aimed to examine erythrocyte lipid peroxide and erythrocytic antioxidant levels in dogs with clinical babesiosis, caused by Babesia gibsoni, and impact of the disease on blood iron, zinc and co...

Cholesterol - cholic acid diet induced hepatomegally and choleithiasis in the mice. Histopathological section revealed massive hepato cytomegaly, hyperchromatic nuclei and mononuclear cells in liver and hyper plastic and desquamated epithelium of the gallbladder. Lithogenic diet induced significant elevation of serum cortisol and testosterone and d...

Accidental ingestion of 30 numbers of Aerocort Rotacaps (each containing Salbutamol 200 mcg), a beta2 - adrenoceptor agonist, led to the development of tremors, nausea, tachypnoea, congested (bright red discolouration) of the visible mucous membrane, excitation, salivation, and sinus tachycardia in a 4 month old Labrador pup. The case was successfu...

The present paper deals with the clinical features, serum hepatic enzyme activity and biochemical profile of the dogs with cholecystic disorders. Clinical features in dogs with cholecystic diseases were found to be non-specific. However, liver specific enzymes like ALT (Alanine aminotransferase) SAP (Serum Alkalinetransferase) and γ-GT (Gamma gluta...

Homeopathic Digitalis 6c was evaluated in two clinical cases of atrial paroxysmal tachycardia in dogs. Tachycardias are common cardiac problems in dogs, and atrial paroxysmal tachycardia is a serious cardiac arrhythmia that may lead to syncope. Both adult dogs (Labrador and German Shepherd) were treated with Digitalis 6c, 4 drops orally four times...

Clinico-haematological and biochemical indices were monitored in 27 dogs concurrently infected with Anaplasma platys and other blood parasites and 6 healthy dogs as controls. The diagnosis of A. platys was based on demonstration of basophilic inclusions in thrombocytes. The principal clinical findings included anorexia, fever, lethargy, lymphadenop...

Excretory-secretory fluid (ESF) and somatic extract (SE) of Fasciola gigantica were tested for the evidence of anti-oxidant enzymes' activity that may account for resistance of the parasite to oxidative stress induced by the host cellular immune response. The results indicated the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) in Fasciola gigantica-ESF and...

Animals were experimentally infected with Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjo type hardjobovis and clinical and changes in haematological parameters and immune response were studied. All the animals developed significantly high antibody levels at day 7 PI with a decrease recorded at day 28 PI. The study revealed that the infection was able to...

Homeopathic Crotalus horridus 200C was evaluated in 13 clinical cases of babesiosis in dogs, compared with another 20 clinical cases treated with diminazine. Babesiosis is an important tropical tick-borne haemoprotozoan disease in dogs clinically manifested by anorexia, dehydration, temperature, dullness/depression, diarrhoea/constipation, pale muc...

Effect of Fasciola gigantica infection on adrenal and thyroid glands was investigated using eight male, yearling Murrah buffaloes. The animals were randomly assigned to two groups of four buffaloes each (Group-A, infected; Group-B, non-infected control). Animals of Group-A were orally infected with 1000 F. gigantica viable metacercariae, keeping ot...

Epilepsy is an important neurological disorder in dogs. Belladonna 200C was evaluated in 10 dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. During the seizure phase, 3-4 drops of Belladonna 200C were administered orally at 15 min intervals until considerable reduction in seizure activity, then four times daily. Four dogs with head shaking syndrome in addition to se...

This study was undertaken to evaluate the efficacy of a homeopathic complex in the management of true anoestrus in crossbred cows. Six anoestrus cows were treated with a homeopathic complex (Calcarea phosphorica 30c, Aletris farinosa 30c, Pulsatilla 30c, Aurum muriaticum natronatum 30c, Sepia 30c and Phosphorus 30c in equal proportion, 15 pills twi...

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of Fasciola gigantica excretory secretory antigen (Fg-ESA) on rat hematological indices. Fg-ESA was prepared by keeping thoroughly washed 40 F. gigantica flukes in 100 ml phosphate buffer saline (PBS) for 2 h at 37 degrees C, and centrifuging the supernatant at 12,000 g at 4 degrees C for 3...

Efficacy of silymarin was evaluated in clinical cases of hepatitis/hepatic congestion in dogs. The drug has shown clinical improvement and reduction in activity of alanine aminotransferase, γ glutamyl transferase and serum alkaline phosphatase in treated group.

Haematuric dogs (20) were subjected to clinical, urological, radiological and ultrasonographic evaluation. Urge incontinence, high urine residual volume (15.16±1.05 ml kg-1), intact perineal and bulbospongious reflexes, 142.5±25.96 RBC hpf-1, 7.6±2.11 WBC hpf -1, 4.3±0.48 struvite crystals hpf-1, 3.05±0.83 transitional cells hpf-1, 3.95±0.62 micro-...

Anorexia and pain on palpation on liver area were main symptoms associated with sludge while biochemical and haematological observations were inconsistent. Biliary sludge along with distension and wall thickening may be of diagnostic importance in hepatobiliary diseases of dogs.

Mastitis is the major problem of dairy animals despite a number of preventive and therapeutic approaches. Treatment is costly and out of reach of farmers of developing countries like India. The treatment cost of bovine mastitis with conventional treatment has been calculated. Good results have been claimed with homeopathic treatment however, treatm...

The role of excretory-secretory metabolites of Fasciola gigantica in modulating the delayed type of hypersensitivity in the host (rats) was investigated. Eighteen rats of either sex, aged 3-4 months, were assigned to three groups of 6 animals each. Rats in group 1 served as non-inoculated controls and each rat in this group was administered only Fr...

Isolation and characterisation of an Indian strain of Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides LC from a case of caprine arthritis is reported in the study. The isolate was identified based on biochemical, digitonin sensitivity and growth inhibition tests. The virulence of the organism was studied by pathogenicity test in mice and goat. The antigenic an...

The present study indicated that homeopathic combination remedy (consisting of calcarea phosporica, aletris farinosa, aurum muriaticum natronatum, pulsatilla, sepia and phosphorus each of 30C potency) induced estrus in 68% postpartum acyclic cows and 50% buffaloes in 14.41 and 16.0 days respectively.

Morbidity and mortality in an organised kennel was investigated. Based on watery feaces with haematochezia, positive haemagglutination activity, lymphopenia, hypoalbuminemia, increased AST activity, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, broad QRS complex, exfoliation and necrosis of lining cells of crypts of Lieberkuhen and intranuclear inclusions, and...

We report an uncontrolled observational study of the treatment of udder diseases of buffalo, using a homeopathic complex medicine. Mastitis is an economically important disease of buffaloes. In India economic losses due to mastitis are estimated at 526 million US dollars annually. Conventional veterinary treatment relies on costly antibiotics; cure...

Clinico-haematological, biochemical, endocrinological and ultrasonographic findings were recorded in 100 clinical cases of canine babesiosis due to Babesia gibsoni infection. Cases of babesiosis were scattered throughout the year but 60% were observed from March to June (summer). The disease was in acute form in pups and in chronic form in adults....

Seventy six dogs with suspected hepatobiliary disease were subjected to B-mode ultrasonography. Of 36 cholecystic disease distension of gall bladder, sludge, thickening (>3.5 mm) of gall bladder wall, cholelith and biliary obstruction were observed either alone or in combination in 25, 17, 15, 1 and 2 dogs respectively. In other 40 dogs, gall bladd...

Findings of ultrasonography were analyzed in 24 dogs with hepatopathies and in 3 dogs without hepatopathy and compared with the results of haemato-biochemical investigations. Ultrasonographic appearance of liver demonstrated diffuse hyperechoic "bright" but small liver in cirrhosis and in intrahepatic porto-systemic shunt (PSS); and diffuse fine hy...

A non-invasive indirect measurement of blood pressure was evaluated in 834 conscious dogs. The technique could successfully register blood pressure in 97.002% dogs. The prevalence of hypertension and hypotension was recorded as 6.42 and 6.55% respectively. In most of the dogs hypertension appeared to be secondary to either diabetes mellitus, left v...

Under Indian conditions, post-partum acyclicity is the most common single cause of infertility in rural buffaloes (Iyer, 1978). Reproductive performance in sexually mature females is mainly dependant on the optimum levels of oestrogen and progesterone secreted from the ovary under the influence of pituitary gonadotrophins (Takker et al., 1983). Blo...

An unexplained mortality with signs of diarrhoea recumbency and ataxia in lambs in an organized farm in Northern India was investigated during June 1997. The ailment was characterized by afebrile sickness with loose faeces, posterior ataxia. pale conjunctive, dullness, refractary appetite, inco-ordinated gait, weakness and recumbency. Faecal examin...

Two hundred twenty nine sera samples of healthy female yearling were evaluated for some of the essential macro and micro nutrients to establish some base line information for Thoroughbreds maintained in western part of Indian agroclimatic conditions. Values for sodium, chloride, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, zinc, and iron contents were within no...

Carbon tetrachloride is a known hepatotoxin inflicting injury to hepatocyte membrane. Acute hepatopathy in equines following single dose of carbon tetrachloride is well known (Ikeda et al., 1976; Anwer et al., 1976) Repeated administration of carbon tetrachloride in low doses has shown no apparent clinical symptoms in equines (Oehme, 1983). Neverth...

A total of 49 isolates of Staphylococcus aureus of buffalo mammary origin were studied for biochemical characteristics. Coagulase production, clumping factor, haemolytic activity, pigment production and fermentation of maltose and mannitol were employed to differentiate S. aureus from S. hyicus and S. intermedius. Out of 49 isolates, 97.95, 93.87,...

Repeated weekly infections with S aureus, of bovine mammary origin, for three times evoked an immediate and a delayed type hypersensitivity in rabbits. The skin responses at 6 hr were characterized by oedema, haemorrhages and infiltration of polymorphonuclear cells. While at 24 hr it was dominated by mononuclear cells specially lymphocytes in the d...