A Ghadiri - Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University,Ahvaz, Iran.
R Avizeh
Fazli Gh.

In order to assess the influence of breed on the vertebral heart scale (VHS) of dogs, the VHS was measured and compared in left to right (LL)and right to left lateral (RL) views. For all dogs (n=56), the mean VHS on the RLradiographs [9.7 vertebra (v)] was significantly larger than the meanVHS on the LL radiographs (9.6 v) (p=0.047). Doberman dogs had higher mean values of the VHS in LL (9.9 v) and RL (10.1 v) views than all theother breeds, except in RL radiographs VHS of native dogs, although these differences were not significant. Native dogs had the lowestVHS in LL(9.4v) and RL (9.4 v) radiographs than all of the other breeds. The mean VHS values for German shepherd dogs were 9.6 and 9.8 v and for mixed breeds ofGerman shepherd and Doberman were 9.6 and 9.7 v in LL and RL radiographs, respectively. The mean VHS values in LL views were significantly smaller than in the RL view in Doberman and German shepherd dogs. No significant differences could be found between theVHS ofLLandRLradiographs in mixed breed and native dogs

Vertebral heart size; dog; radiology