The CAVALIER Study

Principle Investigator Natasha Olby Description The CAVALIER Study (Cavalier King Charles Spaniels Aging and Vitality: Assessment of Longevity, Inherited Disease, Exceptional Aging, and Resilience) The goal of this study is to better understand the genetic and biological factors associated with healthy aging and longevity in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. We hope to identify factors that…

Feline Congestive Heart Failure and Coagulation

Principle Investigator Teresa DeFrancesco Description Cats with congestive heart failure (abnormal fluid accumulation) are at high risk for developing blood clots but the risk appears to differ with the manifestation of heart failure. There are two different manifestations of congestive heart failure in cats: 1) primarily pulmonary edema, and 2) primarily pleural effusion. Pulmonary edema…

Oral rapamycin for Severe Subvalvular Aortic Stenosis (SAS) in Dogs

Principle Investigator Kursten Pierce Description The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether three times weekly dosing with oral rapamycin can reverse the heart muscle changes associated with subvalvular aortic stenosis (SAS) in dogs. Dogs will undergo an initial screening for eligibility. If your dog enrolls, they will be randomized to receive either low…

EARLY INTERVENTION FOR DOBERMAN PINSCHERS AT RISK OF DEVELOPING DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY

Principal Investigator Kathryn Meurs Description We recently identified a genetic mutation in the Titin gene as a common cause of fatal dilated cardiomyopathy in the Doberman pinscher. Dogs that develop the disease frequently die of the disease either from refractory congestive heart failure or sudden cardiac death. Previous studies have demonstrated that medical intervention of…