The Vertebral Heart Score (VHS), also called the Vertebral Heart Size or Vertebral Heart Scale, is a measurement method used in veterinary medicine to assess an animal heart size from a thoracic radiograph in a way that is independent of the animal overall body size. The technique projects the long and short axes of the heart onto the thoracic vertebrae, starting from the fourth thoracic vertebra, and counts the number of vertebrae these lengths span; it is used mainly in dogs to detect cardiomegaly, including conditions such as dilated cardiomyopathy. The scoring system was established by Buchanan and Bücheler in 1995, and a VHS below about 10.5 is generally considered normal for dogs, though some breeds show higher values as a normal variant.
Facts
FAQs
Does the same vertebral heart score count as normal for every dog breed?
No. Several breeds have a mean score above 10.5, so one range does not fit every breed.
No. The normal range was based on a group of 100 dogs of various breeds, which is a limitation of the method. Since the original report, several studies have shown significant breed-specific differences, with a mean score higher than 10.5 in breeds such as the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Boxer, Pug, Pomeranian, Bulldog and Boston Terrier.
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Sources
1. Wikipedia
Wikipedia contributors, Wikimedia Foundation
2. Vertebral Heart Score (Wikipedia)
Vertebral Heart Score - Lead section
The Vertebral Heart Score (VHS), also known as Vertebral Heart Size or Vertebral Heart Scale, is a measurement method used in veterinary medicine to assess the heart size of animals based on thoracic radiographs.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebral_Heart_Score, lead section
The Vertebral Heart Score (VHS) - also known as Vertebral Heart Size or Vertebral Heart Scale - is a measurement method used in veterinary medicine to assess the heart size of animals based on thoracic radiographs.
Article text - era-origin-year
The VHS was established by Buchanan and Bücheler in 1995.
In Group: Veterinary Diagnostics and Examination, Introduction
The Vertebral Heart Score (VHS), also known as Vertebral Heart Size or Vertebral Heart Scale, is a measurement method used in veterinary medicine to assess the heart size of animals based on thoracic radiographs.
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