Interobserver agreement between non‐cardiologist veterinarians and a cardiologist after a 6‐hour training course for echographic evaluation of basic echocardiographic parameters and caudal vena cava diameter in 15 healthy Beagles

Abstract

A 6-hour training course in echocardiography allows non-cardiologists to assess left atrial diameter, left atrium to aortic ratio, normalized left ventricle diameter in diastole and systole, and CVC_max of the CV-FAST exam in healthy Beagles. Standardization of the CVC-SubX technique and assessment of the impact of the respiratory phase on CVC diameter in dogs is needed. Further studies are required to determine whether interobserver agreement remains acceptable when including different breeds. Assessment of basic echocardiographic parameters and the CVC to estimate volume status in small animal medicine merits further clinical evaluation.