title: Plasma fatty acid concentrations in Boxers and Doberman Pinschers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare plasma fatty acid concentrations and the relationships of fatty acids to arrhythmias in Boxers versus Doberman Pinschers.
  
  
  METHODS
  38 Boxers and 13 Doberman Pinschers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Boxers and Doberman Pinschers evaluated via Holter recording and for which a blood sample was available were included. Echocardiograms were performed in 49 of 51 dogs. The number of ventricular premature complexes (VPCs)/24 h was counted and fatty acids analyzed. Plasma fatty acid concentrations and VPCs/24 h, as well as correlations between the 2 variables, were compared between the 2 breeds.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the Doberman Pinschers, Boxers had significantly higher plasma concentrations of gamma-linolenic acid but lower concentrations of arachidonic acid. Total n-6 fatty acids and total polyunsaturated fatty acid concentrations were higher in Doberman Pinschers. There were significant, but weak, positive correlations between VPCs and oleic acid, total n-3 fatty acids, and total n-9 fatty acids in Boxers but not in Doberman Pinschers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Data suggested that plasma fatty acid concentrations may differ between Boxers and Doberman Pinschers and that the relationship between fatty acid concentrations and VPCs may be different between these 2 breeds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA.
authors.forename: Caren E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Lisa M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: Kathryn M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Meurs
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rush
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lamb
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000097:blood; D004285:Dogs / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids