A retrospective study of circadian and seasonal presentations of dogs with congestive heart failure: 119 cases (1997-2009).
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that there is a daily or seasonal rhythm in the presentation of congestive heart failure (CHF) in dogs.


METHODS
Retrospective case series from 1997 to 2009.


METHODS
Small animal veterinary teaching hospital.


METHODS
One hundred and nineteen dogs with 126 acute presentations of CHF.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Medical records from a veterinary teaching hospital were searched for the occurrence of CHF. The effect of admission time, weekday, month, and season were analyzed separately using chi-square tests. CHF presentations were largely confined to Monday and Tuesday (57%) and between 9 am and 11:59 am (55%). CHF was more common during September, October, and November (37%).


CONCLUSIONS
Information from this study may assist veterinarians in educating clients about the timing of clinical signs, and enable veterinary hospitals to anticipate CHF cases during certain times of the day and year.
Department of Comparative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA.
Gary R
GR
Steinberg
Julie K
JK
Byron
Megan M
MM
Mahoney
D000818:Animals; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012621:Seasons; D013997:Time Factors