title: Prevalence of vomiting in dogs with pericardial effusion.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pericardial effusion (PE) is common in dogs. Clinical signs may be vague until cardiac tamponade and associated cardiovascular decompensation develops. Vomiting has previously been identified in some dogs, but the actual prevalence of vomiting in dogs with PE is unknown. The purpose of this study is to report the prevalence of vomiting associated with PE, and to determine if vomiting is associated with the underlying cause of effusion, presenting plasma lactate concentration, or volume of PE removed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The medical records of 49 dogs diagnosed with PE were restrospectively reviewed. Data collected from the medical record included signalment, the presence or absence of vomiting, presenting plasma lactate concentration, and the etiology of the PE. Twenty-five of 49 dogs (51%) identified with PE had recently vomited. Vomiting was more common in dogs with presenting plasma lactate concentration > 5.0 mmol/L (P = 0.02) but was unrelated to the specific etiology of the PE. The volume of PE obtained via pericardiocentesis did not differ (P = 0.79) between dogs with (8.7 ± 3.4 mL/kg) and without historical vomiting (9.1 ± 4.3 mL/kg).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vomiting is common in dogs with PE, and in particular, dogs with evidence of hypoperfusion. Pericardial effusion should be included as a differential diagnosis in dogs with a history of vomiting that present with weakness or collapse.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fahey
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rozanski
authors.affiliation: the Tufts VETS, Walpole, MA, 02081.
authors.forename: April
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, 01536.
authors.forename: John E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Rush
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002305:Cardiac Tamponade; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010490:Pericardial Effusion / Q000150:complications / Q000662:veterinary*; D020519:Pericardiocentesis / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
keywords: canine; gastrointestinal signs; hypoperfusion; tamponade