Table 1.
Specific reasons for exclusion in the Dog factor category (n = 29) during each stage. Stage 1 had six different subcategories that could have led to exclusion due to Dog factors, whereas, Stage 2 and Stage 3 each had 10 subcategories.
| Stage 1 Dog factors | Stage 2 Dog factors | Stage 3 Dog factors |
|---|---|---|
| Not between 6 and 10 years of age (n = 2) | Not between 6 and 10 years of age (n = 0) | Heart murmur graded III/VI or louder (n = 5) |
| Not between 40 and 80 lb (18-36 kg) (n = 10) | Not between 40 and 80 lb (18–36 kg) (n = 2) | Limited or poor echocardiography scan window (n = 1) |
| Not cooperative for physical exam, blood pressure, phlebotomy, and/or echocardiography (n = 0) | History or physical examination findings suggestive of systemic illness (n = 2) | Physical exam findings suggestive of systemic illness (n = 0) |
| Clinical pathology findings suggestive of systemic illness (n = 0) | Clinical pathology findings suggestive of systemic illness (n = 2) | |
| Thyroid panel results suggestive of hypothyroidism (n = 1) | Thyroid panel results suggestive of hypothyroidism (n = 0) | |
| Not able to take oral medications for 6 months (n = 0) | Hypertension (SBP > 160 mmHg) (n = 0) | Hypertension (SBP > 160 mmHg) |
| Not currently receiving regular monthly heartworm preventative (n = 0) | Positive heartworm test or absent history of heartworm preventive treatment (n = 0) | Positive heartworm test (n = 0) |
| Not vaccinated as recommended by AAHA (n = 0) | Cardiac arrhythmia other than sinus arrhythmia (n = 0) | Cardiac arrhythmia other than sinus arrhythmia (n = 2) |
| Cardiac disease other than Stage B1 CVD (n = 0) | Cardiac disease evident on echocardiogram other than Stage B1 CVD (n = 0) | |
| Not cooperative for physical exam, blood pressure, phlebotomy, and/or echocardiography (n = 0) | Not cooperative for physical exam, blood pressure, phlebotomy, and/or echocardiography (n = 2) |