Comparison of laboratory data in dogs with heartworm caval syndrome surviving and nonsurviving after surgical treatment

Laboratory data in 47 dogs with caval syndrome (CS) surviving after surgical HW removal compared with those in 15 dogs with CS which died after the treatment. The number of HWs removed in surviving dogs was significantly greater than in nonsurviving dogs. The Ht value was significantly higher in nonsurviving dogs than in surviving dogs. Plasma enzyme activities ranged widely from normal to extremely high levels, and there were no significant differences in plasma enzyme activities between the surviving and nonsurviving dogs. Serum total protein, and plasma triglyceride, creatinine, glucose, calcium, sodium (Na) and chloride (Cl) levels were much similar between the HW-free and surviving dogs, but significantly different between the HW-free and nonsurviving dogs. Plasma urea nitrogen, uric acid and potassium levels were higher, and plasma Na and Cl levels were lower in nonsurviving dogs than in surviving dogs.